Question | Discussion | References

Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) during Antenatal Care

You answered:

C She should start triple antiretroviral therapy immediately and a CD4 count should be checked if possible.

This answer is correct. WHO guidelines recommend immediate initiation of triple antireroviral therapy for pregnant women with symptomatic HIV infection or who have a CD4 count less than 350 cells/mm3. For women not requiring ART for their own health, WHO guidelines recommend that countries adopt one of three options ("A", "B", or "B+") for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. Malawi has adopted the WHO "Option B+" approach, which includes triple antiretroviral therapy for all pregnant women, regardless of clinical or immunological stage, continued postpartum for life..

[Back to Case Question | Proceed to Case Discussion]