HIV Health Center

There are several symptoms and signs of advanced HIV infection referred to under the “umbrella” term as AIDS. Once AIDS develops, HIV has severely harmed the immune system, but effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) against HIV can often reverse AIDS and restore health.

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. If someone has HIV it means that they have been diagnosed with the HIV infection. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome); however, is the most advanced or final stage of the HIV infection. It is important to get tested for HIV in the early stages of infection to minimize the damage to the immune system. Successful treatment aims to reduce HIV load to a level that is harmless to the body.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cannot spread through casual contact such as hugging or touching. HIV does not spread through urine, saliva, tears, sweat, kissing (closed mouth or social kissing), shaking hands, sharing utensils, sharing food or drinks, sharing clothes, or from toilet seats. HIV is spread through bodily fluids from a person with HIV.

Studies proved that HIV cannot be transmitted through surfaces such as toilet seats, chairs, doorknobs, drinking glasses, and bedsheets. The virus cannot survive outside a human host.

You can still test positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) even if your viral load is undetectable.

There is no cure or vaccine for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; however, early treatment can help increase the life expectancy of infected people.

Although it is not commonly seen, it is possible to have an undetectable human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) load without treatment.

As of now, there is no permanent HIV cure, but antiretroviral treatment can effectively control HIV.

Human immunodeficiency virus causes HIV infection. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a condition that results after HIV has extensively damaged a person's immune system. Risk factors for HIV and AIDS include use of contaminated needles or syringes, unprotected sex, STDs, receiving a blood transfusion prior to 1985 in the United States, having many sex partners, and transmission from a mother to her child.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) responsible for attacking the immune system is zoonotic, which means it is transferred to humans from nonhuman primates. The earliest known case of HIV-1 infection in human blood is from a sample taken in 1959.

Most of the signs and symptoms of an HIV infection are the same for both men and women. However, a few symptoms are specific to men, such as low sex drive, sores on the penis and pain during urination.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) involves taking anti-HIV medications immediately after any potential exposure to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) to prevent HIV infection (acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS).

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. If someone has HIV it means that they have been diagnosed with the HIV infection. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome); however, is the most advanced or final stage of the HIV infection. In the case of an untreated HIV infection, the overall mortality rate is more than 90%. The average time from infection to death is eight to ten years.

The HIV virus is classified into two main types: HIV-1 and HIV-2. Symptoms appear sooner in HIV-1 and progress faster than in HIV-2.

The signs and symptoms of HIV may first appear within two to four weeks of infection. The stage in which the symptoms appear is called the stage of acute HIV infection.

Treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often involves a combination of anti-HIV drugs. There are 7 HIV drug classes based on how they fight HIV.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lifelong infection of the body's immune cells. HIV is transmitted through the blood and genital secretions of untreated individuals infected with HIV, even if they have no symptoms. Learn the progression of stages of acute HIV, chronic HIV, and AIDS.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a course of prescribed medications that people who are at risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may take to prevent infection. This medication is administered to individuals who have tested negative for HIV but are at a high risk of HIV infection.

Initial signs and symptoms of HIV generally appear within two to four weeks of infection. Fever, body aches, muscle aches, chills, sore throat, headache, rash, night sweats, fatigue, mouth ulcers, and swollen lymph nodes (glands) are possible first signs and symptoms.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into four stages. Stage 1 (HIV infection): The CD4+ cell count is at least 500 cells per microliter. Stage 2 (HIV infection): The CD4+ cell count is 350 to 499. Stage 3 (advanced HIV disease or AHD): The CD4+ cell count is 200 to 349. Stage 4 (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]): The CD4+ cell count is less than 200.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks and weakens the immune system, impairing the body's ability to fight diseases and infections.

People living with HIV face several health challenges because their bodies must work harder to fight infections. HIV patients should avoid foods high in sodium, sugar, and trans and saturated fats.

Detectable viral load is defined as having more than 200 copies of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) per milliliter of blood.

There are two main types of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the most common type of HIV and accounts for 95% of all infections, whereas HIV-2 is relatively uncommon and less infectious. HIV-2 is mainly concentrated in West Africa, is less deadly and progresses more slowly.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is caused by a retrovirus that affects the immune system. As it replicates during acute HIV infection, HIV kills a large number of CD4 cells.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks and damages the immune system, which can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) over time. Learn about types, symptoms, and treatments. Check out the center below for more medical references on HIV/AIDS, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related diseases, treatment, diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the cells of the immune system, leading to AIDS and death if left untreated. The first signs of the human immunodeficiency virus infection are flu-like symptoms, which mainly start around two to four weeks after getting HIV. This stage is known as acute HIV infection.

An undetectable human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load is defined as less than 20 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood. Many HIV tests may not detect the virus if there are fewer than 50 copies per mL of blood.

People who have never received treatment for a certain illness are considered treatment-naïve for that particular condition. The current treatment guidelines for treatment-naive individuals include the use of these regimens.