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If the HIV virus can only survive around 30 seconds when exposed to air, why do we say we can catch it from a needle that has been on the ground for hours?
Franklin Veaux, Professional Writer • Updated October 26, 2019
There’s an idea that because HIV is fragile and can’t tolerate exposure to oxygen, that means the instant blood leaves the body it’s totally safe. Some HIV conspiracy nutter... Read more »
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The symptoms of HIV vary depending on the stage of infection.
ReplyDeleteThe disease spreads more easily in the first few months after a person is infected, but many are unaware of their status until the later stages. In the first few weeks after being infected people may not experience symptoms. Others may have an influenza-like illness including:
fever
headache
rash
sore throat
The infection progressively weakens the immune system. This can cause other signs and symptoms:
swollen lymph nodes
weight loss
fever
diarrhoea
cough
Without treatment, people with HIV infection can also develop severe illnesses:
tuberculosis (TB)
cryptococcal meningitis
severe bacterial infections
cancers such as lymphomas and Kaposi's sarcoma
HIV causes other infections to get worse, such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B and mpox.
There is no cure for HIV infection. It is treated with antiretroviral drugs, which stop the virus from replicating in the body.
DeleteMedical treatments
Current antiretroviral therapy (ART) does not cure HIV infection but allows a person’s immune system to get stronger. This helps them to fight other infections.
Currently, ART must be taken every day for the rest of a person’s life.
ART lowers the amount of the virus in a person’s body. This stops symptoms and allows people to live a full and healthy life. People living with HIV who are taking ART and who have no evidence of virus in the blood will not spread the virus to their sexual partners.
Pregnant women with HIV should have access to and take ART as soon as possible. This protects the health of the mother and will help prevent HIV from passing to the fetus before birth, or to the baby through breast milk.
Antiretroviral drugs given to people without HIV can prevent the disease.
Prevention
ReplyDeleteHIV is a preventable disease.
Reduce the risk of HIV infection by:
using a male or female condom during sex
being tested for HIV and sexually transmitted infections
having a voluntary medical male circumcision
using harm reduction services for people who inject and use drugs
Doctors may suggest medicines and medical devices to help prevent HIV, including:
antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), including oral PrEP and long acting products
dapivirine vaginal rings
injectable long acting cabotegravir
ARVs can also be used to prevent mothers from passing HIV to their children.
People taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) and who have no evidence of virus in the blood will not pass HIV to their sexual partners. Access to testing and ART is an important part of preventing HIV.