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Our mission is to provide reliable, up-to-date information about HIV to help educate and empower individuals and communities, while offering free consultation services on HIV, TB, and cervical cancer for improved health awareness and care.

Tinea Corporis in Children Living with HIV: When Ringworm Becomes SevereTinea corporis (ringworm of the body) is a commo...
08/01/2026

Tinea Corporis in Children Living with HIV: When Ringworm Becomes Severe

Tinea corporis (ringworm of the body) is a common fungal skin infection in children, but in children living with HIV, it often presents in a more severe, widespread, and recurrent form.

What causes it?
Tinea corporis is caused by dermatophyte fungi such as Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. Reduced immunity in HIV allows these fungi to multiply easily on the skin.

How does it appear?

Circular or ring-shaped rashes with raised edges

Itchy, scaly patches on the trunk, arms, legs, or face

Multiple lesions that may merge into large plaques

Poor or slow response to usual topical treatment

Why is it worse in children with HIV?

Impaired immunity leads to extensive skin involvement

Frequent recurrence after treatment

Higher risk of spread to scalp (tinea capitis) and nails

Why early treatment matters
If not treated promptly, tinea corporis can become chronic, disfiguring, and a source of repeated skin infections, affecting a child’s comfort, sleep, and self-esteem.

Management and prevention

Early antifungal treatment (topical or systemic when severe)

Keep skin clean and dry

Avoid sharing towels, clothes, or bedding

Treat household contacts and pets if necessary

Consistent ART use to improve immunity and reduce recurrence

Key message:
In children living with HIV, tinea corporis is more than a simple ringworm. Early treatment and good HIV control are key to healthy skin.

Herpes Simplex in Children Living with HIV: More Than Just Cold SoresHerpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is common in c...
08/01/2026

Herpes Simplex in Children Living with HIV: More Than Just Cold Sores

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is common in childhood, but in children living with HIV, it can be more severe, recurrent, and prolonged.

What causes it?
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) commonly affects the mouth and lips, while HSV-2 may involve the ge***al area. The virus stays in the body for life and can reactivate when immunity is low.

How does it present?

Painful blisters or sores around the mouth, lips, or gums

Crusted ulcers that take long to heal

Fever and difficulty feeding in young children

Recurrent outbreaks, sometimes extensive

Severe disease may involve the eyes, skin, or brain

Why is it worse in children with HIV?

Weakened immunity allows frequent reactivation

Lesions may be larger, deeper, and persistent (>1 month)

Healing is slow without good immune recovery

Why early treatment is critical
Untreated HSV in immunocompromised children can lead to chronic ulcers, eye damage, malnutrition, and life-threatening complications.

Management and prevention

Early antiviral treatment (e.g., acyclovir)

Keep lesions clean and prevent scratching

Avoid contact with active sores

Strict adherence to ART to restore immunity and reduce recurrences

Key message:
In children living with HIV, herpes simplex is a marker of immune suppression. Timely treatment and consistent ART can turn a severe infection into a manageable one.

08/01/2026

S***m cells do not contain HIV; semen does.

08/01/2026

Do not read your HIV test result after the stipulated time indicated in the test kit. Any result read beyond the recommended time may be a false positive.

Impetigo in Children Living with HIV: What Parents Need to KnowImpetigo is a common bacterial skin infection in children...
08/01/2026

Impetigo in Children Living with HIV: What Parents Need to Know

Impetigo is a common bacterial skin infection in children, but in children living with HIV, it can be more frequent, severe, and recurrent.

What causes it?
Impetigo is mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus and sometimes Streptococcus pyogenes. In children with HIV, a weakened immune system makes it easier for these bacteria to infect the skin.

How does it look?

Honey-colored crusts on the skin

Red sores or blisters that easily break

Common around the nose, mouth, scalp, and limbs

Can spread quickly to other body parts

Why is it worse in children with HIV?

Reduced immunity allows faster bacterial growth

Lesions may be widespread and slow to heal

Frequent recurrences are common without good immune control

Why early treatment matters
Untreated impetigo can lead to complications such as cellulitis, lymph node swelling, or kidney problems (post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis).

Management and prevention

Early medical treatment with appropriate antibiotics

Good skin hygiene and hand washing

Keep nails short and lesions clean

Prompt treatment of itching skin conditions that cause scratching

Consistent ART use to strengthen immunity and reduce recurrence

Key message:
In children living with HIV, impetigo is not “just a skin rash.” Early treatment and good HIV control save the skin—and protect overall health.

07/01/2026

Yes. Breast milk can contain HIV.

Here’s a clear breakdown:

🔬 How HIV gets into breast milk

HIV can be present in breast milk as free virus or inside infected immune cells.

If a mother is not on treatment or has a high viral load, the virus can be transmitted to the baby through breastfeeding.

👶 Risk to the baby

Without treatment, 10–20% of infants may acquire HIV through breastfeeding.

The risk increases with:

Mixed feeding (breast milk + other foods/liquids)

Cracked or bleeding ni***es

Mastitis or breast infections

Oral sores or thrush in the baby

💊 The good news

If a mother is on effective ART and has a suppressed viral load, the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding is very low (near zero).

This is why exclusive breastfeeding with ART is recommended in many settings, including Kenya.

✅ Key message

Breast milk can contain HIV, but treatment saves lives.
ART protects both the mother and the baby during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.

⚠️ PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT: Be Careful Where You Get Your HIV Test Kit ⚠️Not all HIV test kits sold in pharmacies are safe o...
07/01/2026

⚠️ PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT: Be Careful Where You Get Your HIV Test Kit ⚠️

Not all HIV test kits sold in pharmacies are safe or reliable.

Some HIV self-test kits in the market have NOT undergone proper Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC). Using such kits can give false negative or false positive results, leading to:

Delayed treatment

Unnecessary panic or stigma

Continued HIV transmission due to false reassurance

👉 Important facts you should know:

Only MOH-approved and WHO-prequalified HIV test kits should be used

Proper storage conditions (temperature, humidity, expiry date) matter

Testing must follow the national HIV testing algorithm

📌 Protect yourself: ✔ Get tested at approved health facilities, VCT centres, or outreach programs
✔ If you use a self-test, ensure it is MOH-approved and always confirm positive results at a health facility
✔ Avoid cheap, unverified kits sold without proper guidance

🛑 Your health is too important to gamble on unverified test kits.

Accurate testing saves lives. Always choose quality-assured HIV testing.

HOW ART PROTECTS THE BABY: From Pregnancy to Breastfeeding 👶❤️Many people still fear that every HIV-positive mother will...
07/01/2026

HOW ART PROTECTS THE BABY: From Pregnancy to Breastfeeding 👶❤️

Many people still fear that every HIV-positive mother will pass HIV to her baby.
👉 This is FALSE — ART changes everything.

🟢 During Pregnancy

When a pregnant woman takes ART consistently, the virus is suppressed to undetectable levels.
➡ This prevents HIV from crossing the placenta to the baby.

🟢 During Labour & Delivery

ART reduces the amount of HIV in blood and body fluids.
➡ This greatly lowers the risk of transmission at birth, even during normal vaginal delivery.

🟢 During Breastfeeding

With continued ART and viral suppression, the amount of HIV in breast milk becomes very low.
➡ Combined with infant prophylaxis, the baby is strongly protected.

🔑 The result?

Without ART: 15–45% risk of mother-to-child transmission
With proper ART: LESS THAN 1% risk

📌 Key message

👉 ART does not just save the mother — it protects the child.
👉 An HIV-positive woman on ART can have an HIV-negative baby.

MYTH BUSTED: “Something made me test HIV-positive today, but I’ll be negative later” 🚫🧪There is a common myth that food,...
07/01/2026

MYTH BUSTED: “Something made me test HIV-positive today, but I’ll be negative later” 🚫🧪

There is a common myth that food, drugs, stress, vaccines, malaria, or pregnancy can make someone test HIV positive today and negative later.
👉 This is NOT how HIV tests work.

Here’s the truth:

🔹 HIV tests detect antibodies and/or viral components, not food, alcohol, ARVs, herbs, or medicines.
🔹 Once HIV antibodies develop, they do not disappear unless the test was done incorrectly.
🔹 A true HIV-positive result does not turn negative on its own.

So why do some people get different results? ✔ Testing too early (window period)
✔ Reading rapid test results after the recommended time
✔ Using poor-quality or expired test kits
✔ Skipping the confirmatory testing algorithm

Important reminder:
📌 That’s why HIV testing is done using two or more confirmatory tests before a final result is given.

Bottom line

👉 There is nothing you can eat, drink, inject, or smoke that makes you temporarily HIV positive.
👉 If results change, it’s a testing issue — not the virus disappearing.

🦠 TB Myth Buster!Tuberculosis can infect almost any part of the body — except the hair and nails.From lungs to brain, bo...
07/01/2026

🦠 TB Myth Buster!

Tuberculosis can infect almost any part of the body — except the hair and nails.

From lungs to brain, bones to kidneys, TB can spread widely.
But hair and nails are spared because they don’t support TB bacteria.

🌺 The “Red Rash” That Speaks HIV: Bacillary Angiomatosis 🌺Not every skin bump is harmless. Bacillary angiomatosis is a r...
07/01/2026

🌺 The “Red Rash” That Speaks HIV: Bacillary Angiomatosis 🌺

Not every skin bump is harmless. Bacillary angiomatosis is a rare but important infection that mainly affects people with advanced HIV or very low immunity.

🔴 It appears as bright red or purple bumps, nodules, or swellings that can look like pimples, warts, or even cancer.
🦠 Caused by Bartonella bacteria—often linked to cat scratches or bites.
🩺 It doesn’t just affect the skin; it can involve the liver, spleen, bones, and blood vessels.
💊 The good news? It is treatable with antibiotics—and improves greatly when ART is started or optimized.

⚠️ Ignoring it can be dangerous, but early diagnosis saves lives.

👉 Skin changes in someone with HIV should never be ignored.
Test early. Start ART early. Treat infections early.

Correct & Consistent Condom Use: Your Simple but Powerful Protection 🛡️Condoms work — but only when used correctly and e...
06/01/2026

Correct & Consistent Condom Use: Your Simple but Powerful Protection 🛡️

Condoms work — but only when used correctly and every time.
Inconsistent or incorrect use is one of the biggest reasons people still get HIV, STIs, and unplanned pregnancies.

Here’s what correct and consistent condom use really means 👇

✅ Use a condom EVERY time you have s*x
Not sometimes. Not “only when you remember.”
One unprotected encounter is enough.

⏰ Put it on BEFORE any ge***al contact
HIV and STIs can be transmitted before pe*******on.

📦 Check the expiry date & package
Expired or damaged condoms break easily.

🖐️ Open carefully
Use fingers only — no teeth, blades, or scissors.

🎈 Pinch the tip
This leaves space for semen and prevents breakage.

💧 Use the right lubricant
✔ Water-based or silicone-based
❌ Oil-based (Vaseline, oils) — they damage condoms

🔁 One condom per act
New condom for each round, each partner.

🚮 Remove and dispose properly
Hold the base, withdraw while still firm, tie, and discard in a bin.

⚠️ Remember:

Condoms reduce risk of HIV, STIs, and pregnancy

They are most effective when used correctly + consistently

They work for everyone, regardless of HIV status

📌 Condoms don’t fail — incorrect use does.

👉 Protect yourself. Protect your partner. Protect your future.



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