clinical indicator conditions associated with untreated HIV infections and recommendations for HIV testing

Last edited 03/2018

"clinical indicator conditions " associated with untreated HIV infections and recommendations for HIV testing

A number of conditions are commoner in those who have HIV infection. They are associated with greater or lesser degrees of immunosuppression.

  • many of these "indicator conditions " also arise frequently in those uninfected with HIV
  • if any of these conditions are encountered or diagnosed during a consultation, a GP should in general, offer or refer for an HIV test; or at the very least think it through

Definitions of indicator conditions and recommendations for HIV testing:

  • conditions which are AIDS defining among people living with HIV - HIV testing is strongly recommended
    • neoplasms
      • cervical cancer
      • non-Hodgkin lymphoma
      • Kaposi "s sarcoma
    • bacterial infections
      • Mycobacterium tuberculosis, pulmonary or extrapulmonar
      • Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) or Mycobacterium kansasii disseminated or extrapulmonary
      • Mycobacterium, other species or unidentified species, disseminated or extrapulmonary
      • pneumonia, recurrent (2 or more episodes in 12 months
      • Salmonella septicaemia, recurrent
    • viral infections
      • Cytomegalovirus retinitis
      • Cytomegalovirus, other (except liver, spleen, glands)
      • herpes simplex, ulcer(s) > 1 month, bronchitis/pneumonitis
      • progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy
    • parasitic infections
      • cerebral toxoplasmosis
      • Cryptosporidiosis diarrhoea, > 1 month
      • Isosporiasis, > 1 month
      • atypical disseminated leishmaniasis
      • reactivation of American trypanosomiasis (meningo encephalitis or myocarditis)
    • fungal infections
      • Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)
      • candidiasis, oesophageal
      • candidiasis, bronchial/tracheal/lungs
      • cryptococcosis, extrapulmonary
      • Histoplasmosis, disseminated/extrapulmonary
      • coccidioidomycosis, disseminated/extrapulmonary
      • penicilliosis, disseminate
  • conditions associated with an undiagnosed HIV prevalence of >=0.1% - strongly recommended testing
    • sexually transmitted infections
    • malignant lymphoma
    • anal cancer/dysplasia
    • cervical dysplasia
    • herpes zoster
    • hepatitis B or C (acute or chronic)
    • mononucleosis-like illness
    • unexplained leucocytopenia/thrombocytopenia lasting > 4 weeks
    • seborrhoeic dermatitis/exanthema
    • invasive pneumococcal disease
    • unexplained fever
    • candidaemia
    • visceral leishmaniasis
    • preganacy - implications for the unborn child
  • other conditions considered likely to have an undiagnosed HIV prevalence of >0.1% - offer testing
    • primary lung cancer
    • lymphocytic meningitis
    • oral hairy leukoplakia
    • severe or atypical psoriasis
    • Guillain-Barre syndrome
    • mononeuritis
    • subcortical dementia
    • multiple sclerosis like illness
    • peripheral neuropathy
    • unexplained weight loss
    • unexplained lymphadenopathy
    • unexplained oral candidiasis
    • unexplained chronic diarrohea
    • unexplained chronic renal impairment
    • hepatitis A
    • community acquired pneumonia
    • candidiasis
  • conditions where not identifying the presence of HIV infection may have significant adverse implications for the individual "s clinical management
    • conditions requiring aggressive immunosuppressive therapy e.g. - cancer, transplantation
    • primary space occupying lesion of the brain
    • idiopathic/thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

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