Perinatally HIV‐Infected Adolescents

Abstract

This special issue highlights the emerging needs and challenges associated with care and treatment management of perinatally HIV‐infected children who are surviving into adolescence. The articles in this special issue discuss various issues related to the well‐being of HIV‐infected children and adolescents, including heart, kidney, lung, bone and mental health as well as their epidemiology, metabolism and neurodevelopment. The topics covered in this special issue are current in light of the scarcity of information available related to children with long‐term exposure to HIV and multiple antiretrovirals as they transition to adolescence and further into adulthood. Understanding the complexities around the management of antiretroviral therapy in perinatally HIV‐infected adolescents, who are moving to adult care, and identifying the special needs of these youth is essential for ensuring long and productive lives for this growing population. The special issue is part of the International AIDS Society's “Collaborative Initiative on Paediatric HIV Education and Research” (CIPHER), supported through an unrestricted educational grant from ViiV Healthcare's Paediatric Innovation Seed Fund.(Published: 18 June 2013)Citation: Journal of the International AIDS Society 2013, 16:18778 http://www.jiasociety.org/index.php/jias/article/view/18778 | http://dx.doi.org/10.7448/IAS.16.1.18778 http://www.jiasociety.org/index.php/jias/pages/view/thematicadolescents