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Surveillance data on paediatric HIV infection and AIDS in Greece
G Nikolopoulos1, V Konte, A Masgala
1HIV Infection Office, Hellenic Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, Greece.
Insights
Paediatric HIV/AIDS in Greece remains low, with most cases stemming from mother-to-child transmission. Early identification of HIV-infected pregnant women is crucial for intervention and reducing transmission risks.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- HIV/AIDS surveillance in Greece is managed by the Hellenic Centre for Infectious Diseases Control.
- Established systems include AIDS case reporting (since 1984) and HIV infection notification (since 1998).
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze surveillance data and trends of paediatric HIV infection and AIDS in Greece.
- To include cases identified prior to 1998 in the analysis.
Main Methods:
- Review of surveillance data on paediatric HIV and AIDS cases in Greece up to June 2003.
- Analysis of transmission routes, opportunistic infections, and age at diagnosis.
Main Results:
- A cumulative total of 69 HIV-infected children were reported by June 2003, with 64% attributed to mother-to-child transmission.
- Thirty-three paediatric AIDS cases were reported, with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia as the most common opportunistic infection.
- A significant proportion of children were diagnosed after age 1, with new cases in 2003 involving foreign children.
Conclusions:
- Late diagnosis in children suggests challenges in identifying HIV-infected pregnant women.
- Mother-to-child transmission remains a key concern, necessitating improved antenatal screening and intervention.
- Focusing on at-risk populations, including foreign nationals, is vital for reducing paediatric HIV/AIDS globally.
Abstract:
In Greece, HIV/AIDS surveillance is conducted by the Hellenic Centre for Infectious Diseases Control. The AIDS case reporting system was implemented in 1984, followed by notification of HIV infections in 1998. This article presents surveillance and trend analysis of paediatric HIV infection and AIDS, including cases identified prior to 1998. The number of HIV infected children in Greece is relatively low, raising to a cumulative total of 69 cases by June 2003, 44 (64%) of whom are thought to have been infected through mother-to-child transmission. Thirty three paediatric AIDS cases have been reported since the onset of epidemic, with Pneumonocystis carinii pneumonia being the most frequent opportunistic infection. A significant number of children in Greece were diagnosed after the age of 1 year. This could be attributed to the fact that many HIV-infected women are not identified during pregnancy, despite that fact that voluntary testing is available. It could also be attributed to the fact that data includes HIV infections collected retrospectively after 1998, and that foreign HIV-infected children may arrive in Greece at a later age. Furthermore, new paediatric HIV positive cases that were reported during the first half-year period of 2003 were foreign children born in eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Efforts should be made to identify women in these populations in time for proper intervention. HIV infection in children remains a huge problem worldwide, and it is very important to focus on reducing the risk of mother-to-child transmission.
