HIV: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, attacks the immune system and makes it susceptible to infections and cancers. AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, which results from severe damage to the immune system after HIV infection. AIDS is a lifelong infection that can be controlled with medications, but it cannot be cured. In this blog post, we will discuss the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of HIV and AIDS.
Causes of HIV
HIV is transmitted through contact with certain body fluids of an infected person, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk. The most common ways of getting HIV are:
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Having unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with someone who has HIV
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Sharing needles or syringes with someone who has HIV
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Receiving a blood transfusion or organ transplant from someone who has HIV (rare in countries where blood is screened for HIV)
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Being born to a mother who has HIV or breastfeeding from her
HIV cannot be spread by casual contact, such as hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing food or drinks, or using the same toilet or shower.
Symptoms of HIV
HIV infection progresses through different stages, each with different symptoms. The stages are:
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Acute infection: This is the first few weeks after getting infected with HIV. Some people may have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, sore throat, rash, or swollen glands. Others may have no symptoms at all. This is the most contagious stage of HIV infection.
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Clinical latency: This is the period when HIV is still active in the body but does not cause any symptoms. This stage can last from several years to decades. People in this stage may not know they have HIV unless they get tested. They can still transmit the virus to others.
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AIDS: This is the final stage of HIV infection when the immune system is severely weakened and cannot fight off opportunistic infections or cancers. People with AIDS may have symptoms such as weight loss, night sweats, chronic diarrhea, persistent fever, oral thrush, pneumonia, tuberculosis, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or other life-threatening conditions.
Diagnosis of HIV
HIV can be diagnosed through blood or saliva testing. There are different types of tests available:
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Antigen/antibody tests: These tests look for both antigens (substances on the HIV virus) and antibodies (produced by the immune system in response to HIV). These tests can detect HIV within 2 to 6 weeks after exposure.
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Antibody tests: These tests look for antibodies to HIV only. These tests can detect HIV within 3 to 12 weeks after exposure. Most rapid tests and home tests are antibody tests.
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Nucleic acid tests (NATs): These tests look for the genetic material of the virus in the blood. These tests can detect HIV within 10 days after exposure. These tests are more expensive and less widely available than other tests.
If any of these tests are negative, a follow-up test may be needed weeks to months later to confirm the results. If any of these tests are positive, a confirmatory test will be done to verify the diagnosis.
Treatment of HIV
There is no cure for HIV, but there are a number of medications that can control the virus and prevent it from damaging the immune system. These medications are referred to as antiretroviral therapy (ART) or highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). ART consists of at least three drugs from different classes that work in different ways to stop the virus from replicating. ART must be taken every day for life and adjusted according to viral load (amount of virus in the blood) and CD4 count (number of immune cells).
The viral load can be reduced to undetectable levels with ART, which means that the virus cannot be detected by standard tests. This does not mean the person is cured or cannot transmit the disease. In other words, they have a very low risk of contracting AIDS.
ART can also improve the quality and length of life of people with HIV and reduce their risk of transmission to others. Aside from nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, rash, and liver problems, ART can also cause drug resistance or drug interactions with other medications in some people.
Prevention of HIV
HIV can be prevented by avoiding exposure to the virus and by taking preventive measures such as:
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Using condoms correctly and consistently during sex
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Limiting the number of sexual partners and getting tested regularly
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Not sharing needles or syringes with anyone
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Getting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if you are at high risk of getting HIV
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Getting post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within 72 hours after a possible exposure to HIV
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Getting treatment for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that can increase the risk of getting or transmitting HIV
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Getting tested and treated for HIV if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant
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Not breastfeeding if you have HIV or are unsure of your status
People with HIV can live long and healthy lives with proper diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, but HIV is a serious and chronic infection that can affect anyone. It is important to see your health care provider as soon as possible if you suspect you have been exposed to HIV or have any symptoms of HIV. The sooner you begin treatment, the better your outcome will be.
