Pediatric HIV infection and AIDS has changed dramatically in the U.S. in recent years. Specifically, fewer infants are becoming infected at birth and more HIV-infected children are living longer.
In the last 3 years, the University of California/San Francisco Pediatric AIDS Program has not lost a single child to AIDS, they announced recently at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics in San Francisco. In Austin, with its relatively small pediatric HIV level, that might not seem earth-shaking news, but in a city with such a high HIV caseload, it is truly remarkable. “AIDS has changed from an acute disease of early infancy to a chronic illness,” UCSF’s Dr. Diane Wara believes. There has also been only one documented case of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in San Francisco in the last 3 years.
This reflects a positive national trend in which rates of mother-to-infant HIV transmission have declined from 26% in 1994 to about 5% in 1997. There will probably be fewer than 500 HIV+ children born in the U.S. this year, thanks to pregnant women getting tested and starting therapy if HIV+.
Austin, too, has seen the same phenomenon on a smaller scale. From 1996 to 1998, we have only had 2 pediatric cases progress to AIDS, although there have been several babies born with the virus. Ten years ago, HIV+ infant life expectancy was 14 months. Today, these kids may have a chance for a decent life.
— Sandy Bartlett, Community Information/Education Coordinator
AIDS Services of Austin
ASA Info Line: 458-AIDS E-mail: ASA@fc.net
This article appears in November 27 • 1998 and November 27 • 1998 (Cover).