Current status of pediatric human immunodeficiency virus infection in Japan

J Infect Chemother. 2014 Nov;20(11):661-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jiac.2014.07.019. Epub 2014 Aug 30.

Abstract

There are currently very few English reports about Japanese pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In this study, we introduce our experience with pediatric HIV in a single hospital, and review the present status of HIV infections in children in Japan. In Japan, the main infection routes of HIV include sexual activity, mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), blood or blood product transfusion, and drug use. Most pediatric HIV patients have been infected by MTCT in recent years. One survey showed that in Japan, 52 babies were infected by MTCT between 1984 and 2011. Only 2 cases of pediatric HIV infection have been reported since 2010. The MTCT rate has decreased to 0.5% owing to several preventive interventions. In addition, the HIV antibody test is now performed in more than 98.3% of pregnant women in Japan.

Keywords: AIDS; Co-infection; Mother-to-child transmission; Pediatric HIV.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / etiology
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications
  • Transfusion Reaction

Substances

  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors