HIV infection and AIDS in children.

Abstract

As of January 1990 the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 8-10 million persons are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide. Approximately 3 million women mostly of reproductive age and more than 500000 infants and children are infected. Eighty percent these infected women and children reside in sub-Saharan Africa where the estimated prevalence of HIV infection is 2500/100000 women aged 15-49. In some African cities HIV prevalence rates of up to 30% have been documented. As heterosexual transmission of HIV increases other areas of the world the numbers of infected women and consequently their children also increase. In Latin America an estimated 200000 women are infected with a prevalence of 200/100000 women aged 15-49 years. There is a rapid increase in HIV infection among drug users and prostitutes in some Asian countries. In the United States women comprise 10% of the 171865 adult cases of AIDS reported to the Centers for Disease Control as of May 1 1991. In 1991 AIDS was the fifth leading cause of premature death in women aged 15-49; in New York City AIDS was the leading cause of death for women aged 20-40. The World Health Organization estimates that the HIV pandemic will kill 3 million or more women and 2.7 million children worldwide during the 1990s. AIDS will become the leading cause of death for women aged 15-49 in major cities throughout the Americas western Europe and sub-Saharan Africa with infant and child mortality rates as much as 30% greater than previously projected. In addition it is estimated that up to 5.5 million children under 15 will be orphaned because of the premature death of their HIV-infected mothers and fathers from AIDS. (excerpt)