[AIDS on Curaçao: the first 6 years].

We present our experience with AIDS in Curaçao in the first 6 years after the introduction of a serologic HIV screening method. 71 cases of full-blown AIDS were diagnosed in the period 1-1-1986 to 12-31-1991 giving a mean incidence of 81 cases per million per year. Non-homosexual transmission was the predominant mode of spread of HIV with a low male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. Kaposi's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and hairy leukoplakia were not found. Survival probability was 48% and 30% at 1 and 2 year after diagnosis respectively, with better survival for female patients. In view of the still rising HIV prevalence rate, the peak in AIDS incidence in Curaçao can be expected between 1993 and 1998 so that the AIDS epidemic will become a tremendous social and economic burden in the Dutch Antilles in the years to come.