Recommendations for antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected children. Completely revised and updated consensus statement of the pediatric aids committee (PAAD) and the German Society for pediatric infectology [Empfehlungen zur antiretroviralen therapie bei HIV-infizierten kindern: Vollständig überarbeitetes und aktualisiertes konsensusstatement der pädiatrischen arbeitsgemeinschaft aids (PAAD) und der deutschen gesellschaft fü pädiatrische infektiologie (DGPI)]

In the era of effective antiretroviral combination therapy, the clinical presentation of HIV infection in childhood and adolescence has changed from a severe immunodeficiency with acute potentially fatal opportunistic infections to a chronic infection that can be treated quite successfully. However, the latest results of basic research and clinical studies on the current antiretroviral therapy regimens show, that eradication of HIV cannot be achieved, that there is an insufficient suppression of viral replication in many children and that long term side effects of the medication cannot be ruled out. While there is substantial evidence that new effective antiretroviral drugs will become available, it is uncertain whether the success of antiretroviral therapy can be maintained long term. Consequently there is a need for a new treatment approach. On this basis the Pädiatrische Arbeitsgemeinschaft AIDS (PAAD) consensus group has updated the recommendations regarding when to start, what regimen to start with and how to monitor antiretroviral therapy in childhood.