Question
Why has my baby been given co-trimoxazole?
17 March 2023. Related: All topics, Children.
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.
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.
My CD4 count is 909 and viral load is 19. From birth i have been giving my baby formula.