THE MENTAL DEVELOPMENT OF HIV-INFECTED CHILDREN

A clinical laboratory and neuropsychological study included 74 HIV-infected children under dispensary follow-up at the Department of Maternity and Childhood of Saint-Petersburg AIDS Center. The mental development of most HIV-infected children was found to be delayed. HIV progression was associated with disturbed kinesthesia and with difficulties in self-control. Pronounced immunosuppression hampers the development of interhemispheric relationships, voluntary visual perception, and visual memorization, and causes difficulties in recollecting of familiar images. High blood HIV RNA is associated with impaired voluntary visual perception in preschool children and with difficulties in memorizing of logical information in schoolchildren. HAART improves children s attention, ameliorates fatigue, and facilitates long-term concentration.