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HIV and the immune system

Anti-HIV treatment

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV

The premature babies of HIV-positive mothers, even though they are not infected with HIV, may be at an increased risk of developing a serious, but very rare bowel condition called necrotising enterocolitis.

A French study found that 9% of the premature babies of HIV-positive mothers developed the condition compared to 2% of the premature infants of HIV-negative mothers.

The researchers suggest that the condition may develop more frequently in the premature infants of HIV-positive mothers because of problems with immune systems of the mother or as a side-effect of AZT, a drug given to both mothers and their infants to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. However, the researchers emphasise the “enormous benefits resulting from the use of AZT” to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission.