Management of HIV-exposed and HIV-infected children.

The management of HIV-exposed and HIV-infected children has been improved by the introduction of new testing methods and of new antiretroviral agents. Whenever practical, such children should be cared for in consultation with paediatric infectious disease physicians with HIV expertise. Physicians caring for these children should refer to the United States National Institutes of Health guidelines, which are continuously updated. Physicians should keep in mind that the availability date of new antiretroviral agents and of paediatric formulations of antiretroviral agents differs in Canada versus the United States, with variation in which country first licenses these products. Issues on testing for HIV infection in pregnancy, benefit of early detection and prevalence of disease can be found in a previous Canadian Paediatric Society statement titled “Testing for HIV infection in pregnancy” [1].