Treating the Young

The treatment of HIV-positive children is complicated because the immune systems of babies and young children are still developing.

“Children have a much more rapid rate of disease progression than adults. Their viral loads [the amount of virus in the body] are higher. . . . That is probably because children have a developing immune system and are less able to retain the virus,” says Dr. Katherine Luzuriaga, of the University of Massachusetts.

On the plus side, however, children are also more likely than adults to be otherwise healthy. They often demonstrate fewer side effects in taking the drugs.

“Young babies and children have body systems that haven’t gone through the ravages of life,” Luzuriaga says. “Most have good bone marrows, and good liver function and kidney function. So toxicity rates are lower in children than what we see in adults.”