• American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Pediatric AIDS and Committee on Adolescence. Adolescents and human immunodeficiency virus infection: the role of the pediatrician in prevention and intervention. Pediatrics 2001 Jan;107(1):188-90. [9 references]

This is the current release of the guideline.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Policies are reviewed every 3 years by the authoring body. The AAP review process involves an evaluation of new literature that has emerged since the original publication date. Following this review, a recommendation is made that the policy be retired, revised, or reaffirmed without change. Until the Board of Directors approves a revision or reaffirmation, or retires a statement, the current policy remains in effect.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection

Counseling
Prevention
Risk Assessment

Family Practice
Infectious Diseases
Pediatrics

Advanced Practice Nurses
Nurses
Physician Assistants
Physicians

To encourage pediatricians to play an important role is educating adolescents about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention, transmission, and testing, with an emphasis on risk reduction, and in advocating for the special needs of adolescents for access to information about HIV

Adolescents

1. Counseling of adolescents regarding the following:
   • Prevention and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as well as the implications of infection
   • Availability and importance of HIV testing
   • Abstinence from sexual activity and use of safer sexual practices, including use of condoms
   • Reducing high-risk behaviors
2. Referral for medical and psychosocial treatment in HIV-positive patients
3. Helping HIV-positive adolescents to understand the importance of informing sexual partners of their HIV status
4. Advocating for the special needs of adolescents for access to information about HIV

Not stated

Searches of Electronic Databases

Not stated

Not stated

Not stated

Not applicable

Review

Not stated

Not stated

Not applicable

A formal cost analysis was not performed and published cost analyses were not reviewed.

Peer Review

Not stated

1. Information about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the availability of HIV testing should be regarded as an essential component of the anticipatory guidance provided by pediatricians to all adolescent patients. This guidance should include information about HIV prevention and transmission and implications of infection.
2. Prevention guidance should include helping adolescents understand the responsibilities of becoming sexually active. Information should be provided on abstinence from sexual activity and use of safer sexual practices to reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. All adolescents should be counseled about the correct and consistent use of latex condoms to reduce risk of infection.
3. Availability of HIV testing should be discussed with all adolescents and should be encouraged with consent for those who are sexually active or substance users.
4. Although parental involvement in adolescent health care is a desirable goal, consent of an adolescent alone should be sufficient to provide evaluation and treatment for suspected or confirmed HIV infection.
5. A negative HIV test result can allay anxiety resulting from a high-risk event or high-risk behaviors and is a good opportunity to counsel on reducing high-risk behaviors to reduce future risk.
6. For adolescents with a positive HIV test result, it is important to provide support, address medical and psychosocial needs, and arrange linkages to appropriate care.
7. Pediatricians should help adolescents with HIV infection to understand the importance of informing their sexual partners of their potential exposure to HIV. Pediatricians can provide this help directly or via referral to a state or local health department's partner referral program.
8. Pediatricians should advocate for the special needs of adolescents for information about HIV, access to HIV testing and counseling, and HIV treatment.

None provided

The type of evidence supporting each recommendation is not specifically stated.

Half of all new HIV infections in the United States occur among young people between the ages of 13 and 24. Sexual transmission accounts for most cases of HIV during adolescence. Pediatricians can play an important role in educating adolescents about HIV prevention, transmission, and testing, with an emphasis on risk reduction, and in advocating for the special needs of adolescents for access to information about HIV.

Subgroups Most Likely to Benefit:

African American and Hispanic adolescents are at a disproportionately high risk of becoming infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Not stated

The recommendations in this statement do not indicate an exclusive course of treatment or serve as a standard of medical care. Variations, taking into account individual circumstances, may be appropriate.

An implementation strategy was not provided.

Living with Illness
Staying Healthy

Effectiveness
Patient-centeredness

• American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Pediatric AIDS and Committee on Adolescence. Adolescents and human immunodeficiency virus infection: the role of the pediatrician in prevention and intervention. Pediatrics 2001 Jan;107(1):188-90. [9 references]

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

2001 Jan (reaffirmed 2005 Jan)

American Academy of Pediatrics - Medical Specialty Society

American Academy of Pediatrics

Committee on Pediatric AIDS

Committee on Adolescence

Committee on Pediatric AIDS, 2000-2001: Mark W. Kline, MD, Chairperson; Robert J. Boyle, MD; Donna Futterman, MD; Peter L. Havens, MD; Susan King, MD; Lynne M. Mofenson, MD; Gwendolyn B. Scott, MD; Diane W. Wara, MD; Patricia N. Whitley-Williams, MD
Liaison Representative: Mary Lou Lindegren, MD (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Staff: Eileen Casey, MS

Committee on Adolescence, 2000-2001: David W. Kaplan, MD, MPH, Chairperson; Ronald A. Feinstein, MD; Martin M. Fisher, MD; Jonathan D. Klein, MD, MPH; Luis F. Olmedo, MD; Ellen S. Rome, MD, MPH; W. Samuel Yancy, MD
Liaison Representatives: Paula J. Adams Hillard, MD (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists); Glen Pearson, MD (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry); Diane Sacks, MD (Canadian Paediatric Society)
Section Liaison: Barbara L. Frankowski, MD, MPH (Section on School Health)
Staff: Tammy Piazza Hurley

Not stated

This is the current release of the guideline.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Policies are reviewed every 3 years by the authoring body. The AAP review process involves an evaluation of new literature that has emerged since the original publication date. Following this review, a recommendation is made that the policy be retired, revised, or reaffirmed without change. Until the Board of Directors approves a revision or reaffirmation, or retires a statement, the current policy remains in effect.

None available

This summary was completed by ECRI on October 17, 2001. The information was verified by the guideline developer as of December 5, 2001.

This NGC summary is based on the original guideline, which is subject to the guideline developer's copyright restrictions. Please contact the Permissions Editor, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 141 Northwest Point Blvd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007.