Children's AIDS Center

In 1983, physicians at Children's Hospital Los Angeles identified the first case of pediatric AIDS in Southern California. Since then, Children's Hospital Los Angeles has become the largest pediatric AIDS and HIV care provider in the western United States, currently treating more than 300 children, adolescents and their families in the Hemophilia, Adolescent Medicine and Allergy/Immunology programs.

The Children's AIDS Center is a multidisciplinary, coordinated and comprehensive program for the treatment of AIDS and HIV infections in youth between the ages of 12 and 23. The program focuses on the multiple and unique needs of HIV-infected children through a family-centered approach.

Combining a commitment to research and education that results in the highest quality clinical care, the Children's AIDS Center offers patients the hope of early detection, prompt treatment, fewer opportunistic infections and a better quality of life.

The program is a designated AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG) Pediatric Sub-Unit through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.

HIV infection in children and adolescents differs from adults because it is often difficult to diagnose, as symptoms are nonspecific.  These young patients experience failure to thrive, recurrent opportunistic infections and abnormalities that affect growth, motor development and the central nervous system.

HIV/AIDS Care

Children, teenagers and young adults with HIV infection receive comprehensive medical and psychosocial care at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Medical services include coordinated clinical care, confidential HIV antibody testing, medical evaluation, nutritional counseling, pre- and post-test counseling, pharmacy, hospitalization, if necessary, investigational therapies (clinical trials) and specialty referrals, as needed.

Psychosocial services include comprehensive case management, individual, partner & family counseling, health education, neuropsychological evaluation, support groups for youth, support groups for parents/guardians and referral to community resources.

In addition, the Children's AIDS Center provides community outreach services including community advisory boards, community education programs, consultation to district school boards, clinical training for physicians, psychologists, nurses and social workers and the University Children Medical Group Speakers Bureau.

Services for HIV-infected children, teenagers and young adults are available in specialized multidisciplinary ambulatory care services at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Find out more about HIV Care for teenagers through the Division of Adolescent Medicine.