AIDS is a leading cause of death among children worldwide. It's the fifth leading cause of death in children between the ages of one and four. Infants born to women who are HIV-positive are more likely to be premature, of low birth weight, and malnourished in their first few months of life. In Lusaka, Zambia high rates of HIV infection are in children with tuberculosis, malnutrition, pneumonia, and diarrhea. Manifestations of HIV disease are varied.
Clinical signs range from nonspecific infections to growth failure and malignancies.
Cervi and colleagues note in AIDS the most common manifestations are oral candidiasis, severe pneumonia, neuromotor retardation, malnutrition, and chronic diarrhea. Surprisingly, Brazilian investigators report tuberculosis in children despite perinatal vaccination. French investigators find that marasmus, adenopathies and oral candidiasis indicates HIV infection in severely malnourished children who live in Burkina Faso. This article reviews the numerous nutritional issues associated with HIV in children. The World Health Organization estimates the incidence of HIV infection in infants and children will reach ten million by the year 2000.