HIV & Attitudes Towards PrEP

Host: Joshua D. Luciew, MPAS, PA-C

Guest: Maryam Mahmood, M.B., Ch.B.

Guest: Cesar A. Gonzalez, Ph.D., L.P.

As primary care providers, evaluating patients with a virus is a common part of our practice. This ranges from colds, a painful shingles outbreak, COVID-19, RSV bronchiolitis, influenza, and many more.

Oftentimes, after a detailed physical exam, we tell our patients the cause of their symptoms are due to a virus and that their symptoms should improve in a couple days to weeks. However, we know that sometimes the symptoms of a viral infection can be a harbinger of more severe disease.

In today’s talk, we will be discussing a virus. Acute infection with this virus can present with fever, fatigue, myalgias, arthralgias, lymphadenopathy, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, weight loss, and rash.

This constellation of symptoms, especially when they persist for a prolonged duration of time can be representative of an acute HIV infection.

Tune in to this episode to learn more about the pathophysiology of HIV, how a patient can contract HIV, the tests to perform when an acute HIV infection is suspected, how to prevent an HIV infection, and to learn a bit more about anal Pap smears.

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