The difference between HIV positive and AIDS is an important one that is often confused by the layman. AIDS is now considered, in theory, to be a manageable chronic illness, and given the correct management, babies who are infected by HIV can lead normal lives.

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS was first identified in children in 1982, one year after its appearance in adults. Clinical manifestations of HIV infection range from asymptomatic infection to debilitating disease and death.

"AIDS is caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus – HIV," says Dr. Leighton McDonald, executive manager of Qualsa Healthcare and member of the Board of Governors of the South Africa Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (SABCOHA). "The virus infects the body's immune system and slowly destroys the body's ability to mount an immune response to infections. This results in the patient being susceptible to infections that would usually not cause any problems – these infections are called opportunistic infections for this reason. These infections include various types of tuberculosis, pneumonia, meningitis and oral/oesophageal thrush. Since the immune system is involved, babies with AIDS also have a higher incidence of minor childhood infections – coughs, colds, diarrhea, etc."

Perinatal transmission is the most common mode of acquisition among children in the United States. Children most commonly acquire HIV infection through maternal-infant transmission; however, not all infants born to HIV-infected women contract HIV infection.

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