Abstract
By April 1988, 955 (1.5%) children with AIDS had been reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Some had received blood transfusions, but 77% were born to mothers at risk of AIDS. In Italy the prevalence of HIV infection among intravenous drug users ranges from 40-80% in different urban areas, and is higher than in most European countries. Although the definition of pediatric AIDS is limited and does not cover important aspects of symptomatic HIV infection, in Italy children with full-blown AIDS represent 3% of all reported cases. In 1985 an Italian Register for pediatric HIV infection was activatd by the Italian Pediatric Society. By March 1988, 544 children “at risk” were reported. 485 (90%) were born to seropositive mothers and the remaining children acquired the infection through transfusions. The distribution of children who acquired the infection from mother follows that of drug addiction in the country; most of the children who acquired the infection through blood transfusion (often b-Thalassemic) were observed in Sardinia According to the CDC classification 165 children born to HIV positive mothers are “infected”, 92 “not infected“ and 228 “indeterminate. Over 80% of infected patients were symptomatic (28 died) and 10%, despite the absence of symptoms, have some immunological modifications. Symptoms usually appear in the first year of life. In USA 60% of children born to HIV positive mothers are in foster care or adopted, in Italy more than 80% live with their natural families.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Giaquinto, C., D'Elia, R., Tovo, P. et al. 3. EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PEDIATRIC HIV INFECTION IN ITALY. Pediatr Res 24, 653 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198811000-00025
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198811000-00025