[Contemporary opinions on the clinical symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of primary HIV infection].

Abstract

Primary HIV infection (PHI) includes period between HIV infection and occurrence of anti-HIV antibodies. It is characterized by a high viral load, transient decrease of CD4+ T cell count, high infectivity and, what is very important, lack of anti-HIV antibodies. During PHI acute retroviral disease may occur with a lot of non-characteristic symptoms. The patients (pts) visit general practitioners and influenza-like infections or other viral infections are recognized. The additional reason of lack of proper diagnosis and the delay in diagnosis of HIV infection is negative result of anti-HIV antibodies. That is why the HIV infection is usually diagnosed very late. Patients unconscious of their HIV infection may be a source of infection for other people. Opinions concerning management of PHI are different and are discussed in the paper. The purpose of the paper was to present the problem of primary HIV infection to the doctors of different specialties, who should think about PHI in pts with risky behaviours for HIV infection or presenting symptoms resembling acute retroviral disease.