What is HIV?
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects the body's ability to fight off illnesses. Blood cells called CD4+T cells are destroyed when HIV invades the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These cells are responsible for fighting infection and disease. When the immune system doesn't function properly, you are more likely to become ill if exposed to viruses or germs and may become sicker than you normally would if your immune system functioned properly.
Transmission
HIV is spread through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids. It cannot be spread by hugging an infected person or shaking hands. HIV can be spread by having unprotected anal or vaginal sex or by sharing needles, syringes and other drug equipment with an HIV-positive person. The virus can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding.
Other transmission methods include receiving a blood transfusion or organ donation that is contaminated by HIV or being bitten by an HIV-positive person. Health-care workers may be at risk of developing HIV if their skin is pierced by a contaminated needle or other sharp object. Transmission may also occur if there is body-to-body contact between broken skin, wounds or mucous membranes, according to the CDC.
Symptoms
Some people have no symptoms when first infected with HIV, but others develop a flu-like illness two to four weeks after infection with the virus, according to the Mayo Clinic. Early symptoms of an HIV infection may include sore throat, fever, rash, headache and swollen lymph glands. HIV can be passed to others during the early phase, even if the infected person does not exhibit symptoms.
After the initial infection, there may be no signs of the disease for eight or nine years, according to the Mayo Clinic. While there may be no outward signs of the infection, the virus continues to multiply in the body and destroys more immune system cells. Symptoms at this stage may include fever, coughing, weight loss, shortness of breath, diarrhea and swollen lymph nodes.
If HIV symptoms continue to worsen, the infected person may be diagnosed with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is the more severe form of HIV and may be diagnosed if the CD4 lymphocyte count is 200 or less, according to the Mayo Clinic. People who have AIDS may be more likely to develop opportunistic infections, such as pneumonia, and may suffer from chronic diarrhea, fatigue, night sweat, swollen lymph nodes, blurred vision, headaches, coughing, chills, fever and shortness of breath. As the disease progresses, weight loss may occur and the infected person may be more susceptible to developing certain kinds of cancer, including Kaposi's sarcoma and lymphoma.
Treatment
Prompt treatment of the virus can slow the damage to the immune system and improve the health of an HIV-positive person. Because there may be no symptoms during the early years of the infection, regular testing of high-risk people is important for early detection. The CDC recommends testing for everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 at least once and yearly testing for people involved in high-risk activities.
HIV patients take a combination of antiretroviral drugs to treat the virus. These drugs are effective in reducing the amount of HIV in the body to low or undetectable levels. Even though the virus may be undetectable, it is still present and treatment must continue to prevent symptoms from occurring. Regular blood testing and examinations are necessary to ensure that the correct type and dosages of antiretroviral medications are prescribed.
