HIV in Teenagers May Not Be Detectable Fast Enough!!!

An estimated 14 teenagers get infected with HIV every day in the United States because of risky sex behaviour and drug use. HIV testing using antibody-detecting techniques may be unsuccessful for teens. This is what medical professionals call false-negatives.

Usually HIV testing is recommended on teens that experience a variety of sign or symptoms such as fever, aches and general malaise. A rapid HIV test is based on the detection of the antibodies that the immune system makes against the foreign threat (the HIV virus). Rapid HIV tests do not detect the virus itself. In teens and children antibody development make take weeks or months so in the first few weeks the HIV infection may go undetected by the rapid HIV antibodies detecting test.

There in another type of HIV test that is based on the detection of the actual HIV virus and not the antibodies. It is a test based on a technology called PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The PCR test detects directly key markers on the virus DNA, so it is more trustable and effective in diagnosing HIV. However the PCR test is more expensive and results may take longer to know (3-3 weeks). That is what they are not ordered immediately by doctors and medical professionals.

But, lately, doctors from Johns Hopkins Hospital are recommending to have the PCR HIV test if a previously healthy teenager has some of the following symptoms: enlarged lymph nodes, night sweats, fatigue, headaches or a rash, fever and chills, persistent or recurrent sore throat and/or cough or if he manifests to have engaged in risky sexual behaviour.

It is really important to teach our children and teens not to engage in risky unprotected sex to avoid getting infected with the HIV virus. In addition, if a person goes undetected, because of a false-negative HIV, he (or she) may continue to spread the disease (without knowing) precisely during the phase of the disease where the virus is more aggressive (most contagious).

Sources:

http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/HIV_Treatment_Lagging_Behind_for_Many_Infected_Youth.aspx