Pediatric HIV infection

Developments in the prevention and treatment of HIV infection in pregnant women and their children are encouraging. Perinatal ZDV therapy can reduce the maternal-infant transmission rate by two thirds in select populations. New therapies and the development of diagnostic assays to monitor HIV viral burden have renewed hope that, by aggressively controlling viremia, the progressive immunodeficiency can be delayed or even prevented. The general pediatric approach of preventing illnesses through aggressive vaccination and education policies must be actively incorporated into an approach to this epidemic. Success in controlling the pediatric HIV epidemic requires a concerted, coordinated effort by public policy makers, health care providers, basic science researchers, and those who are HIV-infected.