Analysis of Undiagnosed HIV- Positive Patients in the Emergency Room.
- Author:
Dong Woo SEO
1
;
Kyoung Soo LIM
;
Jae Ho LEE
;
Jae Chul YOUN
;
Won KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. kslim@amc.seoul.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
HIV;
AIDS;
Emergency room;
Indicators;
Conditions
- MeSH:
Cerebrospinal Fluid;
Cryptococcus;
Diagnosis;
Diarrhea;
Dyspnea;
Emergencies*;
Emergency Service, Hospital*;
Fever;
Fever of Unknown Origin;
Hematologic Tests;
HIV;
Humans;
Leukoencephalopathies;
Lung;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Mass Screening;
Paresis;
Pneumonia;
Pneumonia, Pneumocystis;
Retrospective Studies;
Thorax;
Tuberculosis;
Vertigo
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2003;14(3):258-263
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to analysis undiagnosed HIV-positive patients in the Emergency Room (ER). We expect these analysis to be of help in preventing exposure to HIV and in making a diagnosis effectively. METHODS: A retrospective analysis by chart review was carried out on 8 unrecognized HIV patients who had been admitted to the ward via the ER from December 2000 to August 2002. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) The chief complaints were fever with mental change, dyspnea, hemiparesis, dyspnea with fever, chronic diarrhea with fever, abdominal discomfort, and dyspnea with fever and vertigo. 2) The 8 patients all had AIDS as well as other diseases. 3) The reasons for the anti-HIV test were continuous fever of unknown origin (FUO) 33.3%, chest X-ray abnormality 20.0%, VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) test positive 13.3%, pre-operation screening blood test 13.3%. The rest were due to MRI (magnetic resonance image) abnormality, intraabdominal tuberculosis, and Cryptococcus in cerebrospinal fluid and comprised 6.7% of the total. CONCLUSION: We recommend that an anti-HIV test be given in the ER for patients who have FUO, infiltration of both lungs in the chest X-ray and a VDRL positive in serum. We also recommend that an anti-HIV test be given in the ER for patients with suspected HIV-related encephalopathy, tuberculosis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, recurrent pneumonia, and progressive multi-focal leukoencephalopathy.
