HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a sexually transmitted disease that weakens the immune system by destroying cells that fight infections and diseases. There’s no cure for HIV, but it is possible to manage the condition with proper medical care.
Some people are more vulnerable to HIV due to many factors, such as numerous sex partners and risky behavior.
We’re going to take a closer look at how HIV is transmitted, the most common signs and your testing options.
What is HIV?
HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, the CD4 cells in particular. When left untreated, this disease reduces the number of CD4 cells in the body. Eventually, the disease can progress to the point where the body can no longer fight off infections and disease.
Scientists have identified a specific type of chimpanzee in Central Africa as being the root source of the HIV infection. It is believed that the chimpanzee of the virus, known as SIV, was transmitted to humans and mutated into HIV.
Research suggests that this disease may have spread from apes to humans as far back as the 1800s. Over time, the virus spread throughout Africa and eventually, into other parts of the world. In the United States, the virus has existed since the late 1970s.
The 3 Stages of HIV
Those who become infected with this disease and fail to get treatment will typically go through three stages. These stages include:
- Acute Infection
About two to four weeks after becoming infected with HIV, you may experience flu-like symptoms. These symptoms can persist for several weeks, and is the body’s natural response to the infection.
At this stage, the infected person has a large amount of the virus in the body, and is incredibly contagious.
Some people in the first stage may not even realize they’re sick, which makes it easy to spread the disease to others.
- Clinical Latency
The second stage is often called clinical latency, and at this point, the virus goes into a dormant stage. While still active, the virus reproduces at a much slower pace.
If taking medication to control the progress of this disease, a person may remain in the second stage for several decades. However, the disease can still be spread at this point.
If the disease has not been diagnosed yet, a person can remain in this stage for a decade or longer, but most will progress through the second stage much quicker. Towards the end of this phase, the CD4 count starts to drop and the viral load spikes. Symptoms may start emerging as they progress into the final stage.
- AIDS
AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is the final and most severe stage of HIV. Those who reach this stage will have extremely damaged immune systems, which leads to frequent illnesses. The final stage is reached when the CD4 count drops below 200 cells/mm.
Without proper treatment, the survival rate is three years.
How Is HIV Transmitted?
HIV is spread through the sharing of body fluids, which means you can only transmit this disease through very specific activities.
Most people get HIV through:
- Sexual activity, including sexual intercourse and anal sex
- Syringe use by sharing needles
The virus spreads through bodily fluids, including:
- Semen
- Blood
- Rectal fluids
- Pre-seminal fluids
- Breast milk
- Vaginal fluids
To contract the disease, these fluids must come in contact with damaged tissue or a mucous membrane. It can also be injected directly into the bloodstream through syringes.
You cannot get HIV from:
- Shaking hands
- Hugging
- Sharing toilets
- Sharing dishes
- Closed-mouth kissing
- Touching
- Mosquitoes or other insects
- Sweat, tears or saliva that is not mixed with HIV-infected blood
While not impossible, contracting HIV from oral sex is rare.
Most Common Signs of HIV
When first infected with HIV, the virus can cause a variety of symptoms that persist for several weeks. Once those symptoms dissipate, the person usually progresses into the second stage of the disease if no treatment is sought.
Early symptoms of HIV include:
- Chills
- Fever
- Night sweats
- HIV rash
- Mouth ulcers
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Swollen lymph nodes
In the second stage of the disease, the virus goes dormant and the infected person may not experience any symptoms.
Once the final stage is reached (AIDS), symptoms progress rapidly and include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Rapid weight loss
- Recurring fever
- Severe night sweats
- Pneumonia
- Skin discoloration
- Diarrhea
- Prolonged swelling of the lymph glands
- Sores
- Memory loss
HIV symptoms in women are the same as symptoms of HIV in men, and they can often be confused with other illnesses. The only way to know for sure whether HIV is causing your symptoms is to get tested.
How is HIV Diagnosed?
The most common way to diagnose HIV is through a blood test. These tests check for antibodies