Acute HIV Infection among Patients referred for MP Testing

It has been discovered that many infections, including the acute phase of HIV infection, share similar clinical presentations with malaria. In Nigeria, malaria has been a serious public health problem as it is endemic with more than 90% of the population at risk. This book contains a study designed to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among patients suspected of having malaria, to detect and determine the proportion of HIV positive patients with acute infection and also to determine the prevalence of HIV and malaria parasite (MP) co-infection among patients seeking care at health centres in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study concluded that the prevalence of acute HIV infection and that of HIV and malaria parasite co-infection in Oyo State is 5.8% and 11.0% respectively. This book is relevant to health workers, health policy makers, blood bank and medical laboratory scientists and technicians that have contact with blood sample from patients referred for malaria testing. The finding that 9.8% of the patients visiting health facilities, referred for malaria testing might actually have HIV infection emphasizes the need for them to adhere strictly to all safety precautions.