Children with HIV are particularly prone to bacterial infections. In fact, recurrent or multiple bacterial infections in HIV-positive children under 13 are diagnostic of AIDS, which is not the case in adults.

This susceptibility to bacterial infections is probably due to children's reduced ability to make immunoglobulin antibodies. Immunoglobulins can be given intravenously: this has been found to reduce the occurrence of bacterial infections in children with CD4 counts below 200 cells/mm³.

A recent study examining the use of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in Zambian children, a country which has high levels of bacterial resistance to the drug, found that children receiving co-trimoxazole had a huge survival benefit^[1].

See Anti-HIV therapy: Options for children for further details.