HIV paediatric case studies:
Case 1 – Suzen’s Baby
This is one of 20 HIV paediatric teaching cases for use in Africa for health workers and clinicians involved in HIV treatment of children. Topics covered include early infant diagnosis, ART initiation, opportunistic infections and drug reactions.
Suzen’s baby is a newborn who has been brought to hospital with her mother after a premature birth at a health centre. Her mother tested HIV positive towards the end of the pregnancy. The case goes through the routine treatment of an exposed baby. There is however a confusion over the mother’s ARVs as there is a discrepancy between her pill count, her patient health record and what she says – so she is referred for adherence counselling. The case shows the importance of checking all available sources of information to monitor treatment.
Teaching points:
TREATMENT OF AN EXPOSED BABY