Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 26, 2026

Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors
05:46

Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors

Published on: April 9, 2014

18.5K

Highlighting advances on clinical management of pediatric HIV

Rebecka Papaioannu Borjesson1, Tommaso Clemente1, Antonella Castagna1,2

  • 1Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.

Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
|February 25, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric HIV requires earlier diagnosis and optimized antiretroviral therapy (ART) for better viral suppression. Key priorities include child-friendly regimens, resistance testing, and managing comorbidities for improved long-term health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • HIV/AIDS management
  • Antiretroviral therapy research

Background:

  • Pediatric HIV affects 1.4 million children globally, with significant gaps in diagnosis and treatment.
  • Many children on antiretroviral therapy (ART) remain virally unsuppressed, risking disease progression and drug resistance.
  • Guidelines increasingly recommend rapid ART initiation and integrase inhibitor (INSTI)-based regimens for children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current evidence on ART initiation, regimen selection, and resistance in pediatric HIV.
  • To examine major comorbidities and their interaction with lifelong ART in children and adolescents.
  • To discuss practical aspects of care and outline future therapeutic agents for pediatric HIV management.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of current evidence on pediatric HIV treatment.
  • Analysis of data regarding ART effectiveness, resistance patterns, and comorbidities.
  • Exploration of emerging and pipeline agents for pediatric HIV care.

Main Results:

  • Optimizing ART regimens and early diagnosis are crucial for achieving viral suppression in children.
  • Comorbidities such as malnutrition and neurocognitive impairment significantly impact lifelong ART management.
  • Antiretroviral resistance remains a significant challenge in pediatric HIV treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Durable viral suppression in pediatric HIV necessitates earlier diagnosis, child-friendly ART, resistance testing, and integrated comorbidity management.
  • Future research should focus on novel agents, improved monitoring markers, and equitable access to care.
  • Addressing global inequities is essential for effectively managing pediatric HIV.
Abstract

Keywords:
ART optimizationPediatric HIVantiretroviral therapyclinical managementcomorbidities

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