(ODD RESULTS FROM LARGE STUDY) HIV infection rate among South African children found to be 5.6%

British Medical Journal ^ | 12-14-02 | Pat Sidley, Johannesburg

[Neuromancer]

HIV Infection/AIDS BMJ 2002;325:1380

( 14 December )

HIV infection rate among South African children found to be 5.6%

A new study on HIV infection and AIDS in South Africa has shown that children aged 2 to 14 years have an infection rate of 5.6% leading to worries that South Africa's other epidemicchild abuseis linked to the spread of HIV.

The Nelson Mandela/HSRC [Human Sciences Research Council] study of HIV and AIDS released last week draws for the first time on a representative sample of the local population including all ages and population groups, instead of the previous sample, which comprised pregnant women reporting to state antenatal clinics.

The new study, based on nearly 9000 participants and using anonymous saliva tests, has also shown that the white population is much more at risk from the virus than previously thought. Some 6.2% were found to carry the virus. Black Africans had the highest prevalence18.4%

Investigators are not sure why the prevalence among young children is so high. Although abuse of children is common, that is not thought to be the whole explanation because abuse is more common in girls than boys and yet the HIV rate was found to be similar between the sexes. The situation is likely to give rise to more research.

Pat Sidley, Johannesburg

[cake_crumb]

"Investigators are not sure why the prevalence among young children is so high. Although abuse of children is common, that is not thought to be the whole explanation because abuse is more common in girls than boys and yet the HIV rate was found to be similar between the sexes."

How about sexual abuse.

[AdamSelene235]

AIDS IN AFRICA
http://www.virusmyth.net/aids/data/rmafrica.htm

THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT VS. THE TRUTH
http://www.virusmyth.net/aids/data/kmdancing.htm

[chance33_98]

Maybe they got it from that Muppet....

[Neuromancer]

Because of the high mutation rate of this retrovirus we must always be aware of any indication that transmission may be occurring via non-sexual contact.

[VRWC_minion]

We already "know" that transmission cannot happen by contact in the toilet or by misquotes.

[CJ Wolf]

I'm not so sure about those 'misquotes' there. They have a nasty habit of biting at the truth.

I've never heard of a saliva test.

[Neuromancer]

Oral HIV tests - alternatives to blood tests, became available at health clinics in the last couple of years.  A tissue sample is taken by a health care provider swabbing the inside of the mouth. OraSure is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved HIV oral test available.
 
An Oral System - it is NOT a Saliva Test

OraSure draws antibodies out of the cheek and gum in oral mucosal transudate (OMT).

OMT contains high levels of IgG antibodies - antibodies specific to HIV.

Saliva itself has negligible levels of IgG antibodies.

OraSure overcomes impurities found in saliva.

[crystalk]

There is some evidence that South Africa now has a strain of AIDS that is easier to pass by casual contact, and thus is more likely to spread to larger shares of the population than just those with the risky behavior sexually.

OTOH, this variety seems also to be less virulent in causing the AIDS disease and death quickly; like the strain formerly called HIV-2 it seems to just lie dormant and perhaps cause no ill effects in many, at least while health and nutrition are otherwise good...

[Enterprise]

"Investigators are not sure why the prevalence among young children is so high."

It's because these investigators went to the Inspector Cleseau Detective School. The rape of children by people infected by aids is probably the "prevalent" way they are getting infected.

[RepublicanHippy]

"I've never heard of a saliva test."

In order to buy life insurance now ($50,000 and up), all persons between the ages of 25-65 must take the oral test (mouth swab). The test shows if the person is HIV positive, or shows if the person has used cocaine or marjuana. The agent performs the test and and sample is then sent to a special lab for analysis.

[struwwelpeter]

I'd be willing to bet that the breakdown of South Africa's once first-class medical system is partly to blame. Once medics start re-using disposable syringes and cease observing sterile technique, HIV takes off. I wonder what the Hepatitis infection rates are like down there.

[Neuromancer]

The anomaly lies not in the high rate of HIV among young girls - as you correctly point out this might be explained - it is the almost identical high rate of HIV+ occurrence among children of both sexes.

This bit of data forces one to question:

1. Is male child rape on a par with female child rape in SA?

2. Or is there possible casual contact spread of this virus in children?

It would be prudent to have a solid answer because of the implications...

[Enterprise]

"1. Is male child rape on a par with female child rape in SA?"

The suggestion is that males rape girls and boys equally in South Africa. I believe this to be the case.

[Neuromancer]

Crystalk, In all honesty we are so far behind the curve in tracking the mutations of this virus that it all drifts into some form of gobbledygook....

HIV-1 is a highly variable virus which mutates very readily. So there are many different strains of HIV-1. These strains can be classified according to groups and subtypes and there are two groups, group M and group O.

In September 1998, French researchers announced that they had found a new strain of HIV in a woman from Cameroon in West
Africa. The strain does not belong to either group M or group O, and has only been found in three other people, all in the Cameroon.

Within group M there are currently known to be at least 10 genetically distinct subtypes of HIV-1.

These are subtypes A to J. In addition, Group O contains another distinct group of very heterogeneous viruses. The subtypes of group M may differ as much between subtypes as group M differs from group O.

The subtypes are very unevenly distributed throughout the world. For instance, subtype B is mostly found in the Americas, Japan, Australia, the Caribbean and Europe; subtypes A and D predominate in sub-Saharan Africa; subtype C in South Africa and India; and subtype E in Central African Republic, Thailand and other countries of southeast Asia. Subtypes F (Brazil and Romania), G and H (Russia and Central Africa), I (Cyprus), and group O (Cameroon) are of very low prevalence. In Africa, most subtypes are found, although subtype B is less prevalent.

[happygrl]

No, you're going up the wrong path. The answer is mother-to-child transmission in the womb and/or breast-feeding, which has been identfied as a vector by which the virus is spread. Yes, there may be some sexual abuse involved, but the main cause of HIV infection in children is transmission by the mother.

[Neuromancer]

Happygrl,

What is the life expectancy of a child born HIV+ in South Africa?

I was under the impression, perhaps in error, that infant mortality was rather rapid in the case of Sub-Saharan children born to such a sad fate

[Mr. K]

The dirty secret is that re-use of needles is common practice in Africa, since they are so poor.

But instead of providing fresh needles (cheap) they use this as an excuse to ask for billions in AIDS funding.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

I thought the other article about "abstinence works in Africa"said it was a success,sure don't sound like it!

[MonroeDNA]

AIDS deaths in Africa are a myth.

See post #3, click the links, and read.