Primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection: clinical manifestations among women in Mombasa, Kenya

Clin Infect Dis. 2000 Mar;30(3):486-90. doi: 10.1086/313718.

Abstract

The occurrence of clinical manifestations associated with primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection was evaluated in a prospective cohort study of female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya. Among 103 women who seroconverted to HIV-1, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, extrainguinal lymphadenopathy, inguinal lymphadenopathy, and vaginal candidiasis were noted significantly more frequently at visits in which seroconversion first became evident. Eighty-one percent of seroconverting women had >/=1 of these 11 symptoms or signs. Among 44% of the women, the acute illness was severe enough to prevent them from working. Having >/=2 of 6 selected symptoms and signs yielded a sensitivity of 51%, specificity of 83%, positive likelihood ratio of 3.2, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.5 for acute HIV-1 infection. The recognition of primary HIV-1-infection illness in high-risk populations and subsequent risk-reduction counseling could potentially reduce secondary HIV-1 transmission during this highly infectious period.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Antibodies / blood*
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / pathology
  • HIV Infections / physiopathology
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sex Work*

Substances

  • HIV Antibodies