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Alarming Rise in Child HIV Cases Linked to Hospitals
18 Apr
Summary
- Karachi hospitals reported a dramatic increase in pediatric HIV cases.
- Most cases contracted HIV due to unsafe healthcare practices.
- Lack of basic infection control protocols is a major concern.
Karachi's hospitals are grappling with a stark rise in pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases. Over the past nine months, three major hospitals have admitted 159 children diagnosed with HIV, a number that continues to climb. Investigations reveal that the majority of these young patients contracted the incurable virus due to unsafe healthcare practices.
This alarming trend points to a severe deficiency in basic infection control protocols within healthcare facilities. Experts highlight the reuse of syringes and needles, improper sterilization of medical instruments, and the transfusion of unscreened blood as primary contributors. These practices unfortunately mirror those that led to a large-scale HIV outbreak among children in Ratodero in 2019, suggesting that lessons from past crises have not been adequately implemented.
Treatment of these advanced pediatric cases presents considerable challenges. Many children arrive with severe immunodeficiency and opportunistic infections, requiring specialized care from limited pediatric infectious disease experts. Compounding this, Pakistan faces shortages of essential antiretroviral and anti-tuberculosis drugs, exacerbated by the suspension of USAID funding. This drug scarcity is particularly concerning given tuberculosis's high prevalence among HIV patients, raising fears of drug-resistant strains and increased mortality.
Compounding the issue, a major children's hospital reported over 60 positive cases, many from interior Sindh, detected during pre-surgery screenings. Many of these children had received multiple intramuscular injections, a potential route of transmission. Officials acknowledge an increase in cases but suggest the media is exaggerating numbers, attributing detection to improved surveillance. However, responsibility for infection control lies with the Sindh Healthcare Commission and blood safety with the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority, with little response from health department officials.
