Natural History of Perinatally Acquired HIV-1 Infection in Children followed from 0-7 years

Objectives: To study the natural history of perinatally acquired HIV-1 infection in children. Methods: This study started in 1986. This paper covers August 1989 - Feb. 1993. Children born to HIV+mothers (study) and HIV - mothers (controls) were followed up clinically and serologically at regular intervals. All the children were breastfed and immunised. Results: A total of 159 children (72 study and 87 controls) were studied; 99 were over 24 months old. Almost all the children 68/72 study and 81/87 controls breastfed. over all mortality (study group) was 14/72 (19) versus 5/87 (6) (controls) (p