Overview
HIV/AIDS affects the health and welfare of children and undermines hard-won gains in child survival in some of the highly-affected countries. The 'Manual on paediatric HIV care and treatment for district hospitals' aims to help improve clinical skills among health workers in resource-limited settings. It is intended for use by doctors, middle-level practitioners such as clinical officers and senior nurses in the management of HIV-exposed and -infected infants and children at district hospital levels.
The manual consists of two parts. The first part deals with the management of HIV-infected children when they present with common illnesses and opportunistic infections: cough or difficult breathing, diarrhoea (acute and persistent), fever and malnutrition, anaemia and other haematological manifestations. The second part of the manual covers HIV specific management including diagnosis of HIV infection in infants and children, routine care of HIV-exposed and -infected children, antiretroviral therapy, nutritional support, pain management as well as disclosure and psychosocial support.
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