Diagnosis and Management of Acute HIV Infection

Nicola M. Zetola, Christopher D. Pilcher

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

88 Scopus citations

Abstract

HIV infection starts as an acute, systemic infection, followed by a chronic period of clinical latency, usually lasting 3 to 10 years, which precedes the eventual collapse of the immune system. It is increasingly recognized that events occurring during acute HIV infection may determine the natural course of the disease. The very dynamic events of acute HIV infection provide multiple opportunities for biologic interventions, such as anti-retroviral or immune-based therapies. Similarly, the implementation of public health measures during acute HIV infection could help control epidemics or outbreaks. Many of the dramatic possibilities for intervention in acute HIV infection remain unproved, not the least because of traditional difficulty of diagnosing patients during this early period. This article reviews the natural history, pathogenesis and clinical presentation of acute HIV infection, and suggests a diagnostic and therapeutic approach to guide clinicians dealing with patients with suspected or confirmed acute HIV infection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)19-48
Number of pages30
JournalInfectious Disease Clinics of North America
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2007
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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