COIMBATORE: A two-year-old baby tested positive for the HIV virus last week at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, despite her parents and twin brother testing negative for the same. The parents allege the child could have got the virus only from blood or a fluid transfusion. They also say that the child last underwent a blood transfusion at CMCH in July last year, and it could have been the only source for the infection. CMCH authorities, however, said they have traced the transfused blood back, and have documents to prove that it is HIV-negative.The child's father, a powerloom worker, saw his world turn upside down on April 8 when the government hospital informed him that his baby girl was HIV positive. They told him that he, his wife and baby son, the victim's twin, had tested negative. "I know that it can only come from a blood or fluid transfusion," he said. "The last hospital she was admitted in was CMCH, on July 11, 2018. On July 12, they gave her blood. They diagnosed her with a congenital heart problem, but allowed us to go home the next day, saying the heart would heal on its own," he added.The twins were born in February 2017, at the Trichy Government Hospital. Born more than two months premature, the girl baby weighed just 700 gm, according to hospital records. She was in the sick neonatal intensive care unit (SNICU) of the hospital for six weeks .Aasirvadham, state coordinator, People’s Watch said, “They had to return to Somanur to work, so they got discharged. The records show that the baby’s next admission to a hospital was on July 11, 2018, when they took her to the Tirupur Government Hospital after she developed a cold, cough, fever and breathing problems.” “The doctors in Tirupur GH told them that it was a heart problem and referred her to CMCH, where she was admitted for three days” he said.Records show that the baby was diagnosed with Atrial septal defect.The baby’s father said, “On February 8, we brought her to the CMCH because she had pustules all over her body and neck. The doctor then collected her blood samples and our blood samples, and told us only that our baby was HIV positive, said the father. “Besides the six weeks in Trichy GH, we have admitted her only in CMCH. We completed her vaccinations in Tirupur GH. We never visited any private hospital,” said Vishwanathan.

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