Medical Information & Guidelines

The risk of perinatal transmission of HIV can be reduced to less than 1% with proper care and treatment during pregnancy, labor and the newborn period. However, the medical care of pregnant people living with HIV is complex and unique. The 24/7 Illinois Perinatal HIV Hotline at 1-800-439-4079 is here to assist you with real-time expert medical consultation anytime day or night. Call for immediate up-to-date treatment information and assistance linking patients to care throughout Illinois.

If you are caring for a laboring pregnant patient with HIV, a patient with a positive rapid HIV test in labor or an infant with HIV exposure, see the Hotline's step-by-step recommendations for Illinois.

Clinical guidelines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS are continually reviewed and updated by experts in the field. The federal guidelines are made available by the U.S. Public Health Service at HIVinfo. Sources of treatment information for perinatal HIV include the following:

Recommendations for the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs During Pregnancy and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States

  • Federally approved guidelines for pre-conceptional, antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum care of pregnant people living with HIV.

Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection

  • Federally approved guidelines for the care of infants and children with HIV expsoure or HIV infection.