STD Information » AIDS / HIV

Overview

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the name given to the late stages of the disease caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). This virus attacks the cells of the immune system making it difficult, if not impossible, to fight off illness.

How is AIDS / HIV diagnosed?

There are a few different types of blood tests that can be run to determine whether or not a person is infected with HIV::

• HIV genetic material screening
  This test is more likely to pick up the disease early
• Testing for HIV antibodies
     » ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)
     » Western blot
  

Tests may need to be repeated later if risk is high and both results are negative as it can take months for antibodies to be high enough to measure

How is AIDS / HIV treated?

Though it wasn't always the case, there are now drugs available to help fight HIV:

• Fusion Inhibitors
  blocks HIV from entering the body's cells.
• Protease Inhibitors
  keeps the virus from copying itself at late stages.
• RT (Reverse Transcriptase) Inhibitors
  prevents the virus from copying itself at early stages.
• HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy)
  Using three or more drugs in combination to treat the symptoms of HIV and AIDS

Drugs are also used to treat the infections that could set in due to the suppression of the immune system:

• Eye infections
  Foscarnet or Ganciclovir
• Fungal infections
  Fluconazole
• Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
  TMP/SMX or pentamidine

Important note

Be sure to take all the medication your doctor prescribes, even if your symptoms go away!

 

Recovery Time

There is no treatment that will cure HIV or AIDS. Treatment is to prevent the disease from developing and treating the opportunistic infections that will likely arise. As such there is no timeline for recovery.

Partners and Re-infection

It is imperative that your partner(s) be informed of your HIV status (and in some places you have a legal responsibility to do so) so they can be tested. To avoid spreading the virus to others, safe sex must be practiced at all times, for all types of intercourse.

Recurrence

The time between the initial display of acute HIV symptoms to the onset of later symptoms can range from months to more than ten years. At that time, many of the treatments will be much less effective, if they even work at all. Treatment should begin as early as possible to keep the patient's quality of life as high as possible for as long as possible. It has been shown that patients who stop using their antiviral medications can have a recurrence of acute HIV symptoms, but these can be resolved by resuming treatment.