Pediatric AIDS: Impact on health systems

For 9 years we have recognized HIV infection/AIDS as an unstoppable epidemic affecting infants, children, and adolescents as well as adults. Now we see the tremendous impact of this disease on the health systems of this country. During these past 9 years, we have witnessed the transformation of the epidemic from one primarily affecting male homosexuals to one invading the average US family through heterosexual and vertical transmissions and through needle-sharing practices of intravenous drug abuse. It has been estimated that 2% to 3% of the HIV infection/AIDS cases involve the pediatric age group. If 1.5 million Americans have HIV infection by 1991, as predicted, we should anticipate 30,000 to 45,000 infected pediatric patients by the end of that year. What has been the impact of this epidemic on the health systems involved in care, prevention, and research of pediatric HIV infection/AIDS? This article investigates that question.