The risk of contracting HIV increases with the number of sexual partners. It is interesting to note that the first cases of AIDS which were reported in homosexuals admitted to having more than 100 sexual partners per year. A change in the lifestyle would obviously reduce the risk. Paediatric AIDS generally occur early in life although some children have survived congenital infection for many years. Infected infants may serve as worldwide reservoirs of AIDS if they survive infancy, as in the case of hepatitis B.
HIV-infected mothers are not recommended to have children at present and pregnancy itself would appear to be a risk factor for seropositive mothers. A recent clinical trial demonstrated the efficacy of AZT in preventing transmission of HIV from the mother to the fetus. The incidence of HIV infection in the baby was reduced by two-thirds. The regimen used in this trial included antenatal oral administration of AZT beginning at 14-34 weeks of gestation and continuing throughout pregnancy, followed by intrapartum IV AZT, and postnatal oral AZT to the infant for 6 weeks after delivery.
The spread of HIV through blood transfusion had virtually been eliminated since the introduction of blood donor screening in many countries. It must be borne in mind that recently infected donors who have yet to develop antibodies will escape detection. There had also been recent reports of new virus isolates from patients serologically negative for HIV, yet who may have AIDS- related symptoms. Blood products such as factor VIII now undergo routine treatment which appears to inactivate any HIV present effectively.
| Diagnostic Tests | Prognostic Tests | Antiviral Susceptibility Tests | Treatment |
| 3 Types of Inhibitor | Monitoring anti-HIV therapy | Prevention |
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