HIV :
HIV is a chronic health problem that can now be managed very easily.
HIV stands for Human Infectious Virus. The virus attacks the infected body’s immune system and, if left untreated, can cause a decline in your immune system, reducing your ability to fight germs and disease.
If you think you have exposed yourself to HV, talk to a sexual health facility as soon as possible.
Symptoms of HV :
Most people develop a mild flu-like illness 2 to 6 weeks after infection, which lasts about two weeks. This is called primary HV infection.
Symptoms of early HV infection include:
- Fever (high temperature)
- Sore throat
- Itching on the body
Other symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- Pain in the joints
- Pain in the muscles
- Swelling
- Joint swelling
After these symptoms disappear, HV has no symptoms for many years. Meanwhile, HV remains inactive and continues to damage your immune system.
This means that many people who have HV do not know they are infected.
When the immune system becomes severely compromised, symptoms may include:
- Weight loss
- Chronic diarrhea
- Night sweats
- Urgent issues
- Recurrent infections
- Serious life-threatening diseases
Getting tested for HV :
If you think you may have HV, get a free test:
- Book an appointment at your local sexual health facility
- Contact your GP for an appointment
- Get a home test kit and test it
- Contact clinics run by charities such as the Terence Higgins Trust or Waverley Care Scott Lane
- Make an appointment with local addiction services
Available services may vary between your guides.
Some private clinics may offer HV testing, but they may charge a fee.
Who should get tested for HV?
Anyone who thinks they may have HV should get tested.
Certain groups of people are at higher risk and are advised to get tested regularly. For example:
Gay and bisexual men or those with new or temporary partners on HV PrEP or condom-free sex, get an HV test at least once a year, or in three months after HV PrEP or condom-free sex. of contact.
How to treat HV :
Antiretroviral drugs are used to treat HV. These drugs work by stopping the virus from replicating, giving the immune system a chance to repair itself and protect itself from further damage.
These are in pill form and should be taken daily.
Most HV patients use a combination of different medications.
The goal of HV treatment is to reduce the viral load to undetectable. This means that the amount of HV virus in your body is so low that it cannot be detected by any test.
People who are treated for HV and have undetectable viral levels cannot transmit HV to others. Although there is still no cure for HV, HV patients who use their treatment lead normal lives and are in good health.
Without treatment, HV patients eventually become ill. If HV is not recognized and treated in time, it can be fatal, while the immune system has time to repair itself. It is very important to get tested if you think you have been exposed to HV.
How is HV transmitted?
You can get HV easily through vaginal or anal sex (ie, having sex without a condom or not taking HV PrEP). It is possible to transmit HV through such sexual activity, but the risk is very low.
Other HV acquisition methods include:
- Sharing sex toys that have not been cleaned or cleaned each time with a new condom
- Sharing of injecting equipment such as syringes, syringes and other injecting equipment on the site
Mother-to-child transmission of HV when the mother is not taking HV medication