The opportunistic and bacterial infections associated with pediatric human immunodeficiency virus disease.

Abstract

Opportunistic and bacterial infections remain the leading causes of death of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-infected children, despite recent advances in the diagnosis of HIV infection during early infancy; antiretroviral therapies; advances in the treatment of some infections; an improved understanding of the cellular immune systems during early childhood; and new strategies for the prevention of some infections. However, these advances appear to be changing the natural history of pediatric HIV infection, resulting in an improved and longer life for infected children. This article briefly reviews the epidemiology, predictors, and treatments of the most common infections associated with pediatric HIV disease, including Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, recurrent bacterial infections, candidiasis, herpes group viruses, mycobacterial disease and cryptosporidiosis.