Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection
What is HIV? What is AIDS?
HIV (human
immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system, the body?s
natural defense system. Without a strong immune system, the body has trouble
fighting off disease. Both the virus and the infection it causes are called
HIV.
White blood
cells are an important part of the immune system. HIV invades and destroys
certain white blood cells called CD4+ cells. If too many CD4+ cells are
destroyed, the body can no longer defend itself against infection.
The last
stage of HIV infection is AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). People
with AIDS have a low number of CD4+ cells and get infections or cancers that
rarely occur in healthy people. These can be deadly.
But having
HIV does not mean you have AIDS. Even without treatment, it takes a long time
for HIV to progress to AIDS-usually 10 to 12 years. If HIV is diagnosed before
it becomes AIDS, medicines can slow or stop the damage to the immune system.
With treatment, many people with HIV are able to live long and active lives.
What causes
HIV?
HIV
infection is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. You can get HIV from
contact with infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids.
Most people get the virus by having
unprotected sex with someone who has HIV.
Another common way of getting the virus is by
sharing drug needles with someone who is infected with HIV.
The virus can also be passed from a mother to
her baby during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding.
HIV doesn't
survive well outside the body. So it cannot be spread by casual contact such as
kissing or sharing drinking glasses with an infected person.
What are the
symptoms?
HIV may not cause symptoms early on. People
who do have symptoms may mistake them for the flu or mono. Common early
symptoms include:
Fever.
Sore throat.
Headache.
Muscle aches and joint pain.
Swollen
glands (swollen lymph nodes).
Skin rash.
Symptoms may
appear from a few days to several weeks after a person is first infected. The
early symptoms usually go away within 2 to 3 weeks.
After the
early symptoms go away, an infected person may not have symptoms again for many
years. Without treatment, the virus continues to grow in the body and attack
the immune system. After a certain point, symptoms reappear and then remain.
These symptoms usually include:
Swollen lymph nodes.
Extreme tiredness.
Weight loss.
Fever.
Night sweats.
A doctor may
suspect HIV if these symptoms last and no other cause can be found.
Treatment
usually keeps the virus under control and helps the immune system stay healthy.
How is HIV
diagnosed?
The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved tests that detect HIV
antibodies in urine, fluid from the mouth (oral fluid), or blood. If a test on
urine or oral fluid shows that you are infected with HIV, you will probably
need a blood test to confirm the results. If you have been exposed to HIV, your
immune system will make antibodies to try to destroy the virus. Blood tests can
find these antibodies in your blood.
Most doctors
use two blood tests, called the ELISA and the Western blot assay. If the first
ELISA is positive (meaning that HIV antibodies are found), the blood sample is
tested again. If the second test is positive, a Western blot will be done to be
sure.
It may take
as long as 6 months for HIV antibodies to show up in a blood sample. If you
think you have been exposed to HIV but you test negative for it:
Get tested again. Tests at 6, 12, and 24 weeks
can be done to be sure you are not infected.
Meanwhile, take steps to prevent the spread of
the virus. If you are infected, you can still pass HIV to another person during
this time.
Some people
are afraid to be tested for HIV. But if there is any chance you could be
infected, it is very important to find out. HIV can be treated. Getting early treatment
can slow down the virus and help you stay healthy. And you need to know if you
are infected so you can prevent spreading the infection to other people.
You can get
HIV testing in most doctors? offices, public health clinics, hospitals, and
Planned Parenthood clinics. You can also buy a home HIV test kit in a drugstore
or by mail order. But be very careful to choose only a test that has been
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If a home test is
positive, see a doctor to have the result confirmed and to find out what to do
next.
How is it
treated?
The standard
treatment for HIV is a combination of medicines called highly active
antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Antiretroviral medicines slow the rate at which
the virus multiplies. Taking these medicines can reduce the amount of virus in
your body and help you stay healthy.
It may not
be easy to decide the best time to start treatment. There are pros and cons to
starting HAART before your CD4+ cell count gets too low. Discuss these with
your doctor so you understand your choices.
To monitor
the HIV infection and its effect on your immune system, a doctor will do two
tests:
Viral load, which shows the amount of virus in
your blood.
CD4+ cell count, which shows how well your
immune system is working.
If you have
no symptoms and your CD4+ cell count is at a healthy level, you may not need
treatment yet. Your doctor will repeat the tests on a regular basis to see how
you are doing. If you have symptoms or some other health problems, you should
start treatment, whatever your CD4+ count is.
After you
start treatment, it is important to take your medicines exactly as directed by
your doctor. When treatment doesn't work, it is often because HIV has become
resistant to the medicine. This can happen if you don't take your medicines
correctly. Ask your doctor if you have questions about your treatment.
Treatment
has become much easier to follow over the past few years. New combination medicines
include two or three different medicines in one pill. Many people with HIV get
the treatment they need by taking just one or two pills a day.
To stay as
healthy as possible during treatment:
Don't smoke. People with HIV are more likely
to have a heart attack or get lung cancer.1, 2Smoking can increase these risks
even more.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet to keep your
immune system strong.
Get regular exercise to reduce stress and
improve the quality of your life.
Don't use illegal drugs, and limit your use of
alcohol.
Learn all
you can about HIV so you can take an active role in your treatment. Your doctor
can help you understand HIV and how best to treat it. Also, consider joining an
HIV support group. Support groups can be a great place to share information and
emotions about HIV infection.
How can you
prevent HIV?
HIV can be
spread by people whether they know they are infected or not. To protect
yourself and others:
Practice safe sex. Use a condom every time you
have sex (including oral sex) until you are sure you and your partner are not
infected with HIV or other sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Don't have more than one sex partner at a
time. The safest sex is with one partner who has sex only with you.
Talk to your partner before you have sex the
first time. Find out if he or she is at risk for HIV. Get tested together and
retested 6 months later. Use condoms in the meantime.
Don't drink a lot of alcohol or use illegal
drugs before sex. You might let down your guard and not practice safe sex.
Don't share personal items, such as
toothbrushes or razors.
Never share
needles or syringes with anyone.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Learning
about HIV: What is human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection?
What causes
HIV?
What is
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)?
What are the
symptoms of HIV?
Can I
prevent HIV?
What
increases my risk for developing HIV?
Who is
affected by HIV and AIDS?
Can a test
find HIV infection early?
Being diagnosed: How
is HIV diagnosed?
Who can diagnose HIV?
Getting treatment: How
is HIV treated?
How is HIV treated in children?
