In children, AIDS is mainly related to materno-foetal transmission. Du
e to antiviral therapy and prevention of infections, the initially ver
y poor prognosis has improved and the length of survival has increased
. There are two groups of children: the first (25 %) in which the dise
ase occurs early and is very severe, a second one in which the disease
develops later after an asymptomatic period which can last several ye
ars. Manifestations of AIDS in children are mainly pulmonary and diges
tive infections, central nervous system infections are much rarer than
in adults, neurologic disorders are mainly due to the HIV itself. Tum
ors are also rarer than in adults but may occur, inclucing lymphomas a
nd smooth muscle tumors.