HIV Infection: Epidemiology, Natural History and Diagnosis

Abstract

In the last 35 years, major progresses have been accomplished in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection, with reduction of the incidence of infection in Portugal, in the last decade. Nevertheless, there is still a high rate of late diagnosis, with individual and populational adverse outcomes. This paper aims to: present the current situation of HIV infection in Portugal, briefly review the natural course of HIV infection and exhibit the most recent HIV laboratory diagnostic testing algorithm, reviewed in 2014, strengthening the need of maintaining a high grade of clinical suspicion for early diagnosis of infection.