How HIV is Transmitted

The human immunodeficiency virus is chiefly caused by contact with vaginal fluid, semen or blood infected by the disease. HIV is typically spread via these three causes:

- HIV may be spread to infants from their mothers during childbirth or during nursing.
- Sexual contact with someone infected with HIV.
- Contact with an infected needle or syringe (Sharing needles with someone infected with HIV).

HIV Precautionary Measures Include:

- Discuss HIV and other STDs with your sexual partner.
- Learn as much as possible about your partner’s past sexual behavior, other sexual partners, drug use and lifestyle.
- Use a condom every time you have sexual intercourse.
- Never share needles or syringes with anyone.
- Get tested for HIV and other STDs.

HIV Treatments

Although there is no known cure for HIV/AIDS, it is a manageable virus. Advances in HIV treatments since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in the 1980s have helped to weaken the progression of the HIV infection to AIDS. As a result of advancements in medical research and sciences, the number of fatalities resulting from AIDS has decreased in the United States. All blood donated to blood banks and infirmaries in the United States are now tested for HIV. As a result, contracting HIV from a blood transfusion is very rare.According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, there are currently thirty-one antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HIV and AIDS. These drugs do not cure or get rid of HIV or AIDS, but they do suppress the virus and allow the infected person to live a longer, richer, healthier life. It is important to note, that although the virus can be suppressed via use of ARVs, HIV/AIDS can still be spread by the infected individual. It is important that the infected person use all precautions to forestall the spread of the virus to others.

Treatment Complications, Risks and Possible Side Effects

Like many drug treatments, the medications used to treat HIV/AIDS can cause complications and side effects. Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) on rare occasion can cause serious medical complications including: changes in metabolism and bone loss. Patients need to be aware of possible complications when taking any medication and be alert to their body’s response to the drug. It is important to communicate any concerns regarding your HIV treatment with your physician.

Research has shown that HIV can create strains resistant to antiretroviral drugs when patients fail to take all their prescribed medications consistently. It is essential for patients to talk to their physicians regarding their concerns or hardships with their suggested drug regimens. Some patients experience disagreeable side effects and may have difficulty keeping up with the required daily medication schedule. If this is the case, it is recommended that the patient and physician find an alternative solution as quickly as possible as inconsistency with antiretroviral drugs may allow the HIV infection to become resistant to that specific treatment.

HIV Support Groups

Support groups and connections with others who are also living with HIV/AIDS may provide some benefit. Connecting with others who share your medical condition may provide emotional support, a sense of unity and may help prevent individuals from feeling isolated in their illness. The

World Health Organization states that support groups can provide important psychosocial support to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Becoming infected with HIV can affect all aspects of the infected individual’s life as well as the life of their family and caregivers. Support groups may help HIV patients better cope with their illness. Support groups should not be used to replace professional psychological services.

Causes of HIV

The spread of HIV inside the body is in such a way that the virus splits the inherent cryptogram of the cells which are utilised by the immune system, especially cells called ‘CD4 cells’ and further utilizes the natural inherent matter in order to create replicas of itself. The body is able to create more of the’CD4′ cells, but sooner or later the virus HIV would bring down the number of the ‘CD4′ cells to a very low level which in turn would end up in stopping the functioning of the immune system.

The spreading of the virus HIV outside the system is due to transmission of fluids from the body, like blood or semen. Thus this virus could be transmitted due to sexual intercourse, which would include even anal and oral sex. The risk of the transmission of HIV is there also in case of the sharing of needles while injecting illegal drugs. HIV can also be transmitted by the mother to the baby. But nowadays there are medications available wherein the possibility can be brought down. HIV is also transmitted by blood transfusions.

Symptoms of HIV

The first stage of the infection is called the ‘primary HIV infection’. The persons infected by this virus, about more than half of the people develop the symptoms, generally in about 15 to 45 days of the infection. The symptoms would comprise of pain in the joints, fever, muscle pain, sore throat, and swelling in the glands, getting tired out faster than usual and appearance of a spotty rash on the chest. Generally the symptoms are quite mild and you would tend to link them to some other problem like fever or cold. These symptoms do not show any increment for a long period. This is called ‘Asymptomatic HIV infection’.

This virus is internally growing and even damaging the immune system. If the virus is left and not treated, it in turn will bring down the number of the CD4 cells in the body to a very low level and this would cause the immune system to stop functioning. This damage caused to the immune system generally happening in over a period of ten years. This in turn would inexorably result in growing into a severe infection. The symptoms of a severe infection would be, night sweats, dry cough, inexplicable loss of weight, high fever which would be enduringly long, vision would start getting blur, the mouth or the tongue would develop white spots, shortness in breath, constant diarrhea or even glands tend to swell up and this condition would continue for three or more months.

Treatment of HIV

The first step would be getting referred to a HIV clinic and getting counseled. Then blood tests would be done regularly, these tests would be to keep a check on the viral load and the CD4 cell count. There is no vaccine or medication available which can cure HIV completely. But there are medications like HAART available in order to slow down the speed of the virus and also giving you a longer life span. There are also various therapies done alone and also in combination with medication to give the sufferer a better life.