Children born with HIV are less likely to respond to treatment

A recent article published by HealthDay News indicates that females who plan to have children may consider seeking sexually transmitted disease testing, since kids who are born with HIV have a higher risk of developing resistance to medications than adults.

According to the news provider, the results of a recent study showed that one out of eight HIV-positive children will develop resistance to multiple drugs within five years of beginning antiretroviral treatment.

"HIV is a dynamic infection in which billions of virus particles are produced each day in the bodies of HIV infected persons. The high rate of production and the high mutation rate requires that three active anti-viral medicines be present in the blood stream continuously for years," Dr. Bruce Hirsch explained to the news source.

Infected mothers may pass the virus on to their children in utero or during birth.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 21 percent of HIV-infected Americans are unaware that they have the disease. The organization notes that more than 140 children are diagnosed with perinatally acquired HIV in the U.S. annually.