Study Says Better Nutrition may Help HIV+ Kids Gain Weight

A study by conducted by the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TNSACS) has said that better nutrition may help kids with HIV gain weight.

The study involved 2,804 HIV-positive patients of whom 312 were kids. The children were given nutrition supplements, which they took as porridge, with water or milk.

TNSACS project director Vijaya Kumar revealed the details of the study, saying it was a four-year study with the main aim being to prevent children from being orphaned, reduce HIV-related mortality and morbidity among parents and children, and improve the quality of life of infected individuals and families.

"We noticed they had gained weight and had lesser incidence of infection. While adults earned more money, children were back in school, recording good attendance," Kumar said.

Health minister M R K Panneerselvam said that nutritional supplements would now be recommended to the government at all anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centers free of cost.




Source-Medindia
RAS