Infectious diseases : HIV

What exactly is HIV?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that destroys immune system cells, making it more difficult to combat infections and disease. At the end of 2019, an estimated 38.0 million people were infected with HIV.

Infection with HIV in humans was first discovered in a Central African chimp.

When humans killed these chimps for meat and came into contact with their tainted blood, the chimp form of the virus (called simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV) was likely transmitted to humans.

What are the symptoms and how does it spread?

It's predicted that up to 80% of HIV-positive people would develop this flu-like illness.

The following are the most common signs and symptoms:

• temperature increase (fever)

• a sore throat and a rash on the body

• Some signs and symptoms include:

• exhaustion

• joint discomfort

• muscle ache

• gland that are swollen

The term AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) refers to a group of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that occur when your immune system is seriously weakened by the HIV virus.

Most people with HIV will not experience AIDS-related diseases and will enjoy a near-normal lifespan if diagnosed early and treated effectively.

Treatment

There is currently no appropriate treatment available. People who contract HIV are infected for the rest of their lives. HIV, on the other hand, can be managed with the right medical treatment. HIV spread steadily through Africa and then into other parts of the world over decades. The virus has been known to occur in the United States since the mid to late 1970s.

Taking medication to minimise the amount of HIV in your body is part of HIV care.

Antiretroviral therapy is the term for HIV treatment (ART).

HIV has no successful treatment. However, with the right medical treatment, HIV can be managed. Within six months, most people will get the virus under control.

Taking HIV medication does not prevent the spread of other sexually transmitted diseases, so it is not recommended.

Busting myths on HIV

Myth #1: HIV is a fatal disease.

“We now expect people with HIV to live a normal life span with adequate treatment,” says Dr. Michael Horberg, Kaiser Permanente's national director of HIV/AIDS.

“An individual with HIV who has good access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) should expect to live a normal life span since 1996, when highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was introduced as long as they take their prescribed medications” - Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, a board-certified infectious disease physician.

Myth #2: By looking at someone, you can determine whether they have HIV/AIDS.

When a person catches the HIV virus, their signs are usually unremarkable. An individual with HIV can encounter symptoms similar to those of any other infection, such as fever, nausea, or general fatigue. Furthermore, the initial mild signs usually last for a few weeks.

Myth #3: HIV-positive people can’t safely have children.

The most important thing that a woman living with HIV can do when preparing for pregnancy is to work with her healthcare provider to begin ART treatment as soon as possible. Since HIV treatment has progressed so far, if a woman takes her HIV medication regularly as prescribed by her healthcare provider during her pregnancy (including the first trimester), she should be fine.

In the case that a mother's HIV viral load is higher than desired, there are also options for lowering the risk of transmission, such as opting for a C-section or bottle-feeding with formula after birth.

Women who are HIV-negative but want to have a child with a male partner who has the virus may be able to take special medicine to reduce the risk of infection to themselves and their children. If a man has HIV and is taking antiretroviral therapy (ART), the risk of transmission is practically non-existent if the viral load is undetectable.

Prevention

• When you have sex, male latex condoms are the most powerful way to avoid HIV and other STIs.

• Get tested. Make sure you and your partner have been screened for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

• Reduce the number of sexual partners you have.

• It's crucial not to share needles, syringes, injection devices like spoons and swabs, or the medications or liquids that were used to dilute them.

• If you're HIV negative, you may be able to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicine to reduce your risk of getting the virus.

• All pregnant women are offered a blood test to check if they have HIV as part of routine antenatal screening.

Future

HIV/AIDS remains a significant global public health concern, having taken nearly 33 million lives to date. HIV infection has become a manageable chronic health condition, allowing people living with HIV to live long and stable lives, thanks to increased access to HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care, particularly for opportunistic infections.successful