title: Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in pediatric HIV infection. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
abstract: Although the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the general virologic and immunologic principles underlying the use of antiretroviral therapy are similar for all HIV-infected persons, there are unique considerations needed for HIV-infected infants, children, and adolescents, including a) acquisition of infection through perinatal exposure for many infected children; b) in utero exposure to zidovudine (ZDV) and other antiretroviral medications in many perinatally infected children; c) differences in diagnostic evaluation in perinatal infection; d) differences in immunologic markers (e.g., CD4+ T-lymphocyte count) in young children; e) changes in pharmacokinetic parameters with age caused by the continuing development and maturation of organ systems involved in drug metabolism and clearance; f) differences in the clinical and virologic manifestations of perinatal HIV infection secondary to the occurrence of primary infection in growing, immunologically immature persons; and g) special considerations associated with adherence to treatment for children and adolescents. This report addresses the pediatric-specific issues associated with antiretroviral treatment and provides guidelines to health-care providers caring for infected infants, children, and adolescents.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents