As 2004 grinds to a dismal halt, a spot of hope appears: a study of HIV positive children in Zambia reveals that pediatric deaths from AIDS can be halved by administering a readily available and inexpensive antibiotic.  

The Guardian reports that a study conducted by the Medical Research Council found that administering co-trimoxazole (also known as Bactrim) cut AIDS-related deaths by 43 percent in children. While co-trimoxazole is a prophylactic and therefore cannot prevent HIV from developing into AIDS, it effectively deals with the secondary and tertiary infections, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis, that often result in AIDS-related deaths.

The World Health Organization and UNICEF have accordingly altered their policies regarding HIV and AIDS medical treatment for children. In a world where as many as 1,300 children die daily from AIDS, this is thrilling research.  At last, there is some news worthy of celebration at your Thanksgiving table.

llouison