HIV infection in children.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children has emerged as a major, rapidly growing public health problem. The majority of children become infected by perinatal transmission of the virus from an infected mother. The disease is frequently associated with progressive neurologic dysfunction and with opportunistic infections. The cutaneous manifestations of pediatric HIV infection include a wide variety of fungal, bacterial, and viral infections of the skin. These diseases tend to be less responsive to conventional therapies than in the healthy child. In addition, severe seborrheic dermatitis, vasculitis, and drug eruptions are sometimes signs of HIV infection.