HIV & AIDS

Over 30 million people worldwide are infected with HIV. In this article: What is HIV & AIDS? Suggested origins of the virus Diagnosis Treatment Advice & Support What is HIV & AIDS?rnHIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a powerful virus that replicates itself and multiplies, despite attempts by the body’s immune system to destroy it. HIV causes infections that can lead to a range of symptoms. Over time, HIV destroys the white cells in the body which are there to fight viruses and bacteria. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) then develops. People can be infected with HIV through: Unprotected sex (vaginal/anal/oral) Blood transfusions Donated organs Sharing needles Mother-to-baby – passing the infection on, breastfeeding, etc. Symptoms of HIV include: Swollen glands Fever Muscular and skeletal pain Tiredness and sometimes overwhelming fatigue Sore throat Headache Nausea Mouth ulcers and sores Cold sores Genital ulcers Problems with the oesophagus (swelling, ulcers, difficulty swallowing) Body and face rash AIDS is the latter stage of HIV. It is a life-threatening condition because the immune system has now stopped working. Symptoms and associated conditions of AIDS include: Pneumonia Vaginal thrush Thrush in the mouth Tuberculosis Fever Heavy cough Diarrhoea Weight loss Sweating and shivering Sight problems Dementia Note: AIDS can also lead to various cancers. Suggested origins of the virusrnIn the late 1970s there was a sudden rise in demand for chimpanzee meat in Asia. As a result, African hunters hunted down chimpanzees en masse. The HIV virus is thought to have developed as a result of human blood mixing with chimpanzee blood during and after the killings. In the 1980s, as the first few cases of HIV became apparent in Africa, healthcare professionals struggled to understand the disease. In fact, the symptoms of HIV can be so similar to conditions such as heavy flu or glandular fever, that treatment for these was administered instead. Within a few years, HIV and AIDS had become a global pandemic as the virus spread across Africa and beyond. DiagnosisrnIf you think you may have been at risk of HIV infection (or if you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms of HIV), go to your local genitourinary medicine clinic (GUM) immediately. They will take a blood test in order to establish a confirmed diagnosis. The test results usually take about 6 weeks to come through. TreatmentrnThere is no cure for HIV and AIDS. Treatment is intended to slow the progress of the disease. After being diagnosed with HIV, you will be referred to an HIV clinic. There, treatment options will be explained to you. These can include: A combination of anti-HIV drugs Advice regarding adopting a healthy lifestyle – to try to maintain as strong an immune system as possible. This is to include a healthy diet, regular exercise and stopping smoking Emotional support Unfortunately, although the combined medication can be extremely effective, there may be a number of side effects to taking them. These include: Diarrhoea Bouts of intense tiredness and prolonged periods of overwhelming fatigue Nausea Suddenly altered moods, and mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression Rashes Irregular weight-gain and weight-loss in different parts of the body (rather than to the body overall)