AIDS AWARNESS - HIV

What is HIV and AIDS?

Definition

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the virus attacks and weakens the immune system. As the immune system weakens, the person is at risk of getting life-threatening infections and cancers. When that happens, the illness is called AIDS. Once a person has the virus, it stays inside the body for life.

The virus is NOT spread by:

HIV and blood or organ donation:

Risk factors for getting HIV include:

Symptoms

Symptoms related to acute HIV infection (when a person is first infected) can be similar to the flu or other viral illnesses. They include:

Many people have no symptoms when they are first infected with HIV.

Acute HIV infection (Stage 1) progresses over a few weeks to months to become chronic or asymptomatic HIV infection (Stage 2) (no symptoms). This stage can last 10 years or longer. During this period, the person might have no reason to suspect they have HIV, but they can spread the virus to others.

If they are not treated, almost all people infected with HIV will develop AIDS (Stage 3). Some people develop AIDS within a few years of infection. Others remain completely healthy after 10 or even 20 years (called long-term nonprogressors).

People with AIDS have had their immune system damaged by HIV. They are at very high risk of getting infections that are uncommon in people with a healthy immune system. These infections are called opportunistic infections and can affect any part of the body. These can be caused by:

People with AIDS are also at higher risk for certain cancers, especially lymphomas and a skin cancer called Kaposi sarcoma.

Symptoms depend on the particular infection and which part of the body is infected.

Lung infections are common in AIDS and often cause cough, fever, and shortness of breath.

Intestinal infections are also common and can cause:

Other common symptoms in people with HIV infection and AIDS include:

Exams and Tests

There are tests that are done to check if you've been infected with the virus.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

In general, testing is a 2-step process:

Home tests are available to test for HIV. If you plan to use one, check to make sure it is approved by the FDA. Follow instructions on the packaging to ensure the results are as accurate as possible.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone ages 15 to 65 have a screening test for HIV. People with risky behaviors should be tested regularly. Pregnant women should also have a screening test.

TESTS AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH HIV

People with AIDS should have regular blood tests to check their CD4 cell count:

Other tests include:

Treatment

HIV/AIDS is treated with medicines that stop the virus from multiplying. This treatment is called antiretroviral therapy (ART).

In the past, people with HIV infection would start antiretroviral treatment after their CD4 count dropped or they developed HIV complications. Today, HIV treatment is recommended for all people with HIV infection, even if their CD4 count is still normal.

There are two types or treatment:

Regular blood tests are needed to make sure the virus level in the blood (viral load) is kept low or suppressed. The goal of treatment is to lower the HIV virus in the blood to a level that is so low that the test can't detect it. This is called an undetectable viral load.

If the CD4 count already dropped before treatment was started, it will usually slowly go up. HIV complications often disappear as the immune system recovers.

Alternative Names

HIV infection; Infection - HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Acquired immune deficiency syndrome: HIV-1

Causes

The virus is spread (transmitted) person-to-person through certain body fluids:

HIV can be spread if these fluids come in contact with:

HIV cannot be spread through sweat, saliva, or urine.

HIV is mainly spread:

Less often, HIV is spread:

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse