Overcoming the challenge of diagnosis of early HIV infection: a stepping stone to optimal patient management

Prompt identification of individuals during the highly infectious acute or early stage of HIV infection has implications for both patient management and public health interventions. The studies on natural history of HIV infection over the last three decades have uncovered several clinical features and virological markers to diagnose early infection. However, the brevity of the acute symptomatic phase combined with the difficulty in identifying non-specific signs and symptoms poses diagnosis of early HIV infection as a remaining challenge. Furthermore, underestimation of risky behavior in the absence of detailed patient history and possible concurrent sexually transmitted infections render the diagnosis of recent infection difficult. Herein, we focus on the multifaceted clinical manifestations and the best usage of technological advancements to detect early HIV infection. Early diagnosis of HIV infection contributes to further improving patient outcomes and preventing transmission.