What is HIV?

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that results in HIV infection. The virus attacks CD4 cells of the immune system, which is responsible for fighting infections and certain cancers. If untreated, CD4 count drops and HIV may eventually destroy the immune system and advance to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

How is HIV transmitted?

HIV is spread through contact with infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or breast milk. HIV can be transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. HIV is not transmitted through shaking hands or hugging a person infected with HIV. Additionally, HIV is not transmitted through sharing objects, such as dishes and toilet seats.

What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS?

People infected with HIV may experience flu-like symptoms soon after infection. These flu-like symptoms include fever, muscle pain, general weakness, headache, and rash. These symptoms are usually self-limiting. If untreated, it may take about 10 years or longer for HIV to advance to AIDS. This occurs when CD4 count reaches extremely low levels to the point that the immune system cannot fight opportunistic infections.

What are the stages of HIV infection?

HIV infection is divided into 3 stages:

1. Acute Infection: This usually occurs 2 to 4 weeks after a person becomes infected with HIV. During this phase one may experience flu-like symptoms, such as rash, fever, headache, general weakness. HIV virus multiplies and spreads throughout the body, attacking the immune system.

2. Chronic HIV Infection: During this stage, a person may show no symptoms but HIV continues to multiply and an infected person can still transmit HIV to others. If untreated, HIV advances to AIDS. This typically takes 10 years or longer, but may take less for some people.

3. AIDS: This is when the CD4 of the immune system reaches critically low level (<200 cells/mm3), making it difficult to fight opportunistic infections. If untreated, people with AIDS survive for about 3 years.

What is antiretroviral therapy?

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) involves taking a combination of medicines on a daily basis to treat HIV infection. ART does not cure HIV, but allows people with infected with HIV to live longer, improves their quality of life, and reduces the risk of HIV transmission.

How do HIV medicines work?

HIV medicines reduce viral load (amount of HIV in the body) by preventing the virus from multiplying. As a result, less destruction of CD4 cells of the immune system occurs. This allows the immune system to exert its function its function by fighting off infections and certain HIV-related cancers. Also, reducing HIV viral load reduces the risk of transmission.

When should you start taking HIV medication?

If you’re infected with HIV, it is important to start ART right away. It is even more important to start immediately if you are pregnant, have AIDS, or certain HIV-related illnesses and co-infections, and early HIV infections.

How long does it take for HIV medications to work?

ART takes 3 to 6 months to reduce viral load to undetectable levels. This does not mean the person infected with HIV is cured, but rather indicates effectiveness of selected regimen. The overall result is longer, healthy lives with lower risk of transmission of HIV.

Why is it important to adhere to HIV regimen?

Taking HIV medications daily as prescribed and not missing doses is crucial to prevent HIV multiplication and reduce viral load, thus prevent the immune system destruction and reduce the risk of HIV transmission. Poor adherence may eventually result in opportunistic infections due to failure of the immune system to fight off such infections. Additionally, poor adherence may increase the risk of drug resistance and failure of HIV therapy.

What is drug resistance?

This is basically when HIV virus stops responding to a specific medication and continues to multiply, despite taking the medication. For this reason, HIV therapy necessitates taking more than one medication from multiple classes of drugs. Resistance can be prevented by proper medication adherence, avoiding contact with blood or genital secretions of an infected person, exercising caution by using condoms and avoid sharing of needles.

Why is it important to notify your healthcare provider of any medication that you’re taking?

HIV medications are known to interact with many prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications. Such interactions may either reduce the effectiveness of HIV therapy or increase toxicity of such medication. Thus, it is important to inform your physician and pharmacist of any medication you are taking.

Where can I find more information about HIV and AIDS?

https://aidsinfo.nih.gov
http://www.fda.gov
http://www.cdc.gov

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