Private MD News

Few HIV patients are given herpes 2 testing

Category: HIV monitoring/Treatment/Testing/Post Diagnos

Individuals who are infected with HIV may benefit from talking to their doctor about herpes 2 testing, as new research suggests that few doctors ever recommend the procedure to HIV patients, despite high rates of dual infection.

A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University said that anywhere from 70 to 90 percent of HIV patients also have herpes. This poses a significant danger to these individuals because no matter how well controlled the HIV infection is, the herpes virus can contribute to poor treatment outcomes.

For the study, the researchers surveyed 110 people with HIV about whether they had ever been advised to undergo herpes 2 testing. The results showed that 57 percent had never had the procedure recommended to them.

The researchers said that this is a major problem given the high rates of herpes among HIV patients and the health complications that can accompany dual infection.

Furthermore, they said greater utilization of herpes 2 testing among HIV patients could help slow the transmission of both diseases, as it represents another opportunity to educate patients and may help individuals fully understand the dangers associated with their condition.