Pakistan records surge in pediatric HIV cases linked to unsafe medical practices

Scores of children in Karachi have tested positive for HIV, with investigations attributing the infections to unsafe medical practices and improperly sterilized equipment.

Paediatric experts noted that infant HIV infections damage immune systems faster than in adults and often remain clinically silent without early virological testing.

Medical guidelines emphasize strict infection-control protocols, including using sterile single-use syringes and screening blood products to prevent transmission.