New study shows 'what works' in HIV-infected children

Providing combination anti-HIV drugs and trained healthcare from non-physicians are both equally important factors in saving the lives of children infected with HIV, according to a new report.

The survey, undertaken by researchers from the University of Alabama and published in the Journal of American Medicine, discovered that Zambian children receiving the antiretroviral drugs required to fight HIV had an increased level of CD4 blood cells - a sign of a strong immune system.

At the same time the authors of the study claimed that allowing children to be treated by non-physicians such as nurses and clinical officers also increased the number of lives saved.

"We know from work in the US and Europe that children do well on antiretroviral drugs. But we were surprised in this study at just how high their CD4 counts went, and how quickly they went up," said Dr Jeffrey Stringer, a member of the University of Alabama team.

"The prioritisation by the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia and the Zambian government of getting care to these children as well as the development of targeted protocols and training made all of this possible. It ensures the broadest access to treatment and benefit," added Dr Craig Wilson, co-author of the report.

World Health Organization figures revealed that there were between 730,000 and 1.1 million Zambians living with HIV/AIDS in 2003, with less than 44,000 people in the country receiving antiretroviral therapy by November 2005.

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