[LISTEN] When do you tell a child they are HIV positive?
There are unique considerations when it comes to treating HIV in babies, children, and teenagers.
Dr. Leon Levin of the Right to Care non-profit organisation (NPO) says there are unique considerations when it comes to treating HIV in children.
Among that count not only treatment regimens but also when and how to tell a child that they are HIV positive.
Sunday 1 December marks World Aids Day.
Levin points out that babies are unable to take standard oral antiretroviral (ARV) medication.
"Children are historically much more difficult to treat than adults."
He says this includes because the disease tends to be more advanced in babies as they have not yet developed strong immune systems.
They are generally treated with syrups, and Levin accedes: "Some of the syrups taste disgusting. There is no other word for it."
Listen below as Levin explains the implications of treating HIV in babies and children:
Levin says parents have to tell a child that they are HIV positive.
"Most parents are dealing with HIV in their own bodies, they have HIV as well," he points out though.
"By telling the child they have HIV, they are automatically telling them that they also have HIV."
Levin says guilt issues play a key role in this tricky situation, but that a child needs to know they are ill, even if it is through partial disclosure.
"You don't want to lie to children, so you tell them the truth, but you don't have to give them the name of the virus," he explains.
He says it is hard to give an actual age for full disclosure to a child because children differ in maturity, but he recommends that a child needs to know the disease they have by name by the age of 13.
Listen below as Levin explains the dilemma of HIV status disclosure as it related to children:
There are also unique considerations when it comes to HIV treatment for teenagers.
"It is normal for a teenager to rebel," he points out.
"Unfortunately, that rebellion applies also to taking their medication."
Listen below as Levin speaks about the challenges of HIV management in teenagers:
Levin explains that treatment failure in HIV can happen for a number of reasons and is not limited to not taking one's medication.
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Listen below as Levin explains HIV treatment failure: