Eur J Pediatr. 1992 Jun;151(6):442-8. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
A nationwide study involving 286 children of human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV)-infected mothers living in Switzerland has been performed
with the participation of all paediatricians interested in HIV infection
in the country. Of these children 201 could be followed up prospectively
from birth up to a median age of 22 months. Prevalence of HIV infection
in Swiss parturients was estimated at 0.1% and apparently remained
stable from 1986 to 1989. Vertical transmission rate was estimated at
14%-20%. Variables of maternal or perinatal history were not associated
with transmission rate. Transmission to pairs of siblings of the same
mothers was discordant in 33% (6 of 18), with always the elder sibling
being infected. Postneonatal mortality in infants of HIV-infected
mothers followed up from birth was increased 15-fold over the general
population with a very high incidence (2 in 100) of sudden infant death
apparently unrelated to HIV infection.
Child Child, Preschool Female Follow-Up Studies Human HIV
Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/MORTALITY/TRANSMISSION *HIV-1 Infant Infant,
Newborn Male Prevalence Prospective Studies Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Survival Analysis Switzerland/EPIDEMIOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE