Karachi Hospitals Report Sharp Increase in Pediatric HIV Infections

Three major hospitals in Karachi have reported a significant increase in pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases over the past nine months, raising concerns among health experts.

At the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre, 10 HIV-positive children were admitted in 2024, a figure that rose to over 70 in 2025. So far this year, 30 children have been admitted with HIV.

Similarly, the Indus Hospital reported 144 HIV patients in 2024, increasing to 176 in 2025. In the first quarter of this year alone, 69 cases have been recorded.

According to Dr Samreen Sarfaraz, a majority of pediatric cases appear linked to unsafe healthcare practices. Since August 2025, 72 children under 14 have been registered at Indus Hospital, with 68% under the age of five.

She noted that only a small percentage of cases involved HIV-positive mothers, while most children had a history suggesting transmission through medical procedures.

Experts point to practices such as reuse of syringes, contaminated medical instruments, and transfusion of unscreened blood as key causes of infection.

Health professionals warn that lessons from the Ratodero HIV outbreak in 2019 have not been fully implemented, with gaps in infection control and needle safety persisting.

Doctors also highlighted the overuse of injections and drips instead of oral medication, which may increase exposure risks.

Medical experts say many children are presenting at advanced stages of the disease, often with complications such as tuberculosis.

They also raised concerns over shortages of antiretroviral and anti-tuberculosis medicines following the suspension of support from the USAID.

Another tertiary care children’s hospital in Karachi has reported over 60 HIV-positive children, many from Thatta and other interior areas of Sindh. Many of these cases were detected during pre-surgery screenings.

Sources indicated that repeated injections over time may have contributed to infections in these children.

While health officials acknowledged an increase in cases, some attributed the rise to improved detection and reporting systems.

Authorities said institutions like the Sindh Healthcare Commission and Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority are responsible for enforcing safety standards.

Experts warn that Pakistan is experiencing one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the region and have called for strict enforcement of infection control measures, including the National Action Plan for Injection Safety.