HIV can present no symptoms for years and is the STI with most treatments: alert on mother-to-child transmission

HIV can remain dormant for years without presenting symptoms, leading to it being the sexually transmitted infection (STI) requiring the most attention within Peru's EsSalud healthcare system. However, medical advancements offer a hopeful outlook for pregnant individuals living with HIV. Doctors emphasize that with timely diagnosis, initiation of antiretroviral treatment, and consistent medical monitoring throughout pregnancy, the risk of transmitting the virus to newborns can be reduced to virtually zero. Dr. Marco Antonio Montiel González, head of Infectology at the National Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, highlighted that these treatments significantly improve the prognosis, allowing individuals to lead normal lives and form families. EsSalud recorded 97,629 treatments for HIV between 2022 and 2025, with an additional 11,280 cases reported from January to May 2026. While men constitute the majority of those receiving HIV treatment (75-78% annually), STIs in general saw 151,199 treatments nationwide between 2022 and May 2026. Young adults aged 25 to 49 are the most affected demographic. Other common STIs include anogenital warts, syphilis, herpes simplex, and acute hepatitis B.

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With good treatment and adequate control of the disease, the possibility of transmitting the virus to the baby is practically nil.