A profile of human immunodeficiency virus-infected adolescents receiving health care services at selected sites in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the demographic/clinical profile of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adolescents in care at selected sites.


METHODS
We mailed surveys requesting prevalence data from physicians in government-funded HIV research and care programs on HIV-infected youth (10-21 years) receiving care.


RESULTS
A total of 49% responses yielded information on 978 subjects. Vertical, blood, and sexual were predominant transmission modes. Three-quarters were of an ethnic/racial minority; 50% were female. The earliest median CD4 count was 0.467 x 10(9)/liter (467/microliter). Percent asymptomatic varied by transmission: vertical (16%), blood products (40%), male-male sexual (67%) and female-male sexual (M:73%) (F:74%). Clinical indicated Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis was differentially prescribed: vertical (96%), blood (89%), and sexually (male-male-47%) (female-male: M: 36% and F: 56%). Of these youth 78% are not represented in national AIDS case data.


CONCLUSIONS
Examination of numerator data from selected sites indicates three transmission-driven adolescent HIV epidemics with different characteristics. Minority youth are disproportionately represented; many vertically infected infants are surviving to adolescence; sexual activity is a significant transmission avenue. HIV-infected youth appear to enter care with considerable immunosuppression. Clinical profiles and treatment patterns appear to differ by transmission mode. Further study is needed on adolescent HIV disease progression and determinants of access to care and treatment.
Rogers
A S
AS
Pediatric, Adolescent, and Maternal AIDS Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510, USA.
Futterman
D
D
Levin
L
L
D'Angelo
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000517:prevention & control; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology