How do I know if the post-exposure prophylaxis has been successful? | Post-exposure prophylaxis

How do I know if the post-exposure prophylaxis has been successful?

The success of an exposure prophylaxis is, among other things, also related to the start of therapy. However, prophylaxis in general does not promise 100% protection against the onset of a disease. In the case of the HI virus, blood tests are carried out to see whether the HI virus is present.

These blood tests usually take place after 2 and 6 weeks and finally after about 6 months. After prophylaxis, HIV infection can be largely ruled out after this time if the HI virus is absent in the blood. Hepatitis B infection is also checked by blood tests.

These tests look for special antibodies and so-called antigens, which indicate the presence of the disease or prevent the presence of the disease. In the case of rabies, the absence of rabies-specific symptoms basically speaks in favor of a successful prophylaxis. In the case of measles, too, failure of post-exposure prophylaxis would result in measles-specific symptoms after about 7-14 days.

Meningitis prophylaxis can be taken up to 10 days after contact with an infected person. Whether an infection has occurred despite prophylaxis can theoretically be determined by the presence of bacteria in the spinal fluid and blood. However, this is usually only done after the appearance of symptoms typical of meningitis, which would normally present themselves after 2-4 days.