HIV/AIDS
If you are suffering from HIV and want to know about the latest advances in the treatment of HIV/AIDS in India, Click here!
And for any queries or frequently asked questions (FAQs) on HIV/AIDS, Read this!
HIV/AIDS is a disease that affects the human immune system. AIDS is the final stage of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. If an HIV positive person is left untreated, his/her condition deteriorates into full-blown AIDS where the immune system stops working. Thus the immune system is unable to protect the person from diseases or infections. The virus can be transmitted from an HIV-positive person through the exchange of body fluids. This can happen through sexual contact, blood transfusion, needles or from a mother to child during pregnancy. Though there is no cure yet, antiretroviral treatment has proven to be very effective. Here’s everything you need to know about HIV diagnosis.
Risk factors
HIV/ AIDS has killed more than 25 million people in the past 3 decades. One of the main reasons why HIV/AIDS is so widespread is the lack the knowledge about risk factors and transmission of HIV. This lack of knowledge is not restricted to people living in remote areas. Maybe in the future we could have a cure for HIV but until then knowing the risk factors is the best way to stay away from HIV.
Having unprotected sex
Multiple sex partners
Other sexually transmitted infections
Transfusion of contaminated blood and blood products
Contaminated syringes and needles
Drug abuse
Unsafe piercings
Negligence in medical practice
Mother-to-child HIV risk
To know more about the factors that increase your risk for HIV, click here.
Causes
HIV infection is spread from person to person when human blood and sexual fluids (semen and vaginal secretions) are shared. HIV can be transmitted through:
Unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal or oral*)
Transfusion of contaminated blood
Sharing of contaminated needles used for injectable drugs
Sharing infected needles for tattoos and body piercing
Oral sex (the risk is small, though)
From HIV infected mother to her child during pregnancy, child birth or breast feeding
* The chances of HIV transmission through oral sex are low but it can’t be completely ruled out.
The virus cannot survive for long outside the human body and dies quickly when the body fluid in which it is contained dries up. This is why it can’t be spread by insects, can’t spread like the flu virus (public surfaces, coughing, sneezing, etc.)
Symptoms
HIV symptoms vary from person to person. Some people experience a flu-like illness such as fever, headache or sore throat in the first few weeks after which the symptoms vanish. A person can have HIV for many years before developing any symptoms. Opportunistic infections are common in people with AIDS which affects nearly every organ system. Some of the signs that HIV is turning into AIDS include:
Persistent fever
Extreme fatigue not related to stress or lack of sleep
Persistent diarrhoea
Severe malnutrition, losing weight
Swollen glands in the neck, groin, etc.
Difficulty in swallowing
Oral thrush
Headache, confusion and forgetfulness
Increased risk of developing various cancers like Kaposi sarcoma, lymphomas, cervical cancer, etc.
Read more about HIV/AIDS symptoms that you need to watch out for.
Diagnosis
All the tests available for the diagnosis of HIV infection are based on the basics of immunology. Here’s some brief information on advanced tests for HIV diagnosis with inputs from Dr Shroff.
Tests for detecting antibodies against HIV
ELISA test
Antibody differentiation test
Western blot test
Tests detecting the HIV antigen
Antigen p24 test
PCR for plasma HIV RNA test
Read about HIV diagnosis — 5 tests to detect a recent HIV infection
Treatment
The two main goals of HIV treatment are
Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs are used for treating and preventing HIV infection. They stop or interfere with the reproduction of the virus in the body. ART does not cure HIV infection. It controls replication of the virus thereby strengthening an individual’s immune system to fight off infections. These drugs must be taken at the right time every day. Incorrect or inconsistent therapy can mutate the virus causing resistance to treatment.
People with HIV need counselling and psychosocial support in addition to antiretroviral treatment. A high quality of life needs to be maintained with basic hygiene, adequate nutrition and safe water.
Complications
People with AIDS are extremely susceptible to infection. Some of the following conditions are commonly associated with AIDS:
Tuberculosis (TB) – a bacterial infection that primarily infects the lungs. It is a leading cause of death in people living with HIV. Nearly a quarter of a million fall prey to it each year.
Herpes Simplex - a virus that causes cold sores or genital herpes (painful blisters in the genital area). Severe HSV lesions are common in the advanced stages of AIDS.
Kaposi’s sarcoma – a skin tumour with purple blotches on the skin or in the mouth. It is caused by herpes virus.
Lymphoma – tumours develop from white blood cells in the lymphatic system. A common disease associated with AIDS in which cancer cells are found in the lymph systems of AIDS patients.
Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) – an infection that causes inflammation and fluid build-up in the lungs. It is the most common opportunistic infection in HIV infected people.
Oral thrush – an infection of the mouth caused by the fungus candida. Candida infection is more likely to develop in HIV infection.
Cytomegalovirus infection – cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes HIV-associated infections. The virus usually remains dormant in a healthy person. The most common illnesses that CMV causes in a HIV infected person are blindness, pneumonia, liver disease, etc.
Toxoplasmosis – a parasitic disease which rarely causes any symptoms in healthy adults. But it can be a serious disorder for people with HIV/AIDS. It causes brain lesions in HIV infected people.
Read about 12 diseases that affect people with HIV/AIDS
Prevention
By limiting exposure to risk factors, a person can reduce the risk of HIV infection. The preventive measures include:
Correct and consistent use of condoms can protect against the spread of HIV.
Antiretroviral drugs taken by the HIV-negative partner can be effective in preventing acquisition from an infected partner. This is called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) - WHO recommends that countries implement demonstration projects on PrEP for serodiscordant couples and men and transgender women who have sex with men.
Health care workers with needle prick injuries in the workplace are recommended post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Antiretroviral drugs are used within 72 hours of exposure to HIV in order to prevent infection. Counselling, first aid care and HIV testing are also done. A 28-day course of antiretroviral drugs with follow-up care is advised depending on the level of risk.
People exposed to any of the risk factors are strongly advised to test for HIV and other STIs.
Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding can be fully prevented if both the mother and the child are provided with antiretroviral drugs
Male circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men by approximately 60%.
Use sterile needles and syringes for each injection.
Antiretroviral therapy decreases the HIV concentration (viral load) in the blood and in genital secretions. According to a new trial the risk of transmitting the virus through sexual contact can be reduced by 96% if an HIV-positive person follows an effective antiretroviral therapy regimen.
Read more about tips to prevent contracting and transmitting the disease
Prevention
We all know HIV is a disease that can be spread from transmitting intra-body fluids but do you know how you can get it? Here are some things you should do to avoid contracting HIV:
- Avoid dangerous sexual practices
- Avoid intravenous drug use
- Follow good hygiene practices
- Get tested
Read more about tips to prevent contracting and transmitting the disease.
Prevention
We all know HIV is a disease that can be spread from transmitting intra-body fluids but do you know how you can get it? Here are some things you should do to avoid contracting HIV:
- Avoid dangerous sexual practices
- Avoid intravenous drug use
- Follow good hygiene practices
- Get tested
Read more about tips to prevent contracting and transmitting the disease
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