HIV, or human immuno-deficiency virus, is found in the saliva of an HIV-positive person; however, there is not enough HIV in saliva to cause infection in another person. You cannot contract HIV through sharing items or most forms of kissing unless another infectious fluid is also present.
Casual Contact
HIV cannot be contracted through sharing items like drinking glasses or other dishes. Additionally, HIV cannot be contracted through casual kissing, according to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
Kissing Risk
HIV can, however, be passed on through kissing if both partners are actively bleeding in the mouth (as from open sores or cuts), there is a risk of infection with HIV, said the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
Other Fluids
Fluids that can transmit HIV are blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. Other bodily fluids contain too little HIV to transmit the virus to another person. Sweat contains no HIV.
Exceptions
Blood or another of the infectious bodily fluids must be present in a non-infectious bodily fluid for there to be a risk of HIV transmission.
Testing
People who believe they have been exposed to HIV (through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex or shared use of hypodermic needles) should be tested to know their status.
By six months after infection, according to HIV-Symptoms.info, HIV-disease has reached its second stage, the asymptomatic. During this stage, there are no symptoms of HIV present. Because of the absence of symptoms at this stage and the non-specific nature of the symptoms of acute HIV infection, many people are unaware that they have contracted the virus.
Acute HIV Infection
The only symptoms of HIV-disease present before six months are those of acute HIV infection. The symptoms of acute HIV infection generally occur two to four weeks after infection and last for up to one month, meaning that, by six months after infection, no symptoms are present. However, during acute HIV infection, the immune system launches its first defense against the virus; this leads to the symptoms of seroconversion (developing antibodies) illness.
According to HIV-Symptoms.info, these include: sore throat, fever, headache and other aches and pains, swollen lymph nodes, tiredness, skin rash and digestive problems. The symptoms of seroconversion illness generally appear within two to four weeks after infection and clear up within a month.
Asymptomatic HIV
After the symptoms of seroconversion illness clear, HIV-disease enters its longest stage, the asymptomatic. This stage lasts for an average of 10 years, and there are no symptoms present during this time.
Symptoms will not appear again until the immune system has become severely weakened by HIV, during third-stage HIV-disease (symptomatic HIV). This stage is marked by a chronic flu-like illness, with other symptoms including night sweats, the development of fungal infections, weight loss, and skin and breathing problems, according to HIV-Symptoms.info.
Testing
The symptoms of acute HIV infection are very similar to those of many other viral infections. This means that, without further testing, it is not possible to reach a diagnosis of HIV.
HIV testing is the only way to know one’s HIV status. Most HIV tests screen for the presence of antibodies to the virus. This means that they rely on seroconversion, the development of a detectable number of antibodies. This process takes an average of one month after infection. People who believe they have been exposed to HIV, through unprotected sex or using shared hypodermic needles, should seek out HIV testing a month or more after possible exposure. HIVTest.org helps locate local HIV testing centers; see Resources below.
Prevention
Knowing one’s HIV status makes it possible to take necessary precautions to protect others. Barriers should be used during vaginal and anal sex; female condoms can be used for both vaginal and anal sex by couples who do not wish to use male condoms. Condoms and dental dams (for cunnilingus) should also be used for oral sex. Needles should not be shared.
Monitoring
By knowing one’s HIV status, one can also monitor the progress of HIV-disease through viral load testing and CD4 (an immune cell targeted by HIV) testing. Using this knowledge, individuals and their doctors can make appropriate decisions about treatment and health maintenance.
HIV (or human immunodeficiency virus) has four stages, with each stage accompanied by a different set of symptoms. The symptoms of acute HIV infection (first-stage HIV) are mild and nonspecific, while there are no symptoms in the second stage of HIV-disease. Because of this, many people are unaware that they have contracted HIV. The only way to know one’s HIV status before symptoms appear is to be tested.
Acute HIV Infection
Acute HIV infection is the first stage of HIV; it is also known as seroconversion illness or HIV acute retroviral syndrome. Acute HIV infection includes everything that happens from the time of infection until symptoms of this stage clear up, generally within the first month after infection.
According to HIV-Symptoms.info, the symptoms of this stage include: aches and pains, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, headache, fever, skin rash, fatigue, loss of appetite and other digestive problems. These symptoms are very similar to symptoms caused by other viruses and alone are not enough to reach a diagnosis of HIV.
Asymptomatic HIV
During second-stage HIV, asymptomatic HIV, there are no symptoms. This is the longest stage of HIV, lasting an average of 10 years. However, many people remain unaware of their status because of the absence of symptoms; it is not possible to tell just by looking at someone if they are HIV-positive.
Testing
The absence or mild nature of the symptoms in early HIV make HIV testing important. Individuals who believe they have been exposed to HIV–through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex or through the use of shared hypodermic needles–should seek out treatment at least one month after possible exposure. This is the average time it takes to develop a detectable level of antibodies to the virus, which is what most HIV tests screen for. HIVTest.org helps locate local testing centers.
Symtpomatic HIV
Symptomatic HIV follows asymptomatic HIV and lasts between one and three years. During symptomatic HIV, chronic flulike symptoms develop. According to HIV-Symptoms.info, other symptoms of this stage include night sweats, severe weight loss, fungal infections and skin and breathing problems.
AIDS
AIDS is diagnosed in HIV-positive people when the body is no longer able to fight off infection on its own (when cell-mediated immunity is lost). AIDS is a syndrome characterized by four different types of conditions: opportunistic infections, wasting (severe weight loss), cancers and neurological problems.
Opportunistic infections (OIs) only appear in people with severely damaged immune systems or cause more serious symptoms in people with weakened immune systems. Some common OIs include: toxoplasmosis (a parasitic brain disease), Pneumocystis pneumonia, herpesviruses (including cytomegalovirus, which can lead to blindness) and thrush, a fungus in the mouth.
Cancers found in AIDS include Kaposi’s sarcoma, a skin cancer causing purple or other dark lesions, and lymphomas, cancers of immune cells targeted by HIV.
The most serious neurological condition found in AIDS is AIDS dementia complex (ADC). According to HIV InSite, ADC can lead to changes in motor skills, behavior and general thinking.
The progress of HIV-disease can be seen along a predictable time-line, with a total of four different groups of symptoms for infection in adults. However, it is important to remember that these are only averages and that there is no way to know how any one individual will progress through HIV-disease. The disease also progresses differently in children, with serious symptoms often developing much earlier.
0-1 Months
During the first month after infection with HIV, many (though not all) people develop a flu-like illness. This time is known as acute HIV infection and these symptoms are known as seroconversion illness or HIV acute retroviral syndrome. Symptoms of this stage are caused by the immune system as it launches its first defense against HIV by developing antibodies. (Developing a detectable level of antibodies is a process known as seroconversion.)
Symptoms of this stage of HIV include fever, headache, aches and pains, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, fatigue, skin rash and digestive troubles, according to HIV-Symptoms.info. These symptoms are similar to those caused by any other viral infections. This means that HIV cannot be diagnosed on the basis of these symptoms alone, and individuals who believe they have been exposed to HIV should seek out testing.
HIV testing will be accurate only after seroconversion has taken place. This generally takes one month, but may take up to six. HIVTest.org can help individuals learn more about different types of HIV tests and locate testing centers; please see Resources section of this article.
0 Months-10 Years
After the symptoms of seroconversion illness clear, HIV-disease enters its asymptomatic stage. This is the longest stage of HIV, lasting for an average of 10 years. During this time, no symptoms are present.
Because of the mild nature of seroconversion illness symptoms and the long absence of symptoms in asymptomatic HIV-disease, many people unknowingly expose others to the virus during this time through unprotected sex or through sharing hypodermic needles. The correct and consistent use of condoms and using clean needles greatly reduces one’s chances of contracting or transmitting HIV.
11-13 Years
Third-stage HIV-disease, symptomatic HIV appears after asymptomatic HIV and lasts between one and three years. During this time, a chronic flu-like illness develops. Other symptoms, according to HIV-Symptoms.info, include night sweats, major weight loss, fungal infections as well as skin and breathing problems.
Following
As HIV attacks the cells of the immune system, the immune system’s ability to fight off infection is continually weakened. When the ability of the immune-system to fight off infection on its own (a capacity called cell-mediated immunity) is lost, AIDS is diagnosed in HIV-positive people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this occurs when CD4 (a type of cell targeted by HIV) cell count falls below 200 per cubic mL of blood or when these cells account for fewer than 14 percent of all immune cells.
AIDS is a syndrome, meaning that it is a group of conditions. These include opportunistic infections (OIs), continued severe weight loss (called wasting), cancers and neurological conditions.
Opportunistic infections, as their name suggests, take advantage of the weakened state of the immune system; they do not cause disease in people with healthy immune systems or cause worse symptoms in the immunocompromised (people with weakened immune systems). Common OIs include tuberculosis, herpesviruses, Pneumocystis pneumonia, thrush (an oral fungus) and toxoplasmosis (a brain disease caused by parasites).
Cancers found in AIDS include lymphomas and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Kaposi’s sarcoma is caused by opportunistic infection with human herpesvirus-8 and causes purple lesions on the skin. Lymphomas are cancers of lymphocytes, the same group of cells targeted by HIV.
There are many neurological conditions found in those living with AIDS, but the most significant of these is AIDS dementia complex (ADC), which, according to HIV InSite, can affect thinking, motion and behavior.
Children
HIV-disease progresses differently in children than it does in adults. Some children become sick very early in life, while others do not experience symptoms until they are of school age. According to the Mayo Clinic, common HIV symptoms in children include problems with gaining weight and growing, difficulty in walking, mental impairment and becoming unusually sick with common childhood illnesses.
Persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, are susceptible to the same skin disorders and conditions as any other person, but there are some skin disorders that occur more frequently in those infected with HIV. In adults infected with HIV, these skin disorders that are often associated with HIV will not be present until the HIV has developed into early AIDS, according to Cure Research.
When exposed to HIV, there will be an initial phase of infection that occurs within 1-2 months of exposure; this is the sero-conversion period in which the body reacts to the presence of the virus, according to the Australasian College of Dermatologists. Some people will experience no outward symptoms during this period, and others may experience flu-like symptoms, tiredness, fever, headache and/or enlarged lymph nodes, according to Cure Research.
The Australasian College of Dermatologists advises that during the sero-conversion period, some people will experience a generalized red rash on the body, which begins on the upper body and spreads downward. The rash has the appearance of measles and may or may not be itchy , according to the Australasian College of Dermatologists. Sometimes the rash is present on the palms of the hands. If this occurs, there will be peeling of the skin on the palms. Mouth and genital ulcers may also occur.
A latent period will follow the initial phase, during which the virus remains in the body but is dormant. This latent phase may last from months to a decade or more. The only symptoms during this phase may be enlarged lymph nodes.
During this phase of the disease, flaky skin is one of the dermatological symptoms, according to Cure Research. Shingles (herpes zoster) and sores on the mouth or genital region from Herpes Simplex I and Herpes Simplex II are frequently seen in people in this stage of AIDS.
Thrush of the mouth, groin, armpits or vagina occurs more frequently in HIV-infected people than the general population, according to Australasian College of Dermatologists.
Another fungal infection more common with HIV infection is tinea, which may cause widespread infection of the skin or conditions such as athlete’s foot, jock itch, infection of the nails, hands or head.
Kaposi’s sarcoma is a cancer that occurs in response to infection with the human herpesvirus 8 , according to Merck Manual. While people who are not infected with HIV may also develop Kaposi’s sarcoma, the condition not only strikes those with AIDS more frequently than non-infected individuals; it is also more virulent.
The skin lesions of Kaposi’s sarcoma are flattened areas of skin which may be pink, purple or red initially, but they converge into blue-black areas of skin that are thickened or bumpy,
Lesions in the mouth are bluish to purplish colored and appear as thickened areas, bumps or tumors.
For those infected with HIV, there may be an exaggerated reaction to insect bites, with severe itchiness, redness and large red lumps that may blister and present in crops. These symptoms last longer than in people without this skin disease, papular urticaria, according to the Australasian College of Dermatologists.
As is true with many diseases and conditions, not all people will present with all the symptoms of HIV/AIDS. The presence of some symptoms associated with early HIV exposure and/or early development of AIDS may or may not be indicative of HIV infection. Likewise, absence of some of the symptoms, especially with known or suspected exposure to HIV, does not indicate absence of infection.
Only a healthcare provider can determine whether or not HIV infection is present and whether it has developed into AIDS.
HIV, short for human immunodeficiency virus, is an incurable disease that often develops into AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). More than 25 percent of people who have HIV in the U.S. are women. While both women and men may experience similar symptoms after contracting HIV, the disease can affect a woman’s body differently than a man’s. For example, women infected with HIV are more likely to develop certain infections or contract certain diseases than men, according to the NYU Medical Center’s HIVInfoSource.
Contraction
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HIV is the virus that attacks the body’s immune system, destroying the body’s ability to fight off disease. HIV can be found in blood, semen and vaginal fluid, and it is typically contracted through three main ways:
-Having sexual contact with a person who is infected with HIV
-Sharing needles with someone who has HIV
-Being born to and/or breastfed by a mother who has HIV
HIV can also be contracted through infected blood products, although this has become uncommon.
Early Symptoms
HIV can be difficult to detect early on. A person can live for years without seeing serious symptoms. This is why those at risk for contracting HIV are encouraged to get tested.
Two to six weeks after contracting HIV, a person may experience the following symptoms, according to Dr. James M. Steckelberg, a contributor to the Mayo Clinic website:
-Fever
-Headache
-Fatigue
-Swollen lymph glands
-Rash
These symptoms are similar to those of the flu. The symptoms may disappear after a month and other HIV symptoms may not appear until years later.
Other Symptoms
According to the CDC, the only sure way of detecting HIV is to get tested. The following symptoms may indicate an HIV infection, according to the CDC:
-Rapid weight loss
-Dry cough
-Recurring fever
-Night sweats
-Severe fatigue
-Swollen lymph glands in underarms, groin or neck
-White spots/blemishes on tongue, mouth and throat
-Pneumonia
-Blotches in or under the skin, usually red, pink or brown in color
-Memory loss, depression and other neurological-related disorders
These symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses and alone cannot prove a person has contracted HIV, the CDC warns.
Women-Specific Symptoms
Women who have contracted HIV may have symptoms that are different from men’s, and some can appear in the early stages of the disease, according to HIV resource TheBody.com. HIV-infected women are more likely to get headaches and experience fatigue and abdominal problems, such as recurrent yeast infections and pelvic inflammatory disease, according to HIVInfoSource. Women can also develop more frequent and severe vaginal infections, including those associated with other sexually transmitted diseases. HIVInfoSource states that women with HIV may also experience more frequent menstrual problems. Women may also develop anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, a change in body image, diarrhea, cough, fever, pain, weight loss, increased breast size, rash and other skin problems, according to TheBody.com.
Prevention/Treatment
To prevent yourself from contracting HIV, you should not have unprotected sex or share needles. You should also be faithful to your sexual partner. The CDC recommends following the ABC’s of HIV prevention:
-Abstinence
-Be faithful
-Condoms
There is no cure for HIV or AIDS. However, medications can make it easier for someone who has HIV to manage her symptoms and live a fairly normal life. Early detection is important to help those with HIV monitor and medicate the disease and prevent its spread to others.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were an estimated 1.1 million Americans living with HIV at the end of 2006. HIV is a devastating disease that can tear lives apart. It is important to understand and recognize the symptoms of HIV in its different stages, because prompt treatment can add years to your life.
The Facts
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS, otherwise known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV uses the nutrients and energy from human cells to reproduce and grow. HIV is transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected person, sharing needles with an infected person and can be passed from mother to child through pregnancy or breastfeeding. To test for HIV, your doctor will perform a blood test to check for HIV antibodies.
Initial HIV Symptoms
Initial symptoms of HIV are usually noticed within two months of exposure to the virus, although some people can be asymptomatic during this stage. Early HIV symptoms are flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, enlarged lymph nodes, rash and fatigue. People who experience these symptoms and believe they may have been infected should ask their doctor for a blood test. There is a viral load test that can check for HIV as early as three to five days after exposure, though it is not widely available yet. Typical blood tests can take up to 12 weeks after infection to show a positive result, with some cases taking as long as six months.
Latent HIV Symptoms
The latent phase of HIV typically lasts several years, but it can last up to 10 years or be as short as a few months. During that time, a person infected with HIV will typically be symptom free, or just suffer from swollen lymph nodes. It isn’t until the body reaches the early AIDS stage that more symptoms present themselves.
Early AIDS Symptoms
A person suffering from early AIDS can exhibit many symptoms, such as lack of energy, fatigue, weight loss, night sweats, low-grade fevers, frequent yeast infections (oral or vaginal), abnormal PAP smears, bacterial vaginosis, rashes, genital ulcers, flaky skin, short-term memory loss, pelvic inflammatory disease, shingles and herpes infections.
Progression of AIDS
The majority of the symptoms appear as AIDS progresses. Symptoms of AIDS in its later stages are coughing, infections, shortness of breath, lack of coordination, seizures, difficult and painful swallowing, confusion, diarrhea, forgetfulness, night sweats, fever, vision loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, white spots in the mouth, decreased appetite, mouth blemishes, weight loss, skin lesions, severe headaches, extreme fatigue, Kaposi’s sarcoma, cervical cancer, coma and lymphoma.
AIDS is the fourth and final stage of HIV disease. HIV disease weakens the immune system by targeting white blood cells called lymphocytes, specifically the CD4 T-cells. AIDS is diagnosed when these fall below 200 per cubic milliliter of blood, meaning that the immune system has become severely damaged.
Treatment for HIV disease can be started before this, as long as the infection has already been detected and CD4 level testing can be done. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommends that antiretroviral treatment be started when CD4 cells dip below 350 per cubic milliliter of blood. In countries where this CD4 testing is not available, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that treatment be begun during its description of clinical stage three of HIV disease (which is somewhat different than the definition of general third-stage HIV, also known as symptomatic HIV).
Effects
AIDS is a syndrome, which is a group of conditions. In the case of HIV disease, these are known as AIDS-defining illnesses, and they fall into four categories: opportunistic infections, wasting, malignancies (cancers) and neurological conditions.
Opportunistic infections are bacterial, viral, fungal and protozoan infections that do not cause disease in people with healthy immune systems or which cause much more serious disease in immunocompromised people, i.e., people whose immune systems have lost the ability to fight off infection. These include thrush, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, Pneumocystis pneumonia and herpesviruses. Some opportunistic infections respond to antiretroviral treatment for HIV-disease, while others must be targeted more specifically. To learn more about opportunistic infections, see Resources.
Wasting is a condition that causes the loss of 10% or more of body weight, according to AIDS.org. Both HIV disease and antiviral treatment for HIV disease can worsen wasting (through symptoms like nausea, loss of appetite and vomiting), but maintaining a healthy diet and exercising can help mitigate the effects of wasting.
Some cancers are linked to advanced HIV disease; these include Kaposi’s sarcoma and lymphomas. Kaposi’s sarcoma is a skin cancer that produces purple lesions and is caused by an opportunistic infection with HHV-8, a herpes virus. Lymphomas are cancers of lymphocytes, cells targeted by HIV.
Neurolgical conditions of AIDS include AIDS Dementia Complex (ADC). According to HIV InSite, ADC can affect cognition and motor skills as well as behavior, and a high death rate is associated with ADC.
End-of-Life Care
AIDS leads to terminal conditions, which means that end-of-life care is part of the management of advanced HIV disease. According to Avert.org, care provided at the end of life includes management of pain and other symptoms while providing support to the dying and their families.
First and foremost, there is a distinction between HIV and AIDS. Most people think of them as one and the same; however, they are two separate entities. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, whereas AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is a disease, while HIV is the virus that causes the disease. Testing positive for HIV does not mean you have AIDS. HIV attacks T-cells, which are like the infantry of an army, the army being your immune system. T-cells fight all sorts of infections and if T-cells are inhibited, infections will invade and thrive in your body, resulting in the diagnosis of AIDS.
Who Gets HIV?
There are many ways to contract HIV and many ways not to contract it too. You cannot catch it by hugging an infected person, holding hands or being in an enclosed area with a person who has HIV. You can contract HIV by having unprotected sexual relations with an infected person. HIV is not visible, so in the absence of a blood test showing negative results, there is no way of knowing whether someone is HIV positive.
Other Means of Transmission
HIV is a problem among intravenous drug abusers who share needles. HIV can be transmitted during the process of blood transfusions if the blood supply is infected with the virus. Since 1985 the American blood supply has been screened for HIV and is considered safe. Pregnant women who are infected with the virus can pass it on to their children as the baby passes through the birth canal. Mothers can infect their infant children via their breast milk, so breastfeeding is contraindicated for HIV-positive mothers.
Symptoms
There are no telltale symptoms of HIV infection. In other words, if you acquire the virus, you won’t feel any different. Some patients may experience flu-like symptoms shortly after being exposed to HIV, but these symptoms pass quickly and it can take years for HIV to affect you. Sickness eventually occurs in the form of swollen lymph nodes (glands), frequent transient fevers, diarrhea, mouth sores and fatigue. As the virus replicates and attack more and more of your T-cells, life-threatening opportunistic infections such as pneumonia and certain rare forms of cancer take advantage of the body’s weakened immune system and establish themselves in the patient. Regular testing for HIV is the only way to know whether you have HIV early in the course of the illness.
Treating HIV
Testing positive for HIV is not an immediate death sentence. Former NBA basketball star Magic Johnson is a case in point. Before the start of the 1990-1991 basketball season, Johnson announced to his teammates and fans that he was HIV positive. Despite this, Johnson went on with his career and became an activist for AIDS awareness upon his retirement from the NBA. There is no cure for HIV, but there are many treatments that help people live with disease for longer periods of time. Early detection is the most important tool in the fight against HIV and changes in lifestyle are the best defense.
Prevention/Solution
Safe sex and safe handling of infected bodily fluids in the health care setting are the main defenses against the spread of HIV. HIV can only be contracted through the exchange of bodily fluids. Education is critical to the prevention of HIV.
Many people experience a flu-like illness in the time shortly after contracting HIV. These symptoms follow the course of a fairly normal flu and clear up in a short time, at which time HIV enters its asymptomatic phase. Some people don’t experience symptoms or do not recognize their symptoms as significant. Symptoms also present themselves differently in children. The only way to know one’s HIV status is with a test.
Acute HIV Infection
According to HIV-Symptoms.info, the symptoms of acute HIV infection include fever and headache, aches and pains, a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, skin rash and digestive problems. AIDS.org reports that these symptoms generally develop between two weeks and one month after the virus has been contracted and will clear up within a month.
Asymptomatic Acute HIV Infection
Many people don’t experience symptoms at all as a result of acute HIV infection, and will not experience any symptoms until HIV disease has advanced to its third, symptomatic stage. Even when people do experience symptoms and seek out medical treatment for them, these symptoms likely will not lead to a diagnosis of HIV. A diagnosis of the flu or other flu-like illness is a much more likely explanation for the symptoms.
Testing
Testing is the only way to confirm whether HIV has been contracted because the symptoms of acute HIV infection are nondiagnostic. If an individual suspects she might have contracted HIV, she should consult a health care professional about HIV testing (see Resources).
Symptoms in Children
Children experience different symptoms of HIV than adults. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), these include stunted mental and physical growth along with neurological and motor problems. According to the NIAID, about 20 percent of children born with HIV become ill during the first year of life while the rest remain healthy until they reach school age or beyond.
Symptomatic HIV Disease
Many people do not realize they have contracted HIV until the third stage, which is known as symptomatic HIV-disease. This happens an average of 10 years after infection, although there is no way to know how long this will take for any individual person. The symptoms of third-stage HIV disease include a chronic flu-like illness such as that experienced during acute infection. Other symptoms include night sweats, weight loss, fungal infections and breathing troubles, according to HIV-Symptoms.info.
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HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV is transmitted from one person to another through semen, vaginal fluids, blood and breast milk. Today, there are many treatments available for people who are infected with HIV to keep them healthier longer. The length of time someone with HIV can live after being infected can vary greatly.
HIV to AIDS
The CDC estimated that about half of all people with HIV will develop AIDS by 10 years after infection, but this time period varies from person to person. There are people living now who were infected more than 20 years ago. During the time before AIDS diagnosis, many people are unaware that they are infected and can spread the infection to others.
Treatment
With new treatments available for HIV, it is expected that the time from HIV infection to AIDS diagnosis is going up, though further research is needed. After an AIDS diagnosis, it is still possible to fight off infection and increase T-cell count with treatment. Once someone has an AIDS diagnosis it is important to stay healthy and avoid illnesses such as cold and flu because the body will be less able to fight the infection off.
Reinfection
If two partners have HIV, it is important that they use latex or polyurethane condoms or barriers (like dental dams) with each sex act because they can infect each other with different strains of HIV.
Testing
Because most people with HIV will not experience or not notice symptoms, it is important to be tested regularly if you are at risk because early treatment can help you stay healthy and prevent you from passing the virus to others.
Prevention
The best way to protect yourself against HIV is to abstain from sexual activity and not share needles with anyone. If you are sexually active, you can reduce your risk for HIV by reducing your number of partners and using latex or polyurethane condoms or barriers (like dental dams) with each sex act. You can also reduce the risk of HIV with needle use by cleaning the needles in boiling water or with bleach.
