Pediatric Aids is a serious issue, affecting many families all across the globe. The majority of children who become infected with HIV are born with it. It is estimated that 90% of children with this disease get it either before they are born, during or shortly after their birth. The disease is typically transferred from their mothers, and the infection can occur during pregnancy or during labor. Babies can also be infected if they are breastfed and their mothers are HIV positive.
While this has been a problem in every country all across the globe, it is especially prevalent in lower income and third world countries. The reason for this is that most of the higher income countries offer comprehensive and accessible preventative medical care. This health care ensures that infection from mother to child does not occur. In those rare cases where infection does occur, higher income countries have more treatment options available. These treatments help infected children live much longer lives than those children who reside in poverty stricken nations. Since it is a fact that more children are infected with HIV, and more children die from AIDS in low income countries, many people are working to change this problem. Many organizations and charities exist to raise money and get help for these countries.
HIV infection can also be caused in children if they are treated with unsterilized medical tools, or needles. If they receive a blood transfusion and the blood is infected with HIV, this can also cause them to become infected. There are still parts of the world where unsafe medical practices lead to children becoming infected with HIV. It is a completely preventable problem, for which many are trying to raise awareness.
Thanks to medical advances that have been made within the last ten years, AIDS is not as deadly as it once was. This is true for both adults and children. There was a time when a child born with HIV would have almost no chance of making it to adulthood. Now, with proper health care and medication, this disease can be managed. Infected children now have the opportunity to live a full and somewhat happy life, even with AIDS.