The Cost-Effectiveness of Expanded Testing for Primary HIV Infection
Ann Fam Med Coco
3: 391
The Article in Brief
The Prevalence of Primary HIV Infection in Symptomatic Ambulatory Patients
By Andrew Coco, M.D., and colleague
Background:
Approximately 40,000 new cases of HIV infection are identified each year in the United States. Primary HIV infection refers to the early, flu-like symptoms associated with HIV disease. Diagnosis of Primary HIV is an opportunity to help prevent the disease from being transmitted. This study set out to estimate how many patients visiting the doctor’s office, emergency department, or hospital clinic for fever, rash, or sore throat have primary HIV infection.
What this study found:
Based on data from a large national survey, the study estimates that primary HIV infection would be found in 0.66 percent of patients complaining of fever, 0.56 percent of patients with rash, and 0.13 percent of patients with sore throat.
Implications
• This is the first study to estimate the rate of primary HIV infection. • The study results can help policy makers develop national guidelines for HIV testing.
