AIDS in a three-year old girl

Abstract

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in children was first recognized in 1982, one year after the initial description in adults. WHO estimates that 2 million children had been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by the year 2000. Pediatric AIDS threatens child survival in developing countries. At the end of 1999, 34.3 million individuals were estimated to be infected globally, of which 1.3 million (3.8%) were children below 15 years old. Until September 2005, no children with HIV AIDS in Indonesia was found. Approximately 80% of children acquired HIV-1 infection from vertical maternal transmission; the rest are infected from contaminated blood products, infected organs, breastfeeding, or sexual abuse. Two general patterns of congenital infection are recognized. Twenty percent of infected infants develop early disease, while the rest progress slowly, developing into AIDS in adolescents. The most successful approach in the management of children with HIV requires a multidisciplinary team approach.

Keywords

• AIDS
• three-year old girl