Hiv what is this

Serious side effects can include swelling of the mouth and tongue and liver or kidney damage. If side effects are severe, the medications can be adjusted. Costs for antiretroviral therapy vary according to geographic location and type of insurance coverage. Some pharmaceutical companies have assistance programs to help lower the cost. Learn more about the drugs used to treat HIV. A person with a count below is considered to have AIDS.

How quickly a case of HIV progresses through the chronic stage varies significantly from person to person. Without treatment, it can last up to a decade before advancing to AIDS. With treatment, it can last indefinitely. People with HIV often have a near-normal lifespan with early treatment with antiretroviral therapy. This point is a count of or higher.

Healthy individuals have a CD4 count of to 1, per cubic millimeter. Several different tests can be used to diagnose HIV. Healthcare providers determine which test is best for each person. They can show positive results typically within 18—45 days after someone initially contracts HIV. These tests check the blood for antibodies and antigens. An antibody is a type of protein the body makes to respond to an infection. An antigen, on the other hand, is the part of the virus that activates the immune system.

These tests check the blood solely for antibodies. Between 23 and 90 days after transmission, most people will develop detectable HIV antibodies, which can be found in the blood or saliva. If they have a positive result, they should follow up with their healthcare provider to confirm. It takes from 5 to 21 days for HIV to be detectable in the blood. This test is usually accompanied or confirmed by an antibody test. Learn more about HIV home testing options.

As soon as someone contracts HIV, it starts to reproduce in their body. Most people develop detectable HIV antibodies within 23 to 90 days after transmission. However, they can still transmit the virus to others during this time.

If someone thinks they may have been exposed to HIV but tested negative during this time, they should repeat the test in a few months to confirm the timing depends on the test used. And during that time, they need to use condoms or other barrier methods to prevent possibly spreading HIV. Someone who tests negative during the window might benefit from post-exposure prophylaxis PEP. This is medication taken after an exposure to prevent getting HIV. PEP needs to be taken as soon as possible after the exposure; it should be taken no later than 72 hours after exposure but ideally before then.

Learn more about how timing affects HIV test results. However, taking certain steps can help prevent the transmission of HIV. The most common way for HIV to be transferred is through anal or vaginal sex without a condom or other barrier method. Shop for condoms online. Healthcare providers can offer more information on these and other ways to prevent the spread of HIV. Check here for more information on STI prevention.

More than 1. The most important thing is to start antiretroviral treatment as soon as possible. By taking medications exactly as prescribed, people living with HIV can keep their viral load low and their immune system strong. Hear some real stories of people living with HIV.

In the s, a year-old person with HIV had a year life expectancy. By , a year-old person with HIV could expect to live another 53 years. With proper treatment, many people with HIV can expect a normal or near- normal lifespan. Where a person lives also matters. People in the United States and other developed countries may be more likely to have access to antiretroviral therapy.

In , about Life expectancy statistics are just general guidelines. The goal of HIV treatment is to have an undetectable viral load. This means the level of HIV virus in your body is low enough to not be detected by a test. Without treatment, the immune system will become severely damaged, and life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and severe infections can occur.

If you're planning on getting pregnant, it's important to talk to a GP. Although rare, it's possible to transmit HIV to your baby. Anyone who has sex without a condom or shares needles is at risk of HIV infection. There are many effective ways to prevent or reduce the risk of HIV infection, including:.

Speak to your local sexual health clinic or a GP for further advice about the best way to reduce your risk. Some people infected by HIV develop a flu-like illness within two to four weeks after the virus enters the body.

This illness, known as primary acute HIV infection, may last for a few weeks. Possible signs and symptoms include:. These symptoms can be so mild that you might not even notice them. However, the amount of virus in your bloodstream viral load is quite high at this time. As a result, the infection spreads more easily during primary infection than during the next stage. In this stage of infection, HIV is still present in the body and in white blood cells. However, many people may not have any symptoms or infections during this time.

This stage can last for many years if you're not receiving antiretroviral therapy ART. Some people develop more severe disease much sooner. As the virus continues to multiply and destroy your immune cells — the cells in your body that help fight off germs — you may develop mild infections or chronic signs and symptoms such as:. Thanks to better antiviral treatments, most people with HIV in the U. When AIDS occurs, your immune system has been severely damaged.

You'll be more likely to develop opportunistic infections or opportunistic cancers — diseases that wouldn't usually cause illness in a person with a healthy immune system.

If you think you may have been infected with HIV or are at risk of contracting the virus, see a doctor as soon as possible. HIV is caused by a virus.

It can spread through sexual contact or blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. HIV destroys CD4 T cells — white blood cells that play a large role in helping your body fight disease. Inhalation of the fungus Coccidioides immitis causes coccidioidomycosis. A doctor may refer to this infection in healthy people as valley fever.

Cryptococcosis is an infection with Cryptococcus neoformans fungus. Any part of the body may be involved, but the fungus usually enters the lungs and triggers pneumonia.

It may also lead to swelling of the brain. Cryptosporidiosis is an infection with the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium.

It can lead to severe abdominal cramps and chronic, watery diarrhea. CMV can cause a range of diseases, including pneumonia, gastroenteritis , and encephalitis , a brain infection. It is a medical emergency. Herpes results from infection with the herpes simplex virus HSV. This virus usually transmits through sex or childbirth. In a person with reduced immune function, herpes can cause painful cold sores around the mouth and ulcers on the genitals and anus that do not go away.

These sores, rather than a herpes diagnosis, can indicate AIDS. Herpes can also infect the lungs or esophagus of someone with AIDS. Histoplasmosis is an infection with the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum , and it causes extremely severe, pneumonia-like symptoms in people with advanced HIV.

Histoplasmosis can also become progressive and widespread, affecting organs outside the respiratory system. The bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis cause tuberculosis , and they can transfer through the air if a person with an active infection sneezes, coughs, or speaks.

The signs and symptoms can include a severe lung infection, weight loss, a fever, and fatigue. Tuberculosis can spread to the brain and other organs. Types of mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium kansasii are naturally present and tend to cause few problems. However, in a person with HIV, especially if it is in the later stages, these infections can spread throughout the body and cause life threatening health issues.

Many different pathogens can cause pneumonia, but a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae can be one of the most dangerous for people with HIV. A vaccine for this bacterium is available, and everyone with HIV should receive it. Meanwhile, infection with a fungus called Pneumocystis jirovecii can cause breathlessness, a dry cough, and a high fever in people with suppressed immune systems, including some people with HIV.

Chronic intestinal isosporiasis occurs when the parasite Isospora belli enters the body through contaminated food and water, causing diarrhea, fever, vomiting, weight loss, headaches , and abdominal pain. When Salmonella bacteria enter the body — also usually via contaminated food or water — they can circulate and overpower the immune system, causing nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

In this case, a doctor may diagnose recurrent Salmonella septicemia. Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that inhabits warm-blooded animals, including cats and rodents, and it is present in their feces. Humans contract the resulting infection, called toxoplasmosis, by inhaling contaminated dust or eating contaminated food, including commercial meats. Toxoplasmosis can cause severe symptoms involving the lungs, retina, heart, liver, pancreas, brain, testes, and colon.

To reduce the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis, wear gloves while changing cat litter, and thoroughly wash the hands afterward. A person with advanced HIV or an opportunistic infection may experience complications, including:. HIV can trigger encephalopathy, or inflammation in the brain. Doctors do not fully understand the underlying mechanisms. PML stems from infection with the John Cunningham virus.

This virus is present in many people, and it usually lies dormant in the kidneys. If a person has a weakened immune system — possibly due to HIV or medications such as those for multiple sclerosis — the John Cunningham virus attacks the brain, leading to PML, which can be life threatening and cause paralysis and cognitive difficulties. Part of the weight loss may also involve fat loss. A person with HIV may have a higher risk of various types of cancer, including lymphoma.

These can develop anywhere in the body. On the skin, a doctor may recognize characteristic solid, purple or pink spots, which may be flat or raised. These affect the lymph nodes and lymphoid tissues. Also, a female with HIV should recieve regular checks for cervical cancer.

Read more about possible complications of HIV here. It is important to manage the viral load with HIV medications and take additional precautions, such as:. Antibiotic , antifungal, and antiparasitic drugs can help treat opportunistic infections. Data suggest that 1 in every 7 HIV-positive people in the U.