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CURABLE STDs
HIV/AIDS
WHAT ARE HIV AND AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is a group of health problems caused by a virus called HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is transmitted from person to person via exchange of bodily fluids—semen, blood, rectal and vaginal fluids—during anal, vaginal, and possibly oral sex, or when sharing needles during intravenous drug use.
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is a group of health problems caused by a virus called HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is transmitted from person to person via exchange of bodily fluids—semen, blood, rectal and vaginal fluids—during anal, vaginal, and possibly oral sex, or when sharing needles during intravenous drug use.
People who test positive for HIV do not necessarily have AIDS. Many people are HIV+ but don't show symptoms of illness for years, if at all. People who do get AIDS can get very ill and die from infectious diseases and cancers that usually don't cause problems for other people. There is currently no cure for AIDS.
WHY WORRY ABOUT HIV/AIDS?
People with HIV show signs of AIDS when their immune system is seriously damaged. People with AIDS can suffer from what are called opportunistic infections, such as Kaposi's sarcoma (a skin cancer), PCP (a lung infection), CMV (a virus that infects the eyes), and candida (a fungal infection). AIDS-related diseases also include severe weight loss, brain tumors, and a myriad of other health problems.
People with HIV show signs of AIDS when their immune system is seriously damaged. People with AIDS can suffer from what are called opportunistic infections, such as Kaposi's sarcoma (a skin cancer), PCP (a lung infection), CMV (a virus that infects the eyes), and candida (a fungal infection). AIDS-related diseases also include severe weight loss, brain tumors, and a myriad of other health problems.
AIDS shows up differently in every infected person. Some people die soon after getting infected, while others live fairly normal lives for many years after they are diagnosed with AIDS.
There are now treatments available that can slow down the replication of HIV in your body, along with any immune system damage. The treatment is called anti-retroviral therapy. However, there is currently no cure for AIDS.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
You might not know if you are infected with HIV. Some people get flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, sore muscles and joints, stomach ache, swollen lymph glands, or a skin rash four to six weeks after exposure to the virus. Most people have no symptoms at all.
You might not know if you are infected with HIV. Some people get flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, sore muscles and joints, stomach ache, swollen lymph glands, or a skin rash four to six weeks after exposure to the virus. Most people have no symptoms at all.
WHAT IS AN HIV TEST LIKE?
When HIV enters the body, your immune system springs to action, producing antibodies to fight the infection. Unfortunately, the antibodies can not destroy HIV, but their presence in bodily fluids is used to confirm HIV infection.
When HIV enters the body, your immune system springs to action, producing antibodies to fight the infection. Unfortunately, the antibodies can not destroy HIV, but their presence in bodily fluids is used to confirm HIV infection.
STANDARD TESTING
HIV testing most often begins with an ELISA (or EIA) test performed on the blood (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). If this test shows a reaction, it is repeated on the same blood sample. If the duplicate test is reactive, the results are confirmed using a second more specific (and more expensive) test, most commonly the Western blot. A person is considered infected following a repeatedly reactive result from the ELISA, confirmed by the Western blot test. Results can take up to 1-2 weeks.
HIV testing most often begins with an ELISA (or EIA) test performed on the blood (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). If this test shows a reaction, it is repeated on the same blood sample. If the duplicate test is reactive, the results are confirmed using a second more specific (and more expensive) test, most commonly the Western blot. A person is considered infected following a repeatedly reactive result from the ELISA, confirmed by the Western blot test. Results can take up to 1-2 weeks.
RAPID TESTING
A rapid HIV test is a test that usually produces results in 20-40 minutes. There are currently four rapid HIV tests licensed for use in the United States:
A rapid HIV test is a test that usually produces results in 20-40 minutes. There are currently four rapid HIV tests licensed for use in the United States:
1) OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 and Advance HIV 1/2 Antibody Tests, manufactured by OraSure Technologies, Inc.
2) Reveal G2 HIV-Antibody Tests, manufactured by MedMira, Inc.
3) Multispot, manufactured by Bio-Rad Laboratories
4) Uni-Gold Recombigen, manufactured by Trinity Biotech
2) Reveal G2 HIV-Antibody Tests, manufactured by MedMira, Inc.
3) Multispot, manufactured by Bio-Rad Laboratories
4) Uni-Gold Recombigen, manufactured by Trinity Biotech
The availability of these tests differs from one place to another. These rapid HIV blood tests are considered to be just as accurate as the ELISA. As is true for all screening tests (including the ELISA and EIA), a positive test result must be confirmed with an additional specific test before a diagnosis of infection can be given.
ORAL-FLUID TESTING
Oral-fluid HIV tests offer an alternative for people who might be reluctant to have blood drawn. Orasure(c) and OraQuick Advance HIV1/2 are currently the only FDA-approved oral-fluid tests. Fluid is collected from inside the mouth and analyzed using an EIA test and supplemental Western blot test, if necessary.
Oral-fluid HIV tests offer an alternative for people who might be reluctant to have blood drawn. Orasure(c) and OraQuick Advance HIV1/2 are currently the only FDA-approved oral-fluid tests. Fluid is collected from inside the mouth and analyzed using an EIA test and supplemental Western blot test, if necessary.
Clinics and medical providers will offer either confidential or anonymous HIV testing services. Confidential antibody testing means that you and the health care provider know your results, which may be recorded in your medical file. The health care provider and any other staff in the clinic or office are bound by confidentiality not to disclose the results of your test to anyone without your permission.
Anonymous testing means that your name is never associated with your test results. Current California law requires all positive HIV tests to be reported. Reports can be made without using your name, but instead via a unique code. Currently, a person who gets either type of HIV test has to participate in pre- and post-test counseling.
HOW IS HIV/AIDS TREATED?
As mentioned earlier, there is no cure for AIDS. There are anti-retroviral drugs now available that can slow down the virus, and slow down the damage to your immune system. These drugs have also helped reduce the overall rates of opportunistic infections in people with AIDS. The drug regime is severe however—many expensive pills have to be taken regularly on a daily basis—and there can be side effects when the pills are taken for a long period of time. Most people who are able to, though, choose to go on anti-retroviral therapy once they are diagnosed HIV+ to stem any potential illness and keep their quality of life high as long as possible. For more detailed and current information about treatment, visit www.hivinsite.org.
As mentioned earlier, there is no cure for AIDS. There are anti-retroviral drugs now available that can slow down the virus, and slow down the damage to your immune system. These drugs have also helped reduce the overall rates of opportunistic infections in people with AIDS. The drug regime is severe however—many expensive pills have to be taken regularly on a daily basis—and there can be side effects when the pills are taken for a long period of time. Most people who are able to, though, choose to go on anti-retroviral therapy once they are diagnosed HIV+ to stem any potential illness and keep their quality of life high as long as possible. For more detailed and current information about treatment, visit www.hivinsite.org.
WHAT CAN I DO IF I HAVE HIV/AIDS?
The best thing you can do is to stay healthy—keep your stress levels low, eat well, exercise regularly, get lots of rest, and if you're sexually active, have protected sex with your partners. You also need to work closely with a medical provider to monitor your health and determine the best course of continued treatment over time.
The best thing you can do is to stay healthy—keep your stress levels low, eat well, exercise regularly, get lots of rest, and if you're sexually active, have protected sex with your partners. You also need to work closely with a medical provider to monitor your health and determine the best course of continued treatment over time.
In order to avoid transmission of the virus to your sex partners, as well as to protect yourself from getting other bacterial and viral STDs, we advise discussing your HIV status with a prospective partner before having sex. Communication is one of the keys to keeping our community sexually healthy.
HOW DO I AVOID GETTING HIV/AIDS?
The only way to be 100% sure you won't get HIV/AIDS is to abstain from sex and intravenous drug use. If you're sexually active, using condoms correctly each and every time you have anal or vaginal sex provides the best protection against HIV transmission. While there is not enough scientific evidence available yet to be certain, there are many individuals who state that they have gotten HIV from participating in oral sex (as givers to infected men). It is advisable to consider using condoms for oral sex as well, especially because other STDs like syphilis and gonorrhea, which can increase your risk of getting HIV, can be transmitted via oral sex.
The only way to be 100% sure you won't get HIV/AIDS is to abstain from sex and intravenous drug use. If you're sexually active, using condoms correctly each and every time you have anal or vaginal sex provides the best protection against HIV transmission. While there is not enough scientific evidence available yet to be certain, there are many individuals who state that they have gotten HIV from participating in oral sex (as givers to infected men). It is advisable to consider using condoms for oral sex as well, especially because other STDs like syphilis and gonorrhea, which can increase your risk of getting HIV, can be transmitted via oral sex.
