A Phase I Study of Combination Therapy With Didanosine (ddI) and Ribavirin in HIV-Infected Children.

Inclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Recommended: * PCP prophylaxis. Allowed: * Acetaminophen for no more than 72 hours. * Immunoglobulin. * Corticosteroids. * Erythropoietin. * G-CSF and GM-CSF. * Ethionamide or isoniazid for TB if no alternative available. * Immunizations according to current recommendations. Patients must have: * HIV infection. * Immunologic abnormality or clinical symptoms as detailed in the Disease Status field. * No active AIDS-defining opportunistic infection or malignancy, no progressive encephalopathy attributable to HIV and no chronic persistent diarrhea. * Consent of parent or guardian. PER AMENDMENT 7/2/96: * At least 2 of the 5 children in the older half of each cohort must have an ICD p24 antigen concentration \>= 70 pg/ml at screening. Prior Medication: Allowed: * Up to 6 weeks of prior immunomodulator therapy. * Maternal immunomodulator or antiretroviral therapy, including during pregnancy. * Prior corticosteroids or intravenous immunoglobulin. Exclusion Criteria Co-existing Condition: Patients with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded: * Current grade 3 or worse neuropathy/lower motor neuropathy. * Clinical or laboratory grade 3 or worse toxicities. * Active serious bacterial infection. Concurrent Medication: Excluded: * Chemotherapy for active malignancy. * Antiretrovirals other than study drugs. * Immunomodulators unless specifically allowed. Patients with the following prior condition are excluded: * History of grade 3 or worse neuropathy/lower motor neuropathy. Prior Medication: Excluded: * Prior ddI or oral ribavirin. * Aerosolized ribavirin within 6 weeks prior to study entry. * Antiretroviral or immunomodulator therapy (other than corticosteroids or IVIG) within 1 week prior to blood draws for study entry. Ongoing drug or alcohol abuse.