Children and HIV

Most children with HIV (anyone age 13 or younger is counted as a child) were born to mothers with HIV or got a transfusion of infected blood. These infections are rare in the developed world. Blood for transfusions is screened. Pregnant women are taking antiviral medications. However, where antiviral medications are not available, or where blood is not routinely screened, children still get infected. Fewer children in the US are infected with HIV each year. In 1992, almost 1,000 children were infected. By 2000, there were just over 100 new infections.

However, the AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) epidemic among adolescents in the United States continues to be an increasing concern. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 4,219 cumulative cases of AIDS among adolescents, or children ages 13 through 19, were reported through June 2001. The number of adolescents living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is estimated to be much higher.

Because the average period of time from HIV infection to the development of AIDS is 10 years, most young adults with AIDS were likely infected with HIV as adolescents. Most adolescents recently infected with HIV are exposed to the virus through sex.