HIV infection: the challenge to general practitioners

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Abstract
The ability to control and treat the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic depends critically on care in the community, yet little is known about how primary care is responding to the challenge. The mere mention of AIDS raises huge anxieties for doctors as well as patients, and discussing sexual behavior rarely flows naturally from other aspects of routine consultations. Doctors should be discussing the risks of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections with most adults attending for immunizations for overseas travel and many patients consulting about contraception. With regard to actual tests for HIV antibodies, positive results found by general practitioners, especially in cases where there is no major risk factor, should be treated as false positives until confirmed by specialized tests. Doctors should seek to use each consultation to educate the patient about HIV infection.

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