HIV/AIDS. Assessment, testing, and natural history.

Physicians need to screen all patients for HIV risk and provide education to reduce risk. If a careful history and physical examination suggest the possibility of HIV infection, physicians should provide informed consent, counsel appropriately, and perform testing. For patients testing positive, knowledge of HIV pathogenesis helps physicians devise rational plans for treatment and patient education. The nonspecific symptoms of primary HIV infection cause it to be underrecognized and frequently not evaluated appropriately. Therapeutic intervention during primary infection may present a unique opportunity to attenuate disease caused by HIV.