HIV-Infected Blood Given to 16-Month Old
The child now faces long-term antiretroviral treatment.
Published: April 17, 2013 (Issue # 1755)
ST. PETERSBURG (SPT) — The prosecutor’s office of the city’s Frunzensky district is investigating a case in which a 16-month-old child received an HIV-infected blood transfusion at the city’s Children’s Hospital No. 5, the Fontanka.ru news website reported.
The child was taken to hospital on Feb. 27, and received treatment for a rotavirus infection. On March 4, the child was discharged from hospital.
However, the next day the toddler was taken back to the hospital with further complaints. The child’s parents then insisted that the doctors do an X-ray on the child and that a surgeon conduct an examination. The results showed that the child had swallowed six magnetic metal balls that formed part of a NeoCube toy, resulting in a diagnosis of peritonitis. It was during the operation to remove the objects from the child’s abdomen that the infected transfusion was given.
The child was reported to be in severe condition following the surgery and remains in intensive care and now faces long-term antiretroviral treatment.