HIV & AIDS

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The Pediatric HIV & AIDS Program (PHAP) at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical care and treatment for children with known or suspected HIV infection, AIDS, and AIDS-related symptoms. Since 1986, our goal has been to enhance long-term outcomes for children facing these conditions by supporting the medical, psychological, social, and emotional development of each child and family we see, from infancy through adulthood.

Why Families Choose Us

Early Intervention Means Higher Success Rates

• For Pregnant Women: Initial services for HIV-infected women include education about the importance of self-care, medication adherence, and anticipatory guidance about the baby's initial evaluation and serial diagnostic tests needed to determine whether the baby is infected.
• Newborn infants undergo testing and receive preventive medications in a setting that provides education, counseling, mental health services, case management, and referrals.

Comprehensive Healthcare for Pediatric HIV and AIDS in Northern California

• We provide highly specialized and comprehensive medical and psychosocial services for HIV and AIDS-impacted children and families through a broad scope of specialty support services.
• Each patient is seen by a team that includes a physician, an advanced practice nurse, a clinical social worker, and by other specialists as needed, in all pediatric specialties, including registered dieticians and psychologists.
• As our patients grow and mature, we provide gradually more education and support to address the challenging issues of disclosure, privacy, puberty, and common adolescent concerns, and we oversee the critical steps in learning independence and gradual transition to adult care.
• We facilitate referrals for families to HIV-specific camps to meet their children's needs.

Multidisciplinary Team Support

• Multidisciplinary Support: Subspecialists from across Children’s Hospital are consulted to share their expertise when needed, with care coordinated by our team of providers.
• Access to Clinical Trials and Research Studies: We offer our patients opportunities, when they arise, to participate in studies aimed at better understanding of HIV in children.
• Transition to Youth and Adult Care: We work closely with our patients to plan a smooth transition to local youth and adult HIV providers, as they gradually learn to navigate the healthcare system and to take responsibility for their own healthcare needs.