HIV

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). There is currently no effective cure for HIV. However, with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled.

Transmission

HIV is transmitted through certain body fluids that attack the body's immune system, specifically the CD4 cells, often referred to as T cells. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can't fight off infections and disease.

Symptoms

The symptoms of HIV vary depending on the stage of infection. In the early stages, many people experience a flu-like illness within 2 to 4 weeks after the virus enters the body. This is known as primary (acute) HIV infection, and it's the body's natural response to the HIV infection.

Diagnosis

HIV is diagnosed through various types of tests that can detect the virus in the body. These include antibody/antigen tests, antibody tests, and nucleic acid tests (NATs).

Treatment

While there is no cure for HIV, it can be controlled with proper medical care. The medicine used to treat HIV is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). If taken as prescribed, this medicine can dramatically prolong the lives of many people with HIV, keep them healthy, and greatly lower their chance of transmitting the virus to others.

Prevention

There are several ways to prevent getting or transmitting HIV, including using condoms, getting tested and treated for STDs, choosing less risky sexual behaviors, using only new, clean needles for injections, and taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

See Also

• AIDS
• Antiretroviral therapy
• CD4 cells
• Pre-exposure prophylaxis
• Post-exposure prophylaxis

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