A lot of progress has been made in HIV care and many people with the condition live long, healthy lives. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need a detailed plan for taking care of an HIV-positive child. You need to cover a few areas to ensure your child lives well.
How HIV Affects Black Children
According to the National Library of Medicine, Black Americans comprise almost 50 percent of all Americans living with HIV though they’re only 12 percent of the population. While the rate of infection is decreasing for every other ethnicity, Black people appear to be contracting HIV at an increasing rate. With that in mind, it’s not surprising then to see that 65 percent of newborns and 66 percent of children under the age of 13 who were newly diagnosed with the disease were Black Americans.
Additionally, the highest HIV infection rate in the country is among Black males between the ages of 13 and 24. As this rate increases every year, health experts predict that 1 in 20 Black men could have the disease in the next few years if something doesn’t change.
To make matters worse, Black Americans who are HIV-positive may not receive the care they need – including babies and children.
How To Take Care Of An HIV-Positive Child
Caring for an HIV-positive child starts with paying attention to their strict medication protocols. It can be helpful to use pill reminder boxes and reminder apps. You can’t skip medicine as this can lead to the virus becoming resistant to it so you should plan ahead for refills. Since your child’s responsiveness to medication can change, it’s a good idea to ask your doctor about signs that a drug is no longer working. Another topic you should discuss is a vaccine schedule. In most cases, it’s recommended that an HIV-positive child get mandatory vaccines as well as those listed in the Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI).
It’s essential to give your child healthy, balanced meals. When discussing medications, you should ask your doctor if there can be any interactions with food. A dietitian may also help design a personalized diet if your child isn’t eating well or has mouth sores that make eating difficult.
Skincare is another critical area of your child’s care so moisturizing the skin is key. Cuts and scrapes can get infected easily, leading to complications. You should prevent injuries as much as possible but if they still happen, you need to clean them thoroughly and apply an antibiotic ointment. Applying a light bandage can keep the wound from getting infected while it heals. You should also apply sunscreen to your child’s skin if they’re going outside.
Finally, doctors recommend maintaining a balance between rest and physical activity. While exercise is important, too much exercise can make them feel worse. If your child is playing with a pet, this should always be supervised so someone can step in if the play gets rough enough to hurt your child.
Tips For Dealing With Spilled Blood
If your child is injured, you should put vinyl or latex gloves on immediately so you don’t come in contact with infected blood. You should dress the wound quickly – even if you need to bring them to the hospital for further treatment. Blood can be cleaned up using a mixture of bleach and water. Clothes that have been bloodied should be washed immediately in warm, soapy water. If they can’t be watched, they need to be parceled in a garbage bag and thrown out.
When To Carry Your Child To The Doctor
It’s typical for an HIV-positive child to visit the doctor every six months. However, you can also have emergencies that need medical attention. This can include behavioral changes, unexplained bruising, shortness of breath, a persistent cough, a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, change in bowel movements, severe pain, fluid drainage from the ear, white patches or sores in the mouth, and unexplained bleeding. If your child has been exposed to a contagious disease, you should also bring them to the doctor. This is especially true of chicken pox as it can cause breaks in the skin and rare circumstances can lead to a stroke.
You need to remain vigilant when taking care of an HIV-positive child. Given how likely babies and children are to be infected with the condition, it’s important to know what to focus on. Your plan should include proper nutrition, exercise, sticking to the medication regimen, and seeing a doctor whenever necessary.
