Childrens AIDS Center
The Childrens AIDS Center is a multidisciplinary, coordinated and comprehensive program for the treatment of AIDS and HIV infection. 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 Childrens AIDS Program 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 Diseases.
Background
In 1983, physicians at CHLA identified the first case of pediatric AIDS in Southern California. Since then, CHLA has become the largest pediatric AIDS and HIV care provider in the western United States, currently treating more than 200 children, adolescents and their families in the Hemophilia, Adolescent Medicine and Allergy/Immunology programs.
Over 80 percent of children with HIV were infected perinatally, by mothers who passed the virus to the fetus during pregnancy or birth. Many others with HIV/AIDS are hemophiliacs, disenfranchised youth and transfusion patients who were exposed to the virus through infected blood products or lifestyle choices. 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 infections receive comprehensive medical and psychosocial at CHLA. 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 Childrens 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 UCMG Speakers Bureau.
Services for HIV-infected children, teenagers and young adults are available in specialized multidisciplinary ambulatory care services at CHLA:
- Clinical Immunology Service - Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy
The Clinical Immunology Service provides coordinated comprehensive care for infants and children under 12 years who are HIV-infected or at risk through perinatal transmission or through transfusions received prior to the screening of blood for HIV antibodies.
- Risk Reduction - Division of Adolescent Medicine
The Teenage Health Center in the Divison of Adolescent Medicine provides comprehensive health care services to youths ages 13 through 24 years old who are HIV-infected or at risk of infection. Services are provided with sensitivity to the developmental needs of teenagers and their families.
Risk Reduction:
UCMG physicians at CHLA are committed to preventing HIV infection.
- Prevention Services, Risk Reduction Program - Division of Adolescent Medicine
The Division of Adolescent Medicine's Risk Reduction Program provides services designed to prevent the spread of HIV infection among youth utilizing the Division services. Homeless and runaway youth, pregnant teens and teen parents are high priorities. A street outreach team provides curbside counseling about AIDS and risk reduction behaviors to youth on the street. Referrals for shelter, health care and social services are also provided by outreach workers. A team that includes youth educators provides group education and skill building sessions to pregnant teens and teen parents at schools and community agencies.
Case Management:
The Los Angeles Family AIDS Network (LAFAN) is a federally funded Pediatric AIDS Demonstration Project for Los Angeles County. It provides comprehensive case management services at CHLA and six other hospital-based pediatric AIDS programs. LAFAN-supported social workers and psychologists are integrated into each of the Childrens AIDS Center's ambulatory care services.
Mental Health Services:
The Division of Adolescent Medicine provides mental health services to youth living with HIV and youth affected by HIV. Psychologists provide individual, couple, family and group counseling.
Research:
Since there is currently no cure for AIDS, clinical research studies represent AIDS patients' best hope. At CHLA, physicians, scientists and health care professionals are involved in basic science and clinical research using single agents and combinations of investigational therapies for HIV/AIDS and opportunistic infections.
Many of our research programs are conducted collaboratively with leading research institutions including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), University of Southern California and University of California Los Angeles.
The Childrens AIDS program's services and programs are made possible in part through federal, state and private funding sources including: The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Maternal-Child Health Bureau, National Institutes of Health (NIH), California Office of AIDS, Los Angeles County AIDS Program Office and Los Angeles Family AIDS Network.
PHYSICIANS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy
- Joseph A. Church, M.D., Division Head
- Ronald Ferdman, M.D.
- Mary E. Wakim, M.D.
Division of Adolescent Medicine
- Richard G. Mackenzie, M.D., Division Head
- Marvin E. Belzer, M.D.
- Lawrence S. Neinstein, M.D.
- Michele M. Roland, M.D.
- Sara Sherer, Ph.D.
- Diane K. Tanaka, M.D.
- Curren W. Warf, M.D.
HOW TO CONTACT US
Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy
The Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy welcomes your inquiries. To contact us you can:
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| Call the Division directly at: | (323) 669-2501 | |
Write to us at: |
Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy Childrens Hospital Los Angeles 4650 Sunset Blvd., #75 Los Angeles, CA 90027-6062 |
Division of Adolescent Medicine
The Division of Adolescent Medicine welcomes your inquiries. To contact us you can:
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| Call the Division directly at: | (323) 669-2153 | |
Write to us at: |
Division of Adolescent Medicine Childrens Hospital Los Angeles 4650 Sunset Blvd., #2 Los Angeles, CA 90027-6062 |
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