Prevention of HIV-associated respiratory illness in children in developing countries: potential benefits

Respiratory disease accounts for a substantial proportion of illness in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children. A number of interventions are available to prevent respiratory complications; these interventions may be beneficial especially in low-income countries where the burden of human immunodeficiency virus and infectious diseases are high and where antiretroviral therapy is unavailable or unaffordable. This article reviews the potential benefits and risks for interventions that are available to prevent respiratory complications including chemoprophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and tuberculosis, use of immunisation for prevention of specific respiratory infections and non-specific measures including nutrition and micronutrient supplementation.