Paediatric HIV
Global View
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| Geography Two-thirds of all people living with HIV/AIDS are in Sub-Saharan Africa, with 91% of all new infections in children. |
Transmission About 90% of the infected infants acquired the HIV virus from their HIV-positive mothers during pregnancy, delivery, or through breast-feeding (mother-to-child transmission, MTCT). Without treatment one-third of infected children die in their first year of life, half by the age of two, and four-fifths by five years of age. |
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| Symptoms Infected infants develop the same symptoms as adults, but the disease progresses faster, and their growth and weight gain is below the normal rate. Severe wasting is common, and diarrhoea and upper respiratory tract infections cause increased morbidity and death. As the disease progresses, opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis are common. There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically reduced HIV mortality rates and leads to prolonged life expectancy. |
Patient Treatments Needs Current treatment options for HIV-positive children are insufficient, as little investment has been made to ensure the safety and efficacy of antiretrovirals in treating children, or to develop child-appropriate formulations. An improved first-line therapy for children under 3 years of age would ideally be safe, easy to administer, well-tolerated and palatable, heat-stable, readily dispersible, and dosed once daily or less. It must also carry minimal risk for developing resistance, be compatible with drugs against tuberculosis, and affordable. |
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3.4 million children (<15 y.o.) living with HIV
330,000 children (<15 y.o.) newly infected
230,000 AIDS deaths in children (<15 y.o.) living with HIV
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