Treatment factors unique to pediatrics
Children generally dependant on an adult to deliver medicine
- That adult may have limited ability to follow-through
- Some parents feel guilty forcing their child to take foul tasting meds
- Mother (or father) may be adjusting to treatment for their own disease
Children have frequent minor infectious illnesses that are common in childhood that can lead to intermittent dose intolerance or periodic treatment with additional medications (antibiotics for OM, for example).
Viral loads set-points are generally much higher in pediatrics.
CD4 counts are normally much higher in children