Providing primary care to the HIV-at-risk and infected child.

Pediatric HIV disease is a growing epidemic in the United States. As the incidence of pediatric HIV disease increases, so will the need for primary care providers knowledgeable in pediatric HIV disease. Primary care providers must have the knowledge and expertise to identify those infants at risk for HIV and be able to implement essential interventions to ensure the most optimal outcomes for these at-risk infants. It is no longer feasible for all at-risk children to be cared for by tertiary care facilities. Community based, primary care centers will need to fill an increasingly large role in this area of care.