HIV / AIDS: Causes, Symptoms, Transmission, Treatment and Prevention

HIV

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging the immune system, HIV interferes with the body's ability to fight off organisms that cause infections or diseases.

Because the virus integrates into the DNA of cells, it is a lifelong condition, and there is currently no cure that can eliminate the virus from the body.

AIDS is the final stage of human immunodeficiency virus infection, which occurs when the body's immune system is severely damaged by the virus. In many cases, infected individuals do not develop this disease, as medication can stop the progression of the illness.

Mode of transmission

While AIDS cannot be transmitted from one person to another, the virus can be transmitted.

The human immunodeficiency virus is a sexually transmitted infection (through unprotected sexual intercourse – vaginal, anal, or oral) or through contact with infected blood (via shared needles, blood transfusions, or from mother to fetus during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding).

Without medication, the human immunodeficiency virus gradually weakens the immune system to the point where an infected person may develop AIDS.

It CANNOT be transmitted through:

• casual contact with an infected person;
• social kissing, hugging, or shaking hands;
• sharing glasses, plates, or cutlery;
• swimming pools, toilets, or saunas used by an infected person;
• insect bites;
• air or water.

Symptoms

Infection with this virus occurs in three stages. Without treatment, it worsens over time and eventually takes over the immune system. Symptoms depend on the stage (acute, clinical latency, AIDS).

After the first month, the human immunodeficiency virus enters the clinical latency stage. This stage can last from a few years to several decades. The asymptomatic period of the infection can last between 1 and 10 years. Some people have no symptoms during this time, while others may have minimal or non-specific symptoms. These non-specific symptoms may include headaches, swollen lymph nodes, recurrent fever, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, or weight loss.

As with the early stage, the virus is still transmissible during this period, even in the absence of symptoms, and can be passed on to another person.

Many people with the human immunodeficiency virus suffer from skin conditions. Skin rash is often one of the first symptoms of an infection with this virus. Generally, a rash caused by the human immunodeficiency virus appears as multiple small, red, flat, and raised lesions.

For the most part, symptoms are similar in men and women. However, the symptoms they generally experience may differ based on the different risks that men and women are exposed to if they have the human immunodeficiency virus.

Both men and women are at an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections. However, women may be less prone than men to notice small sores or other changes in the genital area. Furthermore, women with the human immunodeficiency virus are at an increased risk for recurrent vaginal infections, menstrual cycle changes, genital warts, or cervical cancer.

Diagnosis

A person will not know they have the human immunodeficiency virus unless they get tested. The test aims to identify human immunodeficiency virus antibodies in the blood. However, these can only be identified three months after infection.

In Romania, testing is free and confidential, guaranteed by law. Test results are not disclosed without the patient's consent.

Treatment

There is currently no cure, but there are medications that can slow the progression of the disease. These medications have reduced the number of deaths.

Without treatment, an infected person's body will be constantly weakened, leading to a susceptibility to other diseases, infections, and conditions.

Left untreated, the life expectancy of infected individuals in the terminal stage is approximately 3 years. With the help of antiretroviral therapy, the human immunodeficiency virus can be managed, and life expectancy can be almost the same as that of a person who has not contracted the virus.

Prevention

Various strategies are available to prevent HIV infection, including the correct use of condoms during sex, limiting the number of sexual partners, not sharing needles, or abstinence (no sex).

People at risk of infection can protect themselves through pre-exposure prophylaxis by taking antiretroviral medications daily before being fully exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus.

References

https://www.nfid.org/infectious-diseases/hiv-aids/
https://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids
https://www.unhcr.org/ro/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2016/12/UNHCR-ROM-HIV-ROM.pdf
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/
https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/what-are-hiv-and-aids
https://www.medlife.ro/glosar-medical/afectiuni-medicale/sida-cauze-simptome-tratament