HIV Infection in Infants and Children - An Updated Review

The first cases of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were reported in United States in 1981. AIDS appeared in Bangladesh 8 years later. At present AIDS exists worldwide. Neighboring countries like India, Myanmar and Thailand already have alarming rates of HIV infection. With increasing incidence and prevalence of AIDS worldwide, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in infants and children are also increasing. In developed countries, paediatric AIDS constitute only 2% of HIV infection, where as in developing countries, it comprises about 20% of all the HIV infected cases. Areas like Africa, where HIV is endemic and heterosexual transmission predominates, have a devastating high frequency of paediatric AIDS cases1. In contrast to adults the course of HIV infection in children is accelerated, the phases are less distinct and progression from one phase to another is rapid resulting in early death.