What is HIV/Aids? Is HIV/AIDS a common infection? What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS ? How is HIV transmitted? HIV/AIDS and pregnancy HIV/AIDS in the newborn How is HIV/AIDS diagnosed? Is there a treatment for HIV/AIDS ? How can people infected with HIV lower the risk of spreading the virus? How can I prevent infection by HIV/AIDS? If you have been exposed or potentially exposed to HIV... What to do? — Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) What does the future hold? When can we expect a vaccine against HIV/AIDS? Links and References

20 to 30% of newborns born to infected untreated mother will be infected with the HIV virus. It is therefore extremely important to undertake a screening test early in pregnancy so as to detect HIV early and thereby take measures to prevent infection of the fetus/newborn. Ideally, medications should be started in the second trimester and continued until at least one month post-partum (after the delivery) – or longer, as indicated. With an early treatment intervention and adequate prenatal/postnatal follow-up, it is possible to avoid maternal to fetal transmission in almost 100% of cases. Again, HIV status needs to be known, and access to medications is key (not the case in much of the developing world).