What is HIV/AIDS and how can I contract it?

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) destroys the immune system of your body, thereby impairing your body?s ability to fight off infections and certain cancers. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by HIV and classifies the most severe stage of the HIV infection. Once diagnosed with AIDS, patients are susceptible to infection by opportunistic infections, caused by viruses or bacteria, which generally do not cause illness in people with a healthy immune system.

HIV/AIDS is contracted mostly via unprotected sex with infected partners. However, HIV/AIDS can also be transmitted via contact with infected blood, sharing infected needles,

What are the Signs/Symptoms of HIV/AIDS?

Upon infection, some people may experience flu like symptoms within one to two months, although many infected individuals remain asymptomatic for up to 10 years. Common symptoms experienced may include fever, headache, fatigue, and enlarged lymph nodes (glands). These symptoms generally disappear within a week to a month following display and they are often mistaken for another infection.

As the infection continues to destroy the immune system, more severe complications persist for months to years prior to the onset of AIDS. These symptoms include: fatigue, fever, sweats, rash or flaking skin, oral or vaginal yeast infections, weight loss, pelvic inflammatory disease, and short term memory loss. Additionally, people can experience severe herpes outbreaks or shingles.

Patients are diagnosed with AIDS once their immune cells become extremely few in number and they display symptoms of some of the associated opportunistic infections. These symptoms include those mentioned above, as well as; shortness of breath, coughing, painful swallowing, lack of coordination, seizures, severe and persistent diarrhea, vision loss, nausea/vomiting/abdominal cramping, coma, confusion, and forgetfulness. 

How common is HIV/AIDS?

There was an estimated 886,575 persons diagnosed with AIDS in the U.S. through 2002. Between 1999 and the year 2002, an estimated 40,896 15-24 year olds were diagnosed with HIV.

How can I Prevent Contracting HIV/AIDS?

As with other STDs, refraining from sexual contact, or being in a long term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected, is the most effective way to prevent infection with HIV/AIDS. Also, latex condoms reduce the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS if they are used correctly and consistently.

If I have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, what are my Treatment Options?

There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, however, there are treatment options that act to interrupt virus replication. These include: Ritonavir (Norvir), Saquinivir (Invirase), Indinavir (Crixivan), Amprenivir (Agenerase), Nelfinavir (Viracept), and Lopinavir (Kaletra). These drugs are generally used in different combinations, as to counteract the ability of the virus to become resistant.

Reference: Information obtained from Center for Disease Control and Prevention