PERSPECTIVES ON PEDIATRIC HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS INFECTION

EDITOR'S NOTE: Although curative therapy for HIV infection remains an elusive goal, a number of advances have occurred that can improve the quality and duration of life for HIV-infected infants and children. This includes both antiretroviral therapy and general supportive care. It is certainly hoped and exected that, in the years ahead, improvements and refinements will make treatments more successful. For now, however, standards of care can be defined and should be made available to the pediatric community. Accordingly, the National Pediatric HIV Resource Center brought together a multidisciplinary group of health care providers and parents to define what could and should be done now for all HIV-infected children. It is recognized that these recommendations can (and will) be improved in the future. However, they provide a common ground and basis for dialogue and intervention now and they should be read and considered by all who engaged in the care of children.