Managing HIV. Part 6: People living with HIV. 6.3 Children with HIV.

Sometimes the diagnosis of HIV in a child is the first sign that other family members are affected by the virus. The immature immune system of children responds to HIV infection differently to that of adults. Disease progression is rapid in some, but most progress to AIDS at a similar or slower rate than do adults. A lack of developed immunity to various pathogens means that children are at special risk of opportunistic infection, demanding alert clinical management.