Question

How are babies and children monitored?

11 September 2008. Related: All topics, Children, Other tests.

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Babies and children, just like adults, are monitored by a combination of checking for physical signs of illness and laboratory tests, including CD4 and viral load.

For babies and young children the CD4 percentage (CD4%) is more important and accurate than the CD4 count.

This is because babies are usually borm with very high absolute CD4 counts (often 2-3000 cells/mm3) which gradually drops to normal adult levels during childhood. Over this time, the CD4% is a more accurate guide for the level of damage caused by HIV.

See this link from the i-Base Introduction to Combination Therapy for more info.