What is HIV?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that
causes AIDS or acquired immune deficiency syndrome—a chronic,
deadly condition that compromises the immune system and prevents
the body from warding off viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
HIV infection may lead to AIDS, but being HIV-positive does
not mean that you have AIDS. Many people who are HIV-positive
don’t
get sick for several years, which is why it’s so important
to get
tested and get
treatment right
away if you think you’ve been infected. HIV is passed
through bodily fluids including blood, vaginal fluid, semen
and breast milk. Most people acquire the virus through sexual
contact and sharing needles or drug paraphernalia. Pregnant
women who are HIV-positive can pass it on to their babies,
and babies who drink the breast milk of an infected person
may also become infected.
Factors known to increase the risk
of contracting HIV infection disease include:
- Sexual activity: those who routinely have unprotected sex
and/or multiple sex partners
- High-risk partner: sex with someone who has multiple partners
or a partner who is known to be infected with HIV.
- History of STDs: other STDs make it more likely to contract
HIV infection
- Tainted needles: drug addicts sharing contaminated needles
or syringes; also health care workers who can get stuck with
the needle of an infected person
- Infected blood/organ transplants: extremely rare now. Since
1985, major steps have been made to eliminate the chance
of transmission through transfusions
- Mother/child contact:
transmission may occur during pregnancy, delivery or breast
feeding
back to top
What are the phases and symptoms
of HIV?
Acute HIV infection, this first stage of HIV infection
may not have symptoms but usually there is sore throat, fever,
fatigue, headache, swollen lymph nodes and rash. Because these
symptoms are so similar to the flu or other relatively minor
illnesses due to viruses, many HIV-positive people have no idea
they have become infected. So, if you have any reason to think
you’ve been exposed, get
tested right away.
In most cases, infection progresses with no symptoms and is the
asymptomatic stage. If left untreated, a person can go undetected
for up to a decade until major symptoms begin to present themselves.
These symptoms may include: diarrhea, weight loss, mild infections,
fever, cough and shortness of breath. Following that, even more
severe symptoms will occur including soaking night sweats, shaking
chills or high fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, chronic
diarrhea, unusual sores in the mouth, blurred vision, weight
loss, numerous other symptoms and opportunistic infections; a
weakened immune system leading to AIDS.
back to top
Why get tested?
Testing is easy and safe. By getting tested regularly
(every 6 months) you can get treatment before HIV disease progresses.
You’ll also be protecting your sexual partners and the
Boston community by knowing your status.
There are a couple of testing options:
- Visit a testing
site for free or low-cost testing
- Get tested at your own health care provider's office or
health center
HIV is diagnosed with a blood or oral fluid test that looks for
the presence of specific antibodies that the body makes in response
to the infection. If you have these antibodies in your blood,
you are HIV-positive. Usually, these antibodies can be detected
within 6 weeks of exposure.
back to top
How is HIV treated?
There is no cure for HIV infection. But now there
are several drugs that can improve quality of life by reducing
the virus to very low or undetectable levels. In most cases,
a combination of several anti-retroviral drugs are
used. Over time, your doctor may need to use several different
combinations of drugs to combat different stages of the disease.
back to top
How can I protect myself and my partners from HIV?
If you are sexually active, make STD
testing part of your routine. In addition, use condoms,
consider limiting the number of sexual partners and know each
partner’s sexual history.
If you are infected, seek treatment and discuss options with
your doctor for continued sexual activity. In addition, consider
notifying your current and past sexual partners so that they
may get tested and seek medical treatment.
back to top
What do I need to know about and HIV?
It’s important for everyone to know that having
an STD makes it much more likely to acquire or transmit HIV infection.
If you’re HIV-positive and you know you’ve been exposed
to an STD, you should get
tested and get
treatment right away. As mentioned you may need
more medication to cure some STDs
back to top
|
