Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is any prophylactic treatment started immediately after exposure to a disease (such as a disease-causing virus), in order to prevent the disease from breaking out. PEP is commonly used, and very effective, to prevent the outbreak of rabies after a bite by a rabid animal. The treatment consists of repeated injections of rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin. In the case of HIV infection, post-exposure prophylaxis is a course of antiretroviral drugs which is thought to reduce the risk of seroconversion after events with high risk of exposure to HIV (e.g. rape (or sexual assault in some countries), unprotected anal or vaginal sex, needlestick injuries, or sharing needles). To be effective (up to 99.89% effective [minimal citation needed and citation needed (areas based)] in some areas) treatment should begin within an hour, of possible infection but no longer then 72 hours later. [Additional citation needed][1]. The treatment for HIV lasts four (possibly up to eight, in rare cases)[Additional citation needed] weeks [2]. While there is compelling data to suggest that PEP after HIV exposure is extremely effective, there have been cases where it has failed. Failure has often been attributed to the delay in receiving treatment and or the height of exposure (volume of viral load received), however this is often based on patient supplied information and absolute "non-bias" data cannot be attained [citation needed]. The regimen can be very demanding and have unpleasant side effects including malaise, fatigue, diarrhoea, headaches, nausea and vomiting [3]. Pleasant side effects have been reported within the first 4 days of treatment which mimic anti-depressant properties, however these are rare and no report of these effects are known to have been reported past this period. According to one Australian study, two thirds of people taking PEP experienced mild to moderate side effects and one quarter of people taking PEP experienced severe side effects.
See also
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
