Diagnosis of HIV infection in children

During the past 2 decades, the spectrum of HIV disease in children has chan ged dramatically. Although efforts to identify and treat HIV-infected pregn ant women have resulted in an Encouraging decrease in perinatal transmissio n rates, in many developed countries, in utero, intrapartum, and postnatal transmission of HIV by breastfeeding continues to occur at a steady rate. T his article reviews critical issues regarding the diagnosis of HIV infectio n among children, including early diagnosis in the context of the timing of transmission and laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection.