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Care priority and warning signs
Care priority
Routine Care
Assessment
- Ask: Has the mother or child had an HIV test?
- Confirm negative test result:
- Mother tested HIV-negative OR
- Child tested negative by DNA PCR after complete cessation of breastfeeding (>6 weeks prior) OR
- Child >= 18 months tested negative by HIV rapid test.
Classification
- Negative HIV test in mother or child (definitive) -> HIV INFECTION UNLIKELY
Key features
- Confirmed negative HIV status for the mother or child (using appropriate test and timing).
- Indicates very low likelihood of HIV infection.
- Requires standard IMCI management for presenting conditions.
Management
Non-pharmacological management
- Provide routine assessment and management for any presenting illness using standard IMCI protocols.
- Provide age-appropriate feeding counselling.
Pharmacological treatment
- Treat any current illness according to IMCI guidelines.
- Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis is NOT indicated.
Follow-up
- Follow up for presenting illness as needed.
- Continue routine child health services (growth monitoring, immunization).
Counselling points
- Reassure mother about the negative HIV status.
- Provide counselling for any presenting illness.
- Provide general health and feeding advice.
- Advise on ongoing HIV prevention measures for the mother/family.
Prevention
- Continued safe practices to prevent HIV acquisition.
References
IMCI Chart Booklet - Page 8