THE OPPORTUNISTIC AND BACTERIAL-INFECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PEDIATRIC HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS DISEASE

Opportunistic and bacterial infections remain the leading causes of de ath of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-infected children, despite recent advances in the diagnosis of HIV infection during early infancy; antir etroviral therapies; advances in the treatment of some infections; an improved understanding of the cellular immune systems during early chi ldhood; and new strategies for the prevention of some infections. Howe ver, these advances appear to be changing the natural history of pedia tric HIV infection, resulting in an improved and longer life for infec ted children. This article briefly reviews the epidemiology, predictor s, and treatments of the most common infections associated with pediat ric HIV disease, including Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, recurrent b acterial infections, candidiasis, herpes group viruses, mycobacterial disease and cryptosporidiosis.