- 2.1 million children are living with HIV worldwide and 90% of them are in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Although HIV-mother-to-child-transmission is decreasing due to the prevention policies, there were 160,000 newly infected children in 2016. Of those, only 43% received early HIV testing and less than a half received life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
- In Africa, 10% of infants die during the first year of life, even if on early antiretroviral treatment (ART). In absence of ART, infants with perinatally-acquired HIV have even higher mortality and should be considered in advanced disease at presentation.
- Pneumonia is the main cause of death in HIV-infected children. A significant amount of undiagnosed or poorly treated HIV-infected children present with severe pneumonia in the health systems. Even for those children who are hospitalized, mortality is extremely high despite prompt ART initiation.
- The high mortality risk observed despite accelerated ART in children who presented with advanced HIV disease emphasizes the need for further strategies to improve survival.
