AIDS

HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV)

ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)

Condition

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), a life-threatening disease that destroys the body's ability to fight infection and increases the risk of developing certain cancers. HIV is diagnosed by testing your blood for antibodies to the virus that develop from 6 weeks to 12 months after infection. If you have been exposed to the virus or think you may have been exposed, you should get tested as soon as possible so that treatment can be started right away if you have been infected. The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection.

Causes

HIV/AIDS is not spread by casual contact such as hugging or sharing eating utensils, towels, telephones or toilet seats. The virus is passed from one person to another through body fluids including:

  • blood
  • semen
  • vaginal secretions
  • breast milk

It can be transmitted:

  • through sexual contact, including oral sex, with an infected person
  • by sharing drug needles or syringes with an infected person
  • by an infected mother to her unborn baby during pregnancy or delivery
  • by an infected mother while nursing her baby
  • through direct contact of infected blood with broken skin

Far more rarely, HIV can also be spread:

  • through infected blood or blood products (extremely rare in this country since screening of donated blood became routine)
  • via accidental sticks with contaminated needles or other medical instruments
  • through artificial insemination with sperm from an infected donor
  • by getting an organ transplant from an HIV-positive donor

There is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS nor is there a vaccine to prevent it. There are, however, medications that can slow down the progression of HIV and prolong the life of an infected person. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists highly recommends that all women be screened for HIV infection before getting pregnant. There are medications a pregnant woman with HIV can take that greatly reduce the chances of her passing the virus on to the baby.

Symptoms

You may not have any symptoms when you first become HIV-infected, but within a month or two after exposure to the virus, you may have a flu-like illness with:

  • fever
  • headache
  • severe tiredness
  • sore throat
  • swollen lymph glands in the neck and groin

These symptoms usually go away within a month, but you still can transmit the virus to others very easily. Some people begin to show more severe and persistent symptoms within a few months, while others may be asymptomatic for 10 years or more. Symptoms that may appear in the time before the onset of AIDS include:

  • weight loss
  • lack of energy
  • fevers and sweats
  • yeast infections of the mouth or vagina
  • pelvic inflammatory disease that does not respond to treatment
  • frequent, severe herpes infections that cause mouth, genital or anal sores

Symptoms of the opportunistic infections common in people who have developed AIDS include:

  • coughing and shortness of breath
  • severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting
  • fever
  • seizures
  • confusion
  • lack of coordination
  • severe headaches
  • purplish skin lesions
  • weight loss and extreme fatigue
  • vision loss

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR AIDS / HIV

Call Your 911 Now (you may need an ambulance) If

  • You pass out.
  • You have a seizure or convulsion.
  • You have difficulty breathing.

Call Your Doctor Right Away (night or day) If

  • You cough up blood.
  • You have uncontrolled vomiting.
  • You have uncontrolled diarrhea.
  • You have abdominal pain.

Call Your Doctor During Regular Office Hours If

  • You need prescription medication to treat symptoms such as pain or cough.
  • You are dizzy.
  • You have a sore throat.
  • You have an ulcer in your mouth or on your genitals.
  • You need prescription medication for depression.
  • You think you have been exposed to the virus and need testing.
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HOME CARE ADVICE FOR AIDS / HIV

  1. Take your HIV medication as directed.
  2. If you are not pregnant, treat minor pain with nonprescription medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) or aspirin. If you are pregnant, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) if you need something for pain.
  3. Eat a balanced diet.
  4. Get enough rest and sleep.
  5. Exercise regularly.
  6. Consider joining an HIV support group.
  7. If you have not already been immunized, get vaccinated for pneumococcal pneumonia, hepatitis A and B, influenza, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, whooping cough and other illnesses to which you may be susceptible.
  8. To prevent transmitting the virus to others:
    • Avoid sexual contact. Use a condom if you do engage in sexual activities.
    • Do not share needles or syringes.
    • Do not donate blood or blood products.
    • Do not breast feed.
    • If you are pregnant or become pregnant, talk to your doctor about taking medicines that may help protect your baby.
  9. Using a male latex condom or a female polyurethane condom may provide partial protection during oral, anal or vaginal sex. Only water-based lubricants should be used with male latex condoms.
  10. Avoid smoking, alcohol and illegal drugs
  11. If you were recently diagnosed as HIV-positive, contact everyone who may have been exposed so they can be tested for the virus.
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For More Information Click on the Links Below

References

  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, HIV Infection: Aids and Women; ACOG Patient Education, APO 82, 2000.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. HIV Testing and Pregnancy; ACOG Patient Education, AP 113, 2000.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG Committee Opinion, Prenatal and Perinatal Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing Expanded Recommendations, Number 304, 2004.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG Committee Opinion, Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Adolescents, Number 301, 2004.
  • The Medical Management of AIDS 6th Edition, 1999, Merle A. Sande, MD and Paul A.Volberding, MD.
  • Medical Care of Patients with HIV Infection, 9th Edition, 2000, John G. Bartlett, MD.

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Disclaimer:

Peer-Reviewed by the Faculty of the University of Colorado Denver Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new healthcare information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional