Updated DHHS and WHO Pediatric Antiretroviral Treatment Guidelines

Both guidelines recommend earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infected children and provide new guidance on which drugs to use.

During the past 2 months, both the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the WHO have released updated guidelines for treating HIV-infected children. Both guidelines provide new insight on when to start antiretroviral therapy (ART) in this population and offer guidance on which drugs to use. Both have also added rating systems to indicate the strength and quality of evidence for their recommendations.

When to Start

The WHO recommendations on when to start ART in asymptomatic children are the most aggressive to date from either organization. Based in part on results from the CHER study (JW Infect Dis Nov 19 2008), the WHO guidelines recommend ART for all HIV-infected children aged <24 months, regardless of immunologic or clin…

Reviewing Author

Holly Rawizza, MD

Updated DHHS and WHO Pediatric Antiretroviral Treatment Guidelines

Topics

When to Start

Reviewing Author