HIV/AIDS

 INTRODUCTION

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an infection that attacks the body’s immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most advanced stage of the disease.

HIV targets the body’s white blood cells, weakening the immune system. This makes it easier to get sick with diseases like tuberculosis, infections and some cancers.

HIV is spread from the body fluids of an infected person, including blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluids. It is not spread by kisses, hugs or sharing food. It can also spread from a mother to her baby.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of HIV vary depending on the stage of infection.

The disease spreads more easily in the first few months after a person is infected, but many are unaware of their status until the later stages. In the first few weeks after being infected people may not experience symptoms. Others may have an influenza-like illness including:

• fever
• headache
• rash
• sore throat.

The infection progressively weakens the immune system. This can cause other signs and symptoms:

• swollen lymph nodes
• weight loss
• fever
• diarrhea

Transmission

HIV can be transmitted via the exchange of a variety of body fluids from people living with HIV, such as blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal secretions. HIV can also be transmitted during pregnancy and delivery to the child. People cannot become infected through ordinary day-to-day contact such as kissing, hugging, shaking hands, or sharing personal objects, food or water.

Risk factors

 Behaviors and conditions that put people at greater risk of contracting HIV include:

• having another sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and bacterial vaginosis.
• engaging in harmful use of alcohol and drugs in the context of sexual behavior.
• sharing contaminated needles, syringes and other injecting equipment and drug solutions when injecting drugs.

Prevention

HIV is a preventable disease.

Reduce the risk of HIV infection by:

• using a male or female condom during sex
• being tested for HIV and sexually transmitted infections
• having a voluntary medical male circumcision
• using harm reduction services for people who inject and use drugs.

Doctors may suggest medicines and medical devices to help prevent HIV, including:

• antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), including oral PREP and long-acting products
• dipivefrine vaginal rings
• injectable long acting cabotegravir.

Treatment

There is no cure for HIV infection. It is treated with antiretroviral drugs, which stop the virus from replicating in the body.

Current antiretroviral therapy (ART) does not cure HIV infection but allows a person’s immune system to get stronger. This helps them to fight other infections.

Currently, ART must be taken every day for the rest of a person’s life.

CONCLUSION

HIV can be treated and prevented with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Untreated HIV can progress to AIDS, often after many years.

WHO now defines Advanced HIV Disease (AHD) as CD4 cell count less than 200cells/mm3 or WHO stage 3 or 4 in adults and adolescents. All children with HIV younger than 5 years of age are considered to have advanced HIV disease.