Toename van gemelde HIV-1-infectie bij kinderen in Nederland, 1982-1997: meer verticale transmissie en groter aandeel van allochtone kinderen

To document the trend of the yearly number of newly diagnosed paediatric HIV-1 infections in the Netherlands.

Design

Retrospective registration regarding the period January 1st 1982-December 31st 1994 and prospective registration regarding January 1st 1995-December 31st 1997.

Method

Based on reports to the Dutch Paediatric Surveillance Unit (Nederlands Signaleringscentrum Kindergeneeskunde) numbers of paediatric HIV-1 diagnoses (0-18 years) in the Netherlands were determined prospectively. Retrospective figures were determined by asking the paediatricians also to report the HIV-1 infected children diagnosed before the first of January 1995. A comparison was made with data from the Inspectorate for Health Care (Inspectie voor de Gezondheidszorg). All reports were followed up with standard questionnaires.

Results

In both periods an increase in the number of newly diagnosed paediatric HIV-1 infections per year in the Netherlands was seen (1982-1994: 74 children; 1995-1997: 43 children). The majority of the parents of the HIV-1 infected children originated from outside the Netherlands (1982-1994: 57; 1995-1997: 91), often from HIV-endemic countries (1982-1994: 41; 1995-1997: 77). The main mode of infection was vertical transmission (1982-1994: 62; 1995-1997: 84); diagnosis in allochtonous children was made relatively late.

Conclusion

The current rise in the absolute number of newly detected paediatric HIV-1 infections in the Netherlands is predominantly due to the growing group of children born to parents who originate from HIV-endemic countries.