HIV infection in children.

In conjunction with the rapid spread of HIV infection in the heterosexual communities of many countries increasing numbers of infants and children are seen as infected with the most common route of transmission being from mother-to-child during pregnancy or at birth. Risk of such vertical transmission is 24-33% higher where mothers suffer from AIDS or AIDS related disease. Where blood screening is absent or partially effective blood transfusions are also a risk for infant and child HIV infection. The risk of infection from breastfeeding remains unclear. Manifestations of AIDS in children include failure to thrive pneumonia chronic diarrhea generalized lymphadenopathy dermatitis recurrent infections hepatosplenomegaly and development delay. Non-specific manifestations and difficulties in serological diagnosis among infants are obstacles to reliable diagnosis. An unknown proportion of children remain asymptomatic while a few become ill some years following infection. Many contract get HIV- related disease in the 1st 2 years of like with subsequently poor prognoses. Management includes counseling along with both early and symptomatic treatment of infection.