Children of HIV-positive mothers: 4 Cases of contamination in 14 years of follow-up at the Rouen University Hospital Center

The prevention of mother-to-child transmission is important in the control of HIV. Despite preventive measures, the objective of a zero transmission rate from mother to child has not yet been reached even in Northern countries. Observation: A retrospective study covering a 14-year period (January 1988 through December 2001) examined records of 80 children born to HIV-positive mothers at Rouen University Hospital Center. Four children were contaminated. We report several particularities of these four children, contaminated despite the preventive measures taken. Conclusion: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission involves not only administration of antiretrovirals during pregnancy, but also better follow-up of pregnancy and delivery and more effective management of risk factors such as drug addiction and poverty. Multidisciplinary follow-up is needed for these children in view of our current lack of knowledge of the long-range side effects of these antiretrovirals.