ABSTRACT
The number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide reached an estimated 33.4 million in 2008, with 2.7 million new infections and 2 million acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related deaths that same year. The total number of people living with the virus in 2008 was more than 20% higher than the number in 2000, and the prevalence was roughly threefold higher than that in 1990. A maculopapular rash involving the trunk also occurs in 40% to 80% of patients. Oral or genital ulcers can also occur. Given the nonspecific mononucleosis like symptoms of acute HIV infection, the diagnosis is often missed. A critical component of caring for HIV-infected patients is knowledge of evidence-based treatment guidelines. Laboratory testing for neonates must take into account that maternal antibodies cross the placenta and persist in the child’s circulation, making tests for HIV antibodies unreliable.
