HIV and AIDS in Children

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Original Editor - Franca Ebomah

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Introduction[edit | edit source]

There is an unacceptably high number of children becoming recently infected with HIV globally[1]. Poor mental health outcomes is a risk factor for children with HIV/AIDS[2]HIV/AIDS in children is a significant problem in developing countries[3]

Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Children[edit | edit source]

  • Worldwide, there are approximately 2.78 million children aged 0-19 years living with HIV[4]
  • In 2020, approximately 850 children became infected with HIV daily and 330 children died from AIDS-related causes daily.
  • Close to 90% of children newly infected with HIV in 2020 were from sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Female children consist a higher percentage of children with HIV [5]

Effects of HIV[edit | edit source]

There are direct and indirect effects of HIV.

Direct effects: HIV has direct neurotoxic effects on brain structures involved in the regulation of emotion, behavior, and cognition.[6]

Indirect effects: These include social stressors, poverty, illness and trauma on morbidity and mortality[7]

Children infected with HIV/AIDS are at increased risk of developmental and neuropsychological disturbances owing to both the direct and indirect effects of the HIV.[6]

Management[edit | edit source]

The best way to manage pediatric HIV/AIDS is to prevent children from acquiring HIV by preventing the infection of their mothers[3]

Resources[edit | edit source]

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References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ UNAIDS. Ending of the AIDS epidemic. 2021. Available from https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/UNAIDS_FactSheet_en.pdf. 14/12/2021
  2. ↑ Sharp C, Penner F, Marais L, Skinner D. School connectedness as psychological resilience factor in children affected by HIV/AIDS. AIDS care. 2018 Jul 25;30(sup4):34-41.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Embree J. The impact of HIV/AIDS on children in developing countries. Paediatrics & child health. 2005 May 1;10(5):261-3.
  4. ↑ UNICEF Data. HIV Statistics- Global and Regional Trends. Available from:https://data.unicef.org/topic/hivaids/global-regional-trends/#:~:text=Global%20trends,live%20in%20sub%2DSaharan%20Africa. (Accessed 01/01/2022)
  5. ↑ HIV.gov. Global Statistics. Available from: https://data.unicef.org/topic/hivaids/global-regional-trends/#:~:text=Global%20trends,live%20in%20sub%2DSaharan%20Africa. (Accessed 01/01/2022).
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Benton TD, Lachman A, Seedat S. HIV and/or AIDS. Addressing the mental health needs of affected children and families. IACAPAP e-textbook of child and adolescent mental health. Geneva: International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions. 2013. Available from: https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-019-2023-9. (Accessed on 01/01/2022)
  7. ↑ Boivin MJ, Ruiseñor-Escudero H, Familiar-Lopez I. CNS impact of perinatal HIV infection and early treatment: the need for behavioral rehabilitative interventions along with medical treatment and care. Current Hiv/Aids Reports. 2016 Dec;13(6):318-27.
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