DISCLAIMER: All education provided throughout this blog post has been collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other resources cited. For more information, visit cdc.gov/hiv.
What is HIV?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. [1]
The virus destroys a white blood cell that helps your body fight infection, making the person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if not treated.
How does HIV spread?
HIV is spread through vaginal fluids, semen, blood, and breast milk. Sharing needles or other drug injecting equipment can also spread HIV.
How does HIV not spread?
HIV is not spread through kissing, hugging, dancing, or shaking hands with someone who is HIV-positive.
Who is at risk for HIV?
Anyone is at risk for HIV, but the following groups have a higher risk of infection:
• People who have another sexually transmitted disease (STD). A current STD diagnosis
can increase your risk of contracting or transmitting HIV.
• People who inject drugs through shared needles or other drug injecting equipment.
• People who engage in risky sexual behaviors, such as not using condoms.
What are the symptoms of HIV?
The first symptoms of HIV infection occur within 2 to 4 weeks of exposure (acute infection). These symptoms mimic flu-like symptoms, which include:
• Body chills
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Sore throat
• Mouth ulcers
• Swollen lymph nodes
It’s important to remember that some people may not have symptoms during acute infection. It’s also important to know that experiencing these symptoms does not mean you have HIV. The only way to officially know whether you have HIV is to get tested.
What are the stages of HIV?
HIV can progress through three stages if no treatment is being received. However, HIV medicine can slow or prevent the progression of the disease [2]. The advancements in treatment have made the progression to Stage 3 less common today than in the early days of HIV.
Stage 1: Acute HIV infection
• There is a large amount of HIV in the person’s blood. They are highly contagious.
• The person may have flu-like symptoms, the body’s natural response to infection.
• The person may have have symptoms immediately or at all.
If you have flu-like symptoms and believe you were exposed to HIV, seek medical care
and request a test to diagnose acute infection. An antigen/antibody test or nucleic acid
test (NATs) can diagnose acute infection.
Stage 2: Chronic HIV Infection
This stage is also known as “asymptomatic HIV infection or “clinical latency.”
• Although still active, HIV reproduces at very low levels.
• The person may be asymptomatic (no symptoms) or not get sick during this stage.
• Without taking HIV medicine, this stage may last a decade or longer. However, the
person may progress faster.
• HIV is transmissible in this stage.
• People who actively take HIV medicine (as prescribed) may never transition into Stage
3.
• At the end of this stage, the amount of HIV in the blood known as “viral load” increases
and the CD4 cell count decreases. As the virus levels increase in the body, the person
may have symptoms and move into Stage 3.
Stage 3: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
This stage is the most severe of HIV infection.
• AIDS is diagnosed when the person’s CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells/mm or
develops specific opportunistic infections.
• The person has a badly damaged immune system that increases the number of severe
illnesses.
• The person can have a high viral load and be highly infectious.
• A person with AIDS can typically survive approximately three years without treatment.
What is the incubation period for HIV?
The period of acute infection is usually 2 to 4 weeks. The period from infection to the development of anti-HIV antibodies is typically less than 1 month but can be up to 3 months. [3] The interval from HIV infection to AIDS ranges from approximately 9 months to 20 years or longer, with a median of 12 years. [4]
How do I know if I have HIV?
The only way to know that you are HIV-positive or HIV-negative is to get tested. Most HIV-positive people are asymptomatic for years, so you can’t solely rely on how you feel. Knowing your HIV status encourages you to make healthy decisions to prevent contracting or transmitting HIV.
If you are HIV-positive, just know that you are not alone and that medical advancements have allowed for a healthier, longer life with HIV. For information on what to do if you’ve just been diagnosed with HIV, visit https://www.helpstopthevirus.com/hiv-treatment and https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/newly-diagnosed.html.
Where can I get tested?
Contact your healthcare provider and ask if they offer HIV testing. You can also visit AIDSVu, which will help you locate an HIV testing site near you. If you live in the El Paso area, the City of El Paso Department of Public’s Health HIV Prevention offers free confidential/anonymous HIV testing.
How can I prevent HIV?
You can prevent HIV by:
• Getting tested for HIV and other STDs regularly.
• Engaging in safe sexual behaviors, such as limiting your number of sexual partners and
using latex or polyurethane (if your allergic to latex) condoms every time you have vaginal and/or anal sex.
• Not injecting drugs.
• Talking to your health care provider about medicines to prevent HIV such as PrEP (pre-
exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis).
Download the "HIV Basics" information sheet!
Stephanie Paz is a Master of Public Health student in Health Behavior and Health Promotion at New Mexico State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments