Paediatric HIV infection - diagnostic and epidemiological aspects

There are currently more than 1.3 million children living with HIV in the w orld today and many more who have been orphaned by the epidemic. This revie w explores the nature of the widening gap in the experience of HIV infectio n between high- and low-income countries. The global epidemiology is descri bed, highlighting the burden carried by sub-Saharan Africa and the alarming increase being witnessed in the Asia/Pacific region. Most of these infecti ons are acquired vertically and are now largely preventable in well-resourc ed settings, and finding ana implementing appropriate measures in poorer co untries is urgently needed. Finally the ability to diagnose paediatric HIV infection is explored, highlighting the difference in the implications of d oing so in settings with limited resources.