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What is HIV?

The full form of HIV is Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a virus damaging the immune system. This immune system helps the body to fight off infections. HIV if untreated, kills the CD4 cells, which T cells and are a type of immune cell. As time passes, HIV tends to kill more CD4 cells, and the body then more likely get various types of cancers and other infections.

HIV is generally transmitted via bodily fluids including:

  • semen
  • blood
  • vaginal as well as rectal fluids
  • breast milk

The HIV virus however doesn’t spread via casual contact in air or water.

HIV being a lifelong condition, there is currently no cure for the same. Many scientists are still working for HIV treatment. But, with medical care, that includes treatment called as antiretroviral therapy, it is possible to manage HIV and further live with this virus for many years.

Without HIV treatment, there are possibilities that a person having HIV will most likely develop a serious condition known as AIDS. At this stage, your immune system is so weak you’re your body can’t fight off other diseases as well as infections. The life expectancy with AIDS if untreated is about 3 years. With the help of antiretroviral therapy, you can control HIV and the life expectancy also mostly is the same as with someone who hasn’t contracted HIV.

Causes of HIV

HIV is usually carried in semen, anal mucus, vaginal fluids, blood, as well as breast milk. The HIV virus enters your body via cuts or sores in your skin. It also enters through the mucous membranes such as the inside of the rectum, vagina, as well as opening of the penis. You can easily transmit HIV from:

  • Anal sex or vaginal sex
  • Sharing syringes or needles for shooting drugs, tattoos, piercings, etc.
  • In case you get stuck with a needle that already has blood on that which is HIV-infected
  • Getting HIV-infected semen, blood or vaginal fluids that enters through the open cuts or sores on your body.
  • Breastfeeding babies can be infected with HIV during birth, pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Types of HIV

There are mainly two types of HIV:

  1. HIV-1

This type of HIV is the most common and can lead to AIDS. v

  1. HIV-2

This type of HIV usually occurs in less people. This type of HIV very rarely transmits from one person to another. This however takes much longer for the infection to convert into AIDS.

Treatment

What should you do in case your HIV worsens?

It is essential to take a medical help in case you find symptoms of HIV worsening so that your doctor carries out the diagnosis basis certain tests.

    Antibody tests
  • Antibody/ Antigen tests
  • Nucleic acid test

HIV symptoms include chills, fever, headache, nausea, upset stomach, skin rash, general pains and aches, swollen lymph nodes, night sweats, weight loss, shingles, pneumonia, recurrent vaginal infections (yeast infections), etc.

What are the available HIV treatment options?

HIV Treatment should ideally begin immediately post HIV diagnosis, regardless of a viral load. Usually, the main point of HIV treatment is antiretroviral therapy, which is a combination of daily medications for stopping the virus from reproducing. This HIV treatment helps in protecting the CD4 cells that keeps your immune system strong to fight off the disease.

HIV treatment also includes Antiretroviral therapy to help prevent HIV to progress into AIDS. It will also help in reducing the risk of transmitting HIV to others.

The viral load won’t be detectable in case the HIV treatment is effective. Here, the person will still have HIV, however the virus won’t be visible in test results. But remember that the virus is still in the body. Also, if HIV infected person stops taking antiretroviral therapy, then the viral load will grow again leading to an increase and then HIV will commence start attacking CD4 cells.

Are there any natural or home remedies for HIV?

There are no natural or home remedies for curing HIV.

When to see a doctor?

You should see your family doctor in case you suspect of being infected by HIV. Your family doctor may recommend you to visit an infectious disease specialist. Your doctor will ask you questions related to your lifestyle and health. He/she will perform a complete physical examination that will check if you have swollen lymph nodes, swollen organs in your abdomen, any problems related to your nervous system, any abnormal sounds in your lungs, any lesions in your mouth or skin, etc.

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