AIDS HIV Infection, AIDS HIV Symptoms, AIDS Treatment, HIV Prevention, HIV Testing

HIV, short for human immunodeficiency virus, is one of those lifetime infections.  Similar to herpes and Epstein Barr in that once infected you are not getting rid of it.  Notable difference is HIV virus can be lethal.

If your HIV infection advances to the stage of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), then your existence becomes one of staying alive.  From the lethal standpoint, HIV positive is not the same as full blown AIDS.

The primary health concern involving the HIV virus is it kills or damages certain immune system cells.  This damage leads to AIDS, considered the most advanced stage of the HIV infection.  Most with HIV will eventually develop AIDS.

Initially, you may not experience any symptoms from your HIV infection.  However, as your immune system gets more and more compromised you may experience a variety of symptoms with increasing severity, like:

These symptoms can come and go for years before reaching what’s considered the AIDS stage end point.

AIDS is the most serious stage of HIV infection and there two parameters for its diagnosis.  It is diagnosed when the immune system is severely weakened as evidenced by your CD4 count dropping below 200 cells/mm3 or the development of an AIDS defining condition.

An AIDS defining condition are diseases that is very unusual in a non HIV infected individual, and these diagnosing condition symptoms include:

Should you happen to develop one of these rare conditions don’t jump to the conclusion that you have AIDS.  You need to be infected with the HIV infection to qualify. Home testing for HIV is available.

Moving on for those that do qualify to an overview of the AIDS/HIV treatment.  Most medications used to treat this “autoimmune disease resembling” infection fall into 3 categories:

  • fusion inhibitors ~ blocks virus from cell entry
  • protease inhibitors ~ interfere with a protein that is used to produce infectious viral particles
  • reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors ~ interferes with a critical HIV life cycle step preventing its reproduction

These classes of drugs are for treatment only, and do not cure HIV infection or AIDS.

The advocated treatment for HIV is a combination of three or more drugs from different classes.  This regimen is called Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy or HAART.  This treatment is highly complex and involves working closely with a health care professional specializing in this form of treatment.

Possible side effect symptoms, diseases and health conditions that may result from HAART treatment include:

Again, there is no cure for AIDS HIV at this time. A HAART regime helps you keep infection symptoms at a minimum to improve the quality of your life.  More specific information on various drugs for treating AIDS.

Prevention is your key to avoid this whole life threatening situation.  HIV infection is most often spread via unprotected sex with an infected individual.  Other pathways for spreading are:

  • sharing drug needles
  • contact with infected blood
  • Infected blood transfusions
  • sexual contact with semen and vaginal secretions
  • women passing it to their baby during pregnancy or childbirth

Oral sex might pose a lower risk, but it still should be included as one of your prevention measures.

You cannot get HIV infection from:

  • toilet seat
  • water fountains
  • touching an infected individual

And no evidence HIV infection transmission by saliva.

When the AIDS epidemic began back in the early ’80s, an HIV infection meant a few more years to live. Today, longer and healthier lives are realized thanks to impressive medications for HIV AIDS.

Health Research Update: HIV treatment should start earlier.

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