Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HIV is a virus that can affect the body’s immune system, which is responsible for fighting infections. People with untreated HIV infection become sick and easily infected by common pathogens that a healthy immune system would have eradicated easily. With today’s medical innovations, people with HIV can take medications to control the virus, strengthen their immune systems, and stay healthy for many years.

As HIV progresses, a time will come when the person with the disease will have a significantly weakened immune system. At this stage, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is likely to be the diagnosis.

HIV can affect person’s immune system.

HIV can affect a person’s immune system.

Signs and Symptoms of HIV Infection

Patients with recent HIV infection generally do not experience any symptoms, but when they do, they will initially experience:

Fever
Sore throat
Headaches
Muscle pain and joint pains

These symptoms can last for up to 2 weeks. These symptoms are very often mild, and most patients will attribute them to a flu-like illness or not even recall having them.

In the first few years after the initial HIV infection, most people will continue to have a very mild form of the illness. Other signs and symptoms during this period include:

Decreased appetite
Significant fatigue
Enlarged lymph nodes
Abdominal pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Weight loss

Patients will also have a greater tendency to get lung infections, brain infections, eye infections, and yeast infections in the mouth. These infections will occur more frequently as the individual’s immunity cells become significantly fewer and less able to protect the individual from other infectious organisms.

Treatment for HIV

Key Takeaway

- HIV destroys normal immunity cells
- The HIV viral load is seen in highest concentration in blood, but is also found in urine, saliva, secretions (vaginal, semen) and sweat.
- Recently infected patients do not have pronounced signs or symptoms Generalized flu-like symptoms are the most common.
- Mother can transmit HIV during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
- Treatment for HIV only reduces the viral load, and the patient must be treated throughout their lifetime

There are different types of medications that doctors use to control HIV infection. Patients must work closely with their doctor to ensure they are on the most current HIV medications. Since there are also HIV-related infections and conditions, doctors may prescribe additional therapies to treat them.

Antiretroviral medication keep HIV viral levels undetectable.

Antiretroviral medications help keep HIV viral levels undetectable.