Q and A

Question

Why has my baby been given co-trimoxazole?

My viral load is undetectable and my baby tested negative after birth he was put on nevirapine for 6 weeks. He will test again after 10 weeks. I am using formula. He was then given Co-trimoxazole oral suspension. I would like to know the reason he was given that medication and he is now having a rash after taking it.

Answer

Hi, how are you doing?

Congratulations on having a baby.

Co-trimoxazole is not used to treat/prevent HIV. Co-trimoxazole is an antibotic used to prevent other infections that you may be at risk of.

Do you know your CD4 count? If you have a CD4 count lower than 430 you have an increased risk of certain types of infection.

Your baby taking co-trimoxazole can prevent these infections that could be passed on while you are breastfeeding.

Have you mentioned this rash to a doctor? If the rash is being caused by this treatment it will need to be managed by the doctor that prescribed it.

Josh.

2 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Thandi, it is great to hear how well your treatment is working. As you have a very good CD4 count and viral load and baby is being formula fed, there isn’t much need for baby to be on co-trimoxazole. Has baby had a final test to confirm that they are not HIV positive? After this test co-trimoxazole can be stopped.

  2. Thandi

    My CD4 count is 909 and viral load is 19. From birth i have been giving my baby formula.

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