Tonsillar and adenoidal hypertrophy may result along with generalized lymphatic hypertrophy. Oral infections include thrush, periodontitis, severe dental caries, parotitis, and cervical lymphadenopathy. Renal manifestations include nephrosis and recurrent urinary tract infections. Children with HIV often manifest short stature and delayed puberty. Myopathies and non-specific rheumatologic conditions may develop.
Lymphopenia is a later manifestation of progressive immune deficiency.
Therapeutic agents such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxasole, zidovudine, and conventional antibiotics may add to bone marrow depression. Acquired circulating anticoagulants result in prolonged coagulation times. Children are less susceptible to Kaposi's sarcoma. Making the diagnosis of HIV infection in young children can be very difficult. However, these assays are often falsely positive in young children due to the detection of maternal antibodies in the infant's serum which can be detectable for as long as 18 months after birth.