Pediatric HIV infection: A review of epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and current intervention

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection has emerged as a global epidemic that is predicted to kill many thousands of children by the end of this century. In this review, several aspects of pediatric HIV infection are presented. The epidemiology of HIV infection is briefly surveyed in the United States, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. Clinical manifestations of pediatric HIV infection, which are not entirely congruent with the signs and symptoms often found in adults, are also reviewed, including medical, neurological, developmental, and behavioral manifestations of this disease process. Finally, an intervention program outlining current medical, pharmacological, and neurodevelopmental follow-up care is discussed.