AIDS, the most severe manifestation of infection with the Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), has been diagnosed in more than 900 children under 13 years (May, 1988) throughout the United States, 77 percent of whom have been infected in utero or perinatally secondary to maternal infection. Risk factors for maternal infection include intravenous drug abuse or sexual contact with partners who are intravenous drug abusers or bisexual. The remainder of children, including a high proportion of hemophiliacs, have been infected through blood or clotting factor infusion in the period between 1979 and 1985. In addition, adolescents have acquired infection through sexual activity and intravenous drug use, as well as transfusion of contaminated blood or blood factors.
