HIV/AIDS: The Basics
What is HIV/AIDS?
e human
immunodeciency virus, or HIV, is the virus
that causes HIV infection. During HIV infection, the virus
attacks and destroys the infection-
ghting
ghting
CD4 cells
of the
body’s immune system. Loss of CD4 cells makes it di
cult
cult
for the immune system to
ght infections.
ght infections.
Acquired
immuno
deciency
syndrome
, or
AIDS
, is the
most advanced stage of HIV infection.
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV is transmitted (spread) through the blood, semen, genital
uids, or breast milk of a person infected with HIV. Having
unprotected sex
or sharing drug injection equipment (such
as needles and syringes) with a person infected with HIV are
the most common ways HIV is transmitted.
You can’t get HIV by shaking hands, hugging, or closed-
mouth kissing with a person who is infected with HIV. And
you can’t get HIV from contact with objects such as toilet
seats, doorknobs, dishes, or drinking glasses used by a person
infected with HIV.
Even though it takes many years for symptoms of HIV to
develop, a person infected with HIV can spread the virus at
any stage of HIV infection. Detecting HIV early after
infection and starting treatment with anti-HIV medications
before symptoms of HIV develop can help people with HIV
live longer, healthier lives. Treatment can also reduce the risk
of
transmission of HIV
.
What is the treatment for HIV?
Antiretroviral therapy (ART)
is the recommended
treatment for HIV infection. ART involves taking a
combination (
regimen
) of three or more anti-HIV
medications daily. ART prevents HIV from multiplying and
destroying infection-
ghting CD4 cells. is helps the body
ghting CD4 cells. is helps the body
ght o life-threatening infections and cancer.
ART can’t cure HIV, but anti-HIV medications help people
infected with HIV live longer, healthier lives.
Can treatment prevent HIV from advancing to
AIDS?
Yes. Treatment with anti-HIV medications prevents HIV
from multiplying and destroying the immune system. is
helps the body
ght o life-threatening infections and
ght o life-threatening infections and
cancers and prevents HIV from advancing to AIDS.
Terms Used in This Fact Sheet:
AIDS:
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is the
most advanced stage of HIV infection. AIDS is diagnosed
when a person infected with HIV has a CD4 count of less
than 200 cells/mm
3
or has an AIDS-defining condition.
AIDS-defining condition:
Any one of several illnesses that
can lead to a diagnosis of AIDS in a person infected with
HIV. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART):
The recommended treatment
for HIV. ART involves taking a combination of three or more
anti-HIV medications from at least two different drug
classes every day to control the virus.
CD4 cells:
Also called T cells or CD4+ T cells. Infection-
fighting white blood cells of the immune system. HIV
destroys CD4 cells, making it harder for the body to fight
infections.
CD4 count:
The number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood.
A CD4 count measures how well the immune system is
working.
HIV
:
Human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is a virus that
attacks the immune system, putting people infected with
HIV at risk for life-threatening infections and cancer. AIDS is
the most advanced stage of HIV infection.
Opportunistic infection:
An infection that occurs more
frequently or is more severe in people with weakened
immune systems (such as people with HIV or people
receiving chemotherapy) than in people with healthy
immune systems.
Regimen:
A combination of three or more anti-HIV
medications from at least two different drug classes.
Transmission of HIV:
The spread of HIV from a person
infected with HIV to another person through the infected
person’s blood, semen, genital fluids, or breast milk.
Unprotected sex:
Sex without using a condom.
It takes many years, but without treatment, HIV infection
can advance to AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS requires that a
person infected with HIV have either:
•
A
CD4 count
of less than 200 cells/mm
. (e CD4 count of a healthy person ranges from 500 to 1,200 cells/mm.)
OR
•
An
AIDS-dening condition
. (AIDS-de
ning conditions
ning conditions
include
opportunistic infections
and cancers that are life-
threatening in a person with HIV. Having an AIDS-
This information is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
Guidelines for the Use of
Reviewed
Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents
(available at
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines
).
August 2012
advanced to AIDS.)
What illnesses are considered AIDS-defining
conditions?
e Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
considers several illnesses AIDS-de
ning conditions.
ning conditions.
HIV and Its Treatment – HIV/AIDS: The Basics
Pneumocystis jiroveci
pneumonia, tuberculosis, and
toxoplasmosis are examples of AIDS-de
ning conditions.
ning conditions.
For more information:
Contact an AIDS
info
health information specialist at 1-800
448-0440 or visit
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov
. See your health
care provider for medical advice.
This information is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
Guidelines for the Use of
Reviewed
Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents
available at,
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines
Testing for HIV
I may have been exposed to HIV. What
should I do?
Get tested. e only way to know if you’re infected with the
virus is to get an HIV test.
Soon after infection with HIV, a person may have u-like
symptoms. But HIV infection isn’t diagnosed on the basis of
symptoms. Getting tested is the only way to know if you’re
infected with HIV.
What is the most common HIV test?
e most common HIV test is the
HIV antibody test
. HIV
antibodies are a type of protein the body produces in
response to HIV infection. e HIV antibody test checks for
HIV antibodies in a person’s blood, urine, or uids from the
mouth.
Generally it takes the body about 3 months from the time of
infection to produce enough antibodies to be detected by an
HIV antibody test. (For some people, it can take up to 6
months.) e time period between infection and the
appearance of detectable HIV antibodies is called the
window
period
. Because HIV antibodies are not detectable yet, the
HIV antibody test isn’t useful during the window period.
What HIV test is used during the window
period?
e
plasma HIV RNA test
(also called a
viral load
test) can
detect HIV in a person’s blood within 9 days of infection,
before
the body develops detectable HIV antibodies. e
plasma HIV RNA test is recommended when recent
infection is very likely—for example, soon after a person has
had
unprotected sex
with a partner infected with HIV.
Detecting HIV at the earliest stage of infection lets people
take steps right away to prevent
transmission of HIV
. (See
the
Preventing Transmission of HIV
fact sheet.) is is
important because immediately after infection the amount of
HIV in the body is very high, increasing the risk of
transmission of HIV. Starting treatment at this earliest stage
of infection also can be considered.
What does it mean to test HIV positive?
A diagnosis of HIV is made on the basis of positive results
from
two
HIV tests. e
rst test can be either an HIV
rst test can be either an HIV
antibody test (using blood, urine, or uids from the mouth)
or a plasma HIV RNA test (using blood). e second test
(always using blood) is a dierent type of antibody test called
a
Western blot
test. A positive Western blot test con
rms
rms
that a person has HIV.
How long does it take to get HIV test results?
Results of the
rst antibody test are generally available within
rst antibody test are generally available within
a few days. (
Rapid HIV antibody tests
can produce results
within an hour.) Results of the plasma HIV RNA test and
Western blot are available in a few days to a few weeks.
If I test HIV positive now, will I always test HIV
positive?
Yes. ere’s no cure for HIV at this time. Because you will
always be infected with the virus, you will always test HIV
positive. But treatment with anti-HIV medications can help
you live a longer, healthier life.
Terms Used in This Fact Sheet:
HIV antibody test:
An HIV test that checks for HIV
antibodies in a person’s blood, urine, or fluids from the
mouth. HIV antibodies are a type of protein the body
produces in response to HIV infection.
Mother-t
o-child transmission of HIV:
The passing of HIV
from a woman infected with HIV to her baby during
pregnancy, during labor and delivery, or by breastfeeding.
Plasma HIV RNA t
est (viral load test):
A test that
measures the amount of HIV in the blood. This test is
used to detect recent HIV infection or to measure viral
load at any stage of HIV infection.
Rapid HIV antibody t
est:
An HIV antibody test that can
detect HIV antibodies in blood or oral fluids in less than
30 minutes.
T
ransmission of HIV:
The spread of HIV from a person
infected with HIV to another person through the infected
person’s blood, semen, genital fluids, or breast milk.
Unpr
otected sex:
Sex without using a condom.
Viral load:
The amount of HIV in the blood. One of the
goals of antiretroviral therapy is to reduce viral load.
W
estern blot:
A type of antibody test used to confirm a
positive HIV antibody or plasma HIV RNA test.
Windo
w period:
The time period between a person's
infection with HIV and the appearance of detectable HIV
antibodies.
This information is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
Guidelines for the Use of
Reviewed
Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents
available at
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines
If a pregnant woman tests positive for HIV,
will her baby be born with HIV?
In the United States and Europe, fewer than 2 babies in 100
born to mothers infected with HIV are infected with the
virus. is is because anti-HIV medications given to women
infected with HIV during pregnancy and delivery and to
their babies after birth help prevent
mother-to-child
transmission of HIV
. Another reason is that, in the United
States and Europe, mothers infected with HIV do not
breastfeed their babies. (For more information, see the
HIV
and Pregnancy
fact sheet series.)
Where can I find information on HIV testing
in my state?
Many hospitals, medical clinics, and community
organizations oer HIV testing. To
nd an HIV testing site
nd an HIV testing site
near you, contact AIDS
info
for the number of your state
AIDS hotline or visit
http://www.hivtest.org
/
. You can also
nd information on testing locations on your state health
department website.
For more information:
Contact an AIDS
info
health information specialist at 1–
800–448–0440 or visit
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov
. See your
health care provider for medical advice.
This information is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
Guidelines for the Use of
Reviewed
Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents
available at
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines
• If you’re not already a subscriber,
request a free subscription to our
gods-word by gaurav pawar daily artical -magazine
The Good News at
• While you’re at it, also request a
free subscription to our
World News
and good-nwse
newsletter
No comments:
Post a Comment