According to the United States (U.S.) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), in the U.S. there are 56,300 people infected with "Human Immunodeficiency Virus" (HIV). NIAID approximates that 33 million people worldwide are living with HIV. HIV, that will become "Acquired Immune Deficiency Disorder" (AIDS), in time, still remains a significant disease despite advances in treatment.
Early HIV Symptoms
A person infected with HIV may have symptoms like fever, headache, tiredness and enlarged neck or groin lymph nodes. The problem is that these same symptoms may result from a variety of viruses or diseases, so unless the person knows he was exposed, he may pay little attention to these symptoms. A person may remain symptom-free for over 10 years, and not know he has HIV.
When HIV Symptoms Get Worse
After an initial period of low or no symptoms of HIV, a person may begin to experience more severe symptoms. These include: rapid weight loss, night sweats, diarrhea, red, brown or pink blotches on her skin, sores, memory loss and neurological disorders.
What HIV Does
HIV destroys T-cells, white cells the body needs to fight disease. As more and more T-cells are destroyed, the rest of the person's immune system becomes susceptible to many diseases, including pneumonia. Untreated early HIV can cause diseases of the liver, cardiovascular system, and kidneys and certain cancers.
How HIV Began
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HIV began in a species of simian monkey. Humans and these monkeys came in contact and the monkeys' fluids contaminated something humans took in. Afterward, the disease spread first over Africa, and then on to other places.
How HIV Is Contracted
The only way humans can become infected with HIV is through exchange of body fluid. Transmission may occur when people share needles, receive accidental punctures from an infected person's needle, and receive infected blood in a transfusion and during procedures like dental work when tools were not properly cleaned. Generally, it proves easier to contract HIV during anal sex, or sex where any bleeding or fluid sharing occurs. HIV cannot live outside the body.
Myth About HIV
HIV is not a disease caused by gay men. Because gay men often engage in anal sex, the initial spread of HIV occurred in gay men before anyone actually knew much about the disease. Information about preventing HIV was slow in being disseminated, and by then, many had already become infected. Now, the highest incidence of HIV besides in gay men, occurs in African-Americans.
Condoms for Safe Sex
Condoms are recommended for males having safe sex. It remains important to know that only latex condoms will resist the disease, not sheepskin or some other materials. Using condoms should occur for oral sex, not just penetrative sex.
Women and HIV
To date, no reports have verified a case of HIV transmission during female to female sex. Infection is possible, though, if one of the partners becomes infected and engages in oral sex with a cut inside her mouth, or if in some other way during an exchange of body fluids. There are a number of potential women's "condoms," like use of dental dams, but no commonly accepted version. Of course women who become infected during sex with infected men, and then may spread HIV to another man.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
The CDC conducts research about whether or not Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), works for those at high risk for getting infected with HIV. This includes people without a HIV diagnosis who take antiretroviral medication every day to protect them if they become exposed. The CDC does not yet know if PrEP works.
Testing for HIV
More and more, testing for HIV is recommended routinely. The CDC estimates 21%, or 1 in 5 of those infected with HIV do not know it. Current thinking on prevention suggests that if HIV is discovered early, the person may still live a long life, given newer and better medicines now available.
