Pediatric HIV in the Emergency Department

HIV-infected children and youth will continue to be seen in emergency settings. Clinical recognition of patients possibly infected with HIV and the use of rapid HIV testing to identify them are of paramount importance. Effective management of patients known to be infected with HIV requires an understanding of appropriate infection control procedures, an appreciation of risk for opportunistic processes based upon patients' CD4+ T-cell counts, and access to consultation with expert HIV care providers. Finally, effectiveness of and indications for postexposure prophylaxis after occupational and nonoccupational exposures must be appreciated by emergency care providers.