[Anyone can contract HIV but no one should get AIDS]

Area of Science:

• Internal Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can present with diverse clinical symptoms.
• Untreated HIV progresses to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), leading to severe complications.
• Effective antiretroviral therapies exist to manage HIV and prevent AIDS progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the importance of timely HIV testing.
• To highlight the diagnostic challenges in cases lacking apparent risk factors.
• To underscore the need for considering HIV in unexplained clinical presentations.

Main Methods:

• Case report of two Icelandic women diagnosed with AIDS.
• Review of clinical presentations and diagnostic delays.
• Analysis of factors contributing to delayed HIV diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Both cases presented with AIDS, indicating advanced HIV infection.
• Neither patient reported traditional risk factors for HIV acquisition.
• Significant delays in HIV diagnosis occurred due to a lack of suspicion.

Conclusions:

• HIV should be considered in the differential diagnosis for unexplained symptoms, regardless of perceived risk.
• Delayed diagnosis of HIV can lead to severe outcomes like AIDS.
• Increased awareness and broader testing strategies are necessary for early HIV detection.