Commentary on adolescent acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: The next wave of the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic?

Exploring the risks for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in adolescence helps focus on the special characteristics of this age group, and it is important to consider adolescents separately from adults currently infected.

Abstract

Adolescent sexual behavior is a common and controversial concern. We are only now beginning to recognize the risk for infection with human immunodeficiency virus associated with this behavior. In fact, exploring the risks for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in adolescence helps focus on the special characteristics of this age group. Certain subgroups of adolescents may form bridges from adults currently infected to a larger group of adolescents. As the virus spreads from individuals initially infected (adult homosexual men, blood product recipients, and intravenous drug users) to their partners and beyond, the risk-related behaviors of adolescents put some teenagers directly in the path of the epidemic. 1 Adolescent AIDS cases (ages 13 to 21 years) reported to the Centers for Disease Control account for only 1% of the total reported. 2 However, the mean latency time from viral infection to time of illness is estimated to be 8 years. Therefore most infected adolescents would not become ill until young adulthood. The proportion of cases reported in persons 20 to 29 years of age is 21% of the total2 It is important to consider adolescents separately from