Reviewed by: Robyn R. Miller, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is HIV? HIV can spread: during sex especially anal sex and vaginal sex through sharing needles for injecting drugs or tattooing by getting stuck with a needle with an infected person's blood on it HIV also can pass from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
Rash is often one of the first symptoms of an HIV infection. Generally, an HIV rash appears as multiple small red lesions that are flat and raised. HIV makes someone more susceptible to skin problems because the virus destroys immune system cells that take measures against infection. Co-infections that can cause rash include:. While rash can be caused by HIV co-infections, it can also be caused by medication.
Some drugs used to treat HIV or other conditions can cause a rash. This type of rash usually appears within a week or 2 weeks of starting a new medication.
Sometimes the rash will clear up on its own. Symptoms include fever and swelling of the face and tongue. A blistering rash, which can involve the skin and mucous membranes, appears and spreads quickly. If this develops, emergency medical care is needed. Learn more about HIV rash. These symptoms can come and go or get progressively worse. These include:. Men, and those with a penis, may be more likely than women to notice symptoms of STIs such as sores on their genitals.
Learn more about HIV symptoms in men. For the most part, symptoms of HIV are similar in men and women. However, symptoms they experience overall may differ based on the different risks men and women face if they have HIV.
However, women, and those with a vagina, may be less likely than men to notice small spots or other changes to their genitals. While not related to HIV symptoms, another risk for women with HIV is that the virus can be transmitted to a baby during pregnancy. However, antiretroviral therapy is considered safe during pregnancy.
Women who are treated with antiretroviral therapy are at very low risk for transmitting HIV to their baby during pregnancy and delivery.
Breastfeeding is also affected in women with HIV. The virus can be transferred to a baby through breast milk. For these women, use of formula is encouraged. Options besides formula include pasteurized banked human milk. Learn more about HIV symptoms in women. AIDS refers to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. By that time, the immune system is quite damaged and has a harder time generating a response to infection and disease.
Antiretroviral therapy controls the virus and usually prevents progression to AIDS. Other infections and complications of AIDS can also be treated. That treatment must be tailored to the individual needs of the person. The virus can also be transmitted through a blood transfusion or organ and tissue transplant.
However, rigorous testing for HIV among blood, organ, and tissue donors ensures that this is very rare in the United States. Learn more about HIV transmission. HIV is a variation of a virus that can be transmitted to African chimpanzees. Scientists suspect the simian immunodeficiency virus SIV jumped from chimps to humans when people consumed chimpanzee meat containing the virus.
Once inside the human population, the virus mutated into what we now know as HIV. This likely occurred as long ago as the s. HIV spread from person to person throughout Africa over the course of several decades. Eventually, the virus migrated to other parts of the world. Scientists first discovered HIV in a human blood sample in The main treatment for HIV is antiretroviral therapy, a combination of daily medications that stop the virus from reproducing.
This helps protect CD4 cells, keeping the immune system strong enough to take measures against disease. It also helps reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others. However, the virus is still in the body. And if that person stops taking antiretroviral therapy, the viral load will increase again, and the HIV can again start attacking CD4 cells.
Learn more about how HIV treatments work. Many antiretroviral therapy medications are approved to treat HIV. They work to prevent HIV from reproducing and destroying CD4 cells, which help the immune system generate a response to infection. This helps reduce the risk of developing complications related to HIV, as well as transmitting the virus to others. The U. This combination helps prevent HIV from forming resistance to medications. Resistance means the drug no longer works to treat the virus.
Many of the antiretroviral medications are combined with others so that a person with HIV typically takes only one or two pills a day.
A healthcare provider will help a person with HIV choose a regimen based on their overall health and personal circumstances. These medications must be taken every day, exactly as prescribed.
Blood testing will help determine if the regimen is working to keep the viral load down and the CD4 count up. Side effects of antiretroviral therapy vary and may include nausea, headache, and dizziness.
These symptoms are often temporary and disappear with time. Serious side effects can include swelling of the mouth and tongue and liver or kidney damage. If side effects are severe, the medications can be adjusted. Costs for antiretroviral therapy vary according to geographic location and type of insurance coverage.
Some pharmaceutical companies have assistance programs to help lower the cost. Learn more about the drugs used to treat HIV. A person with a count below is considered to have AIDS.
How quickly a case of HIV progresses through the chronic stage varies significantly from person to person. If you get any diseases that point to AIDS, such as Pneumocystis pneumonia or Kaposi's sarcoma , your doctor will treat them. Many important end-of-life decisions can be made while you are active and able to communicate your wishes. For more information, see the topic Care at the End of Life. Health care workers who are at risk for HIV because of an accidental needle stick or other exposure to body fluids may need medicine to prevent infection.
Medicine may also prevent HIV infection in a person who has been raped or was accidentally exposed to the body fluids of a person who may have HIV. Studies have shown that treatment with antiretroviral medicine also can reduce the risk of an uninfected person getting infected through sex.
Practice safer sex. This includes using a condom unless you are in a relationship with one partner who does not have HIV or other sex partners. If you do have sex with someone who has HIV, it is important to practice safer sex and to be regularly tested for HIV.
Talk with your sex partner or partners about their sexual history as well as your own sexual history. Find out whether your partner has a history of behaviours that increase his or her risk for HIV. You may be able to take a combination medicine tenofovir plus emtricitabine every day to help prevent infection with HIV. This medicine can lower the risk of getting HIV. If you use alcohol or drugs, be very careful.
Being under the influence can make you careless about practicing safer sex. And never share intravenous IV needles, syringes, cookers, cotton, cocaine spoons, or eyedroppers with others if you use drugs. If you are infected with HIV, you can greatly lower the risk of spreading the infection to your sex partner by starting treatment when your immune system is still healthy.
Experts recommend starting treatment as soon as you know you are infected. Studies have shown that early treatment greatly lowers the risk of spreading HIV to an uninfected partner. Your partner may also be able to take medicine to prevent getting infected.
The risk of a woman spreading HIV to her baby can be greatly reduced if she:. The baby should also receive treatment after it is born. If you are infected with HIV, you can lead an active life for a long time. Support groups are often good places to share information, problem-solving tips, and emotions related to HIV infection.
You may be able to find a support group by searching the Internet. Or you can ask your doctor to help you find one. Get the immunizations and the medicine treatment you need to prevent certain infections or illnesses, such as some types of pneumonia or cancer that are more likely to develop in people who have a weakened immune system.
A skilled caregiver can provide the emotional, physical, and medical care that will improve the quality of life for a person who has HIV. Medicines used to treat HIV are called antiretrovirals.
Several of these are combined for treatment called antiretroviral therapy, or ART. When choosing medicines, your doctor will think about:. Medicines for HIV may have unpleasant side effects. They may sometimes make you feel worse than you did before you started taking them.
Talk to your doctor about your side effects. He or she may be able to adjust your medicines or prescribe a different one. You may be able to take several medicines combined into one pill. This reduces the number of pills you have to take each day. Resistance to HIV medicines can occur when:. There are two main reasons that treatment fails:. Reducing stress can help you better manage the HIV illness.
Some methods of stress reduction include:. Cannabis has been shown to stimulate the appetite and relieve nausea. Talk to your doctor if you're interested in trying it. Alternative and complementary treatments for HIV need to be carefully evaluated. Some people with HIV may use these types of treatment to help with fatigue and weight loss caused by HIV infection and reduce the side effects caused by antiretroviral therapy ART.
Some complementary therapies for other problems may actually be harmful. For example, St. John's wort decreases the effectiveness of certain prescription medicines for HIV. Make sure to discuss complementary therapies with your doctor before trying them. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Learn How this information was developed. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. All rights reserved. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Top of the page. What is AIDS? HIV-2 infection is uncommon in North America. What causes HIV? Most people get the virus by having unprotected sex with someone who has HIV. Another common way of getting it is by sharing drug needles with someone who is infected with HIV.
The virus can also be passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. What are the symptoms? Common early symptoms include: Fever. Sore throat. Muscle aches and joint pain. Swollen glands swollen lymph nodes. Skin rash. These symptoms usually include: Swollen lymph nodes. Extreme tiredness. Weight loss. Night sweats. How is HIV diagnosed? If you think you have been exposed to HIV but you test negative for it: Get tested again.
A repeat test can be done after a few weeks to be sure you are not infected. Meanwhile, take steps to prevent the spread of the virus, in case you do have it. How is it treated? How can you prevent HIV? So it's always important to protect yourself and others by taking these steps: Practice safer sex. Use a condom every time you have sex including oral sex until you are sure that you and your partner aren't infected with HIV or other sexually transmitted infection STI. Don't have more than one sex partner at a time.
The safest sex is with one partner who has sex only with you. Talk to your partner before you have sex the first time. Find out if he or she is at risk for HIV. Get tested together. Use condoms in the meantime. Don't drink a lot of alcohol or use illegal drugs before sex.
You might let down your guard and not practice safer sex. Don't share personal items , such as toothbrushes or razors. Never share needles or syringes with anyone. Experts may recommend this for: footnote 1 , footnote 2 People whose sexual practices put them at high risk for HIV infection, such as men who have sex with men and people who have many sex partners.
People who inject illegal drugs, especially if they share needles. Adults who have a sex partner with HIV. Health Tools Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Actionsets are designed to help people take an active role in managing a health condition. Symptoms HIV may not cause symptoms early on. The symptoms may include: Belly cramps, nausea, or vomiting. Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin. Later symptoms Later symptoms may include: Diarrhea or other bowel changes.
Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss. Dry cough or shortness of breath. Nail changes. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin. Pain when swallowing. Confusion, trouble concentrating, or personality changes. Repeated outbreaks of cold sores or genital herpes sores. Tingling, numbness, and weakness in the limbs. Mouth sores or a yeast infection of the mouth thrush. The virus may enter the body through a tear in the lining of the rectum, vagina, urethra, or mouth.
Most cases of HIV are spread this way. Infected blood. HIV can be spread when a person: Shares needles, syringes, cookers, cotton, cocaine spoons, or eyedroppers used for injecting drugs or steroids. Is accidentally stuck with a needle or other sharp item that is contaminated with HIV.
How HIV is not spread The virus doesn't survive well outside the body. The window period After you've been infected, it can take 2 weeks to 3 months for your body to start making HIV antibodies. What Increases Your Risk Sexual contact You have an increased risk of becoming infected with HIV through sexual contact if you: Have unprotected sex do not use condoms. Have multiple sex partners. Are a man who has sex with other men. Have high-risk partner s partner has multiple sex partners, is a man who has sex with other men, or injects drugs.
Have or have recently had a sexually transmitted infection , such as syphilis or active herpes. Drug use People who inject drugs or steroids, especially if they share needles, syringes, cookers, or other equipment used to inject drugs, are at risk of being infected with HIV.
Birth mother infected Babies who are born to mothers who are infected with HIV are also at risk of infection. When should you call your doctor? Known HIV infection If you are infected with HIV or caring for someone who is, call or other emergency services immediately if any of the following conditions develop: Seizures Loss of consciousness New weakness in an arm, a leg, or one side of the body New inability to move a body part paralysis New inability to stand or walk Call your doctor if any of the following conditions develop: Fever higher than You have engaged in high-risk behaviour and are concerned that you were exposed to HIV.
Your sex partner engages in high-risk behaviour. Your sex partner may have been exposed to HIV. Your sex partner has HIV. You have any of the symptoms listed above.
Who to see Your family doctor or general practitioner can diagnose and may treat HIV. Complications of HIV may require treatment by the following doctors: Cardiologist Dermatologist Gastroenterologist Infectious disease specialist Nephrologist Oncologist Ophthalmologist Orthopedic surgeon Respirologist pulmonologist If you don't have a doctor Public health units and other organizations may provide free or low-cost, confidential testing and counselling about HIV and high-risk behaviour.
Women who are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant. Anyone who has shared needles, syringes, spoons or other drug use equipment with someone who is HIV-positive or whose HIV status is unknown.
Victims of sexual assault. Men who have sex with other men. Anyone who has tested positive for another sexually transmitted or blood-borne infection, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C.
Fear of being tested Some people are afraid to be tested for HIV. This will give you an opportunity to: Discuss your fears about being tested. Learn how to reduce your risk of becoming infected if your test is negative.
Learn how to keep from spreading HIV to others if your test is positive.
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