A Child With HIV Infection

To the Editor.—  The increasing incidence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in children is a growing concern to pediatricians and public health officials. Children are believed to be exposed to HIV in utero or postpartum (ie, through breast milk) when born to women who are infected with the virus.^1,2 A number of children have also become infected following the transfusion of blood products that were collected from infected donors.³

Report of a Case.—  In 1984, we were asked to evaluate a 10-year-old girl for possible exposure to HIV. Her mother had recently been diagnosed as having the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The girl's mother admitted that she had had frequent sexual contact with a man who was using parenteral drugs. The child had been sexually molested by this man two years prior to our evaluation. The girl was asymptomatic and the results of physical examination were