Medical care and management of infants born to women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus

The first cases of pediatric AIDS were reported from the United States in 1982. Although transmission of HIV infection from women to their infants was established early in the epidemic, the magnitude of the epidemic in women was not recognized until later. In the United States over 90% of infected children acquired the infection by vertical transmission from mother to infant which may occur in utero, at time of delivery, or postpartum through breast feeding. In spite of a decline in new cases in other groups, cases in women and children have consistently increased in the last 10 years. AIDS is the leading cause of death in women ages 25-44 years and the seventh leading cause of death in children ages one to four years.