[Vertical transmission of HIV infection: descriptive epidemiology, risk factors and survival].

The basic epidemiological characteristics of HIV infection and AIDS among children are described with a particular reference to HIV vertical transmission. The HIV transmission pattern identified in our community is described according to the WHO classification scheme. To describe the epidemic, as well as its temporal evolution, 1.933 cases reported to the population based registry of Catalonia and 287 seropositive children and their mothers are used. We have quantified the importance of intravenous drug usage by the parents in relationship to HIV transmission; 54.7% of the mothers of HIV positive children were intravenous drug users. We predict that during the coming years there will be a continuous increase in AIDS cases as a result of vertical transmission.