Los Angeles doctors say a baby girl born with HIV just six days ago is now showing no signs of the disease.
KABC says that's due to aggressive treatment from doctors with three types of HIV medication starting just four hours after the infant's birth. It's a promising new method that could change the way babies with HIV are treated.
The Los Angeles Times spoke with Dr. Yvonne Bryson, who was consulted on treating the child. She says, "This is uncharted territory," but adds "The only way we know that we really have remission is to stop therapy."
So, even though the signs are encouraging, it's too early to say the Los Angeles baby is cured. But a Mississippi infant treated in a very similar way one year ago has been deemed "functionally cured."
Even more encouraging in that case is that the child was taken off HIV treatment at 18 months old and, at age 3, still appears completely healthy. In neither case did the mother take HIV treatment during pregnancy. (Via University of Mississippi Medical Center)
In the U.S., fewer than 100 babies are born with HIV each year. But in developing countries, especially across parts of Africa, the problem is more widespread. (Via Unicef)
Doctors in South Africa and Brazil will be coordinating with American doctors now looking to begin clinical trials with the new treatment. They're seeking 60 HIV-positive infants for the study.
