Horizontal transmission of HIV infection in an HIV-exposed child—An avoidable tragedy

Exposure to infected blood/blood products through blood transfusion and use of contaminated sharp objects remain an important source of HIV infection. This report describes the case of a 52-month-old male child of an HIV-infected mother in whom perinatal infection was successfully prevented by maternal and infant antiretroviral therapy, elective cesarean section, and avoidance of breast-feeding. A DNA PCR test at 6 weeks was negative and a rapid antibody test at 18 months was seronegative. He presented to the Paediatric infectious disease unit with chronic fever, cough, diarrhea and weight loss 7 months after receiving a commercially donated blood (in a rural private hospital) and scarification marks (by a traditional healer) for a febrile illness with convulsion. He was found to be seropositive with severe immunosuppression. He however died a month after being initiated on antiretroviral drug.