Hiv – learn about how hiv is transmitted, symptoms, prevention and how are hiv treated

Hiv learn about how hiv is transmitted, symptoms

, prevention and how are hiv treated

What is HIV

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) stands for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The virus infects and gradually destroys immune system cells, reducing the body's protection against infection and cancers. A person infected with HIV is infected for life - there's no cure.

Over time, as the immune system weakens, a person with HIV may develop rare infections or cancers. When these are particularly serious, the person is said to have acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

HIV Medications [Sorted by Popularity]

Combivir, Sustiva, Crixivan, Videx, Epivir, Viracept, Famvir, Zerit, Norvir, Ziagen, Retrovir

View medications: HIV

How HIV is transmitted

HIV can be transmitted from an infected person to another through:

Blood (including menstrual blood)

Semen

Vaginal secretions

Breast milk

Blood contains the highest concentration of the virus, followed by semen, followed by vaginal fluids, followed by breast milk.

Activities That Allow HIV Transmission

Unprotected sexual contact

Direct blood contact, including injection drug needles, blood transfusions, accidents in health care settings or certain blood products

Mother to baby (before or during birth, or through breast milk)

Sexual intercourse (vaginal and anal): In the genitals and the rectum, HIV may infect the mucous membranes directly or enter through cuts and sores caused during intercourse (many of which would be unnoticed). Vaginal and anal intercourse is a high-risk practice.

Oral sex (mouth-penis, mouth-vagina): The mouth is an inhospitable environment for HIV (in semen, vaginal fluid or blood), meaning the risk of HIV transmission through the throat, gums, and oral membranes is lower than through vaginal or anal membranes. There are however, documented cases where HIV was transmitted orally, so we can't say that getting HIV-infected semen, vaginal fluid or blood in the mouth is without risk. However, oral sex is considered a low risk practice.

Sharing injection needles: An injection needle can pass blood directly from one person's bloodstream to another. It is a very efficient way to transmit a blood-borne virus. Sharing needles is considered a high-risk practice.

Mother to Child: It is possible for an HIV-infected mother to pass the virus directly before or during birth, or through breast milk. Breast milk contains HIV, and while small amounts of breast milk do not pose significant threat of infection to adults, it is a viable means of transmission to infants.

How Is HIV Infection Not Spread

Research indicates that HIV is NOT transmitted by casual contact such as:

Touching or hugging

Sharing household items such as utensils, towels, and bedding

Contact with sweat or tears

Sharing facilities such as swimming pools, saunas, hot tubs, or toilets with HIV-infected people

Coughs or sneezes

In short, studies indicate that HIV transmission requires intimate contact with infected blood or body fluids (vaginal secretions, semen, pre-ejaculation fluid, and breast milk). Activities that don't involve the possibility of such contact are regarded as posing no risk of infection.

What are the symptoms of HIV

Many people with HIV do not know they are infected.

Many people do not develop symptoms after they first get infected with HIV. Others have a flu-like illness within several days to weeks after exposure to the virus. They complain of fever, headache, tiredness, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. These symptoms usually disappear on their own within a few weeks. After that, the person feels normal and has no symptoms. This asymptomatic phase often lasts for years.

The progression of disease varies widely among individuals. This state may last from a few months to more than 10 years.During this period, the virus continues to multiply actively and infects and kills the cells of the immune system.The virus destroys the cells that are the primary infection fighters, a type of white blood cell called CD4 cells.

Even though the person has no symptoms, he or she is contagious and can pass HIV to others through the routes listed above.

AIDS is the later stage of HIV infection, when the body begins losing its ability to fight infections.

Learn more: HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

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