Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection/AIDS
Reportable to local or state health department
This fact sheet is for provider information only.
If you have questions, please call the health department.
The spread of HIV, the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), has not been documented in the child care setting or schools. Since children infected with this virus may be in child care or school, this information is provided to further reduce the extremely unlikely possibility of spread.
Cause
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Symptoms
HIV commonly attacks the immune system, leaving people susceptible to a variety of infections. Symptoms will depend on the type of infection. Children may experience no symptoms, or they may have symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, weight loss, or failure to thrive.
Spread
It may be possible, but unlikely, in the child care or school setting, for spread to occur by getting blood from an infected person into open cuts, scrapes, or the mouth or eyes of another person. Most children who are infected get the virus from their infected mothers during pregnancy or at the time of birth. Some children have been infected through transfusions of blood products that contained HIV. In adults, the virus is most often spread through sexual contact or by sharing needles.
HIV has been found in blood, semen, vaginal fluids, saliva, urine, tears, breast milk, and other body fluids, but spread has not been shown to occur from contact with fluids other than blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
HIV is not spread by coughing, sneezing, hugging, mosquito bites, or contact with eating utensils, faucets, doorknobs, or toilet seats.
Diagnosis
Recommend parents/guardians call their healthcare provider. HIV infection is diagnosed by a blood test.
Most HIV tests are antibody tests that measure the antibodies the body makes against HIV. It can take some time for the immune system to produce enough antibodies for the antibody test to detect, and this time period can vary from person to person. Most people will develop detectable antibodies within 2 to 8 weeks (the average is 25 days). Ninety-seven percent of persons will develop antibodies in the first 3 months following the time of their infection. In very rare cases, it can take up to 6 months to develop antibodies to HIV.
Contagious Period
Probably from the time of infection throughout the remainder of the person's life.
Exclusion
None, unless the child has unusually aggressive behavior (e.g., biting) that cannot be controlled, oozing sores that cannot be covered, or bleeding problems. The child’s health professional and the child care program director or school principal should assess on a case-by-case basis to determine whether exclusion from some activities is necessary. Children with HIV infection should not be excluded from school, child care or other group care settings solely based on their HIV infection.
- Children who are infected with HIV may have weakened immune systems. This would make them more likely to have serious problems from infections such as chickenpox, measles, CMV, or TB. Parents/guardians of infected children should call their healthcare provider if these illnesses occur in the child care or school.
- Adults infected with HIV may work in the child care setting if they do not have any medical conditions which would allow their body fluids to come into contact with others. HIV-infected child care workers should call their healthcare provider if diseases like chickenpox, measles, CMV, or TB occur.
Prevention/Control
- There is no indication for routine screening of children for HIV antibody status before they enter child care. CDC recommends that everyone ages 13 thru 64 should be screened annually for HIV.
- Children and staff should not share toothbrushes or nail clippers.
- Clean and disinfect blood and body fluid spills:
- Clean all surfaces and objects contaminated with blood or body fluids with soap or a detergent and water, and then disinfect immediately with an effective disinfectant. HIV, as well as other infectious bacteria, may be found in blood and other body fluids of any person even when there are no symptoms to suggest infection is present.
- Wear disposable medical gloves when handling blood (nosebleeds, cuts) or items, surfaces, or clothing contaminated with blood or bloody body fluids or when there are open sores, cuts, or abrasions on the hands.
- Regular and thorough handwashing is the best way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Wash hands immediately after contact with any body fluids, even if gloves have been worn. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm running water.
For more information, call the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) Bureau of HIV, STD, and Hepatitis at 573-751-6439.