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The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of Lentivirus (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive.

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HIV is a member of the genus Lentivirus, part of the family Retroviridae. Lentiviruses have many morphologies and biological properties in common. Many species are infected by lentiviruses, which are characteristically responsible for long-duration illnesses with a long incubation period. Lentiviruses are transmitted as single-stranded, positive-sense, enveloped RNA viruses.

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Two types of HIV have been characterized: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the virus that was initially discovered and termed both lymphadenopathy associated virus (LAV) and human T-lymphotropic virus 3 (HTLV-III). HIV-1 is more virulent and more infective than HIV-2, and is the cause of the majority of HIV infections globally. The lower infectivity of HIV-2, compared to HIV-1, implies that fewer of those exposed to HIV-2 will be infected per exposure. Due to its relatively poor capacity for transmission, HIV-2 is largely confined to West Africa.

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INTRODUCTION

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WHAT MAKES A PERSON HIV POSITIVE?

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Anyone can contract HIV. The virus is transmitted in bodily fluids that include:

blood

semen

vaginal and rectal fluids

breast milk

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Some of the ways HIV is transferred from person to person include:

through vaginal or anal sex — the most common route of transmission

by sharing needles, syringes, and other items for injection drug use

by sharing tattoo equipment without sterilizing it between uses

during pregnancy, labor, or delivery from a pregnant person to their baby

during breastfeeding

through “premastication,” or chewing a baby’s food before feeding it to them

through exposure to the blood, semen, vaginal and rectal fluids, and breast milk of someone living with HIV, such as through a needle stick

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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.

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It’s theoretically possible, but considered extremely rare, for HIV to be transmitted through:

oral sex (only if there are bleeding gums or open sores in the person’s mouth)

being bitten by a person with HIV (only if the saliva is bloody or there are open sores in the person’s mouth)

contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes and the blood of someone living with HIV

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Some of the ways by which a person can become HIV positive

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Some of the ways by which a person can become HIV positive

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WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HIV INFECTION?

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W

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HIV does NOT transfer through:

skin-to-skin contact

hugging, shaking hands, sharing toilets, sharing dishes, or closed-mouth or “social” kissing with someone who has HIV

air or water

sharing food or drinks, including drinking fountains

saliva, tears, or sweat (unless mixed with the blood of a person with HIV)

sharing a toilet, towels, or bedding

mosquitoes or other insects

through other sexual activities that don’t involve the exchange of body fluids (for example, touching).

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The first few weeks after someone contracts HIV is called the acute infection stage.
During this time, the virus reproduces rapidly. The person’s immune system responds by producing HIV antibodies, which are proteins that take measures to respond against infection.
During this stage, some people have no symptoms at first. However, many people experience symptoms in the first month or so after contracting the virus, but they often don’t realize HIV causes those symptoms.
This is because symptoms of the acute stage can be very similar to those of the flu or other seasonal viruses, such as:

they may be mild to severe

they may come and go

they may last anywhere from a few days to several weeks

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Early symptoms of HIV can include:

fever

chills

swollen lymph nodes

general aches and pains

skin rash

sore throat

headache

nausea

upset stomach

Because these symptoms are similar to common illnesses like the flu, the person who has them might not think they need to see a healthcare provider.
And even if they do, their healthcare provider might suspect the flu or mononucleosis and might not even consider HIV.

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Nonspecific symptoms may include:

headaches and other aches and pains

swollen lymph nodes

recurrent fevers

night sweats

fatigue

nausea

vomiting

diarrhea

weight loss

skin rashes

recurrent oral or vaginal yeast infections

pneumonia

shingles

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Whether a person has symptoms or not, during this period their viral load is very high. The viral load is the amount of HIV found in the bloodstream.
A high viral load means that HIV can be easily transmitted to someone else during this time.
Initial HIV symptoms usually resolve within a few months as the person enters the chronic, or clinical latency, stage of HIV. This stage can last many years or even decades with treatment.
HIV symptoms can vary from person to person.

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WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF HIV INFECTION?

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Often, the terms HIV and AIDS are used interchangeably, leading to confusion about their differences. Here, we’ll discuss the definition and differences of both terms.

HIV stands for ‘human immunodeficiency virus’. HIV belongs to a group of viruses called retroviruses. HIV attacks white blood cells within the immune system. These cells will stay infected for the rest of their lives. If untreated, HIV will develop into AIDS.

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Stages of Infection – (assuming no treatment)

There are four stages of HIV and as with all illnesses, how it progresses, how long it takes and the affect it has on the individual depends on a number of factors for example, general health, lifestyle, diet etc.

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HIV quickly replicates in the body after infection.  Some people develop short lived flu-like symptoms for example, headaches, fever, sore throat and a rash within days to weeks after infection.  During this time the immune system reacts to the virus by developing antibodies – this is referred to as ‘sero-conversion’.

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As the name suggests, this stage of HIV infection does not cause outward signs or symptoms.  A person may look and feel well but HIV is continuing to weaken their immune system. This stage may last several years (an average of 8 to 10 years) and without a HIV test many people do not know they are infected.

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Over time the immune system becomes damaged and weakened by HIV and symptoms develop.  Initially they can be mild but they do worsen, symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, mouth ulcers, thrush and severe diarrhea.  The symptoms are caused by the emergence of opportunistic infections; they are referred to as opportunistic infections because they take advantage of a person’s weakened immune system. Some examples of opportunistic infections are PCP, toxoplasmosis, TB and Kaposi sarcoma.

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Stage 4: AIDS/Progression of HIV to AIDS

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Stage 4: AIDS/Progression of HIV to AIDS

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There is no single test for AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome); doctors will look at a variety of symptoms including the CD4 count, the viral load and the presence of opportunistic infections in order to make an AIDS diagnosis
Although HIV disease progression is described in stages, it is not inevitable that a person will go from Stage 1 Infection to Stage 4 AIDS.  There is treatment available that can prevent a person developing AIDS and deal with the symptoms of HIV infection.  There are a number of people living with HIV who have not developed AIDS even without medical intervention, these people are referred to as ‘long-term non progressors’ and have been subject to much research in the hope of finding more information about their immune systems.

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIV Infection AND AIDS?

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What is the difference between AIDS and HIV infection?

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AIDS stands for ‘acquired immune deficiency syndrome’. (It’s sometimes referred to as ‘late stage HIV’ or ‘advanced HIV disease’.) It is an umbrella term for the illnesses that occur due to having untreated HIV infection for several years, by which point the immune system is severely damaged and unable to fight off infections. The illnesses and symptoms will vary for each person that has AIDS, but may include life-threatening infections and cancers.

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Every person who has AIDS has HIV, but not every person with HIV will develop AIDS. Because there are now lots of treatment options available for people living with HIV, far fewer people are developing AIDS. Often, those that do develop AIDS are people who have not been tested for HIV and have never taken treatment. Once started on HIV treatment, death due to AIDS can be prevented.

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The only way to find out if a person has HIV is to get tested for the virus. There is no test for AIDS as it is a collection of infections and illnesses that occur because of untreated HIV infection. Often, people can experience a range of them before HIV is discovered to be the cause. This is why AIDS is sometimes difficult to diagnose.

Ultimately, HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system and AIDS is a term that can only be used when HIV has caused severe damage to the immune system.

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People can live with HIV for many years without developing AIDS or any symptoms of HIV infection. Highly effective treatment options are increasingly available. Many people with HIV live long, healthy lives without any signs of immune system dysfunction.

However, appropriate treatment is essential for long-term health and well-being of people with HIV. Treatment also reduces the likelihood that someone will pass the virus to someone new.

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WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR HIV INFECTION?

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What are the treatments for HIV infection?

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The management of HIV/AIDS normally includes the use of multiple Antiretroviral Drugs. In many parts of the world, HIV has become a chronic condition in which progression to AIDS is increasingly rare.
HIV latency, and the consequent viral reservoir in CD4+ T cells, dendritic cells, as well as macrophages, is the main barrier to eradication of the virus

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No cure exists for AIDS, but strict adherence to antiretroviral regimens (ARVs) can dramatically slow the disease's progress as well as prevent secondary infections and complications.

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HIV medicine is called antiretroviral therapy (ART).

There is no effective cure for HIV. But with proper medical care, we can control HIV.

Most people can get the virus under control within six months.

Taking HIV medicine does not prevent transmission of other sexually transmitted diseases.

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HIV is a type of virus called a retrovirus, and the combination of drugs used to treat it is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART is recommended for all people living with HIV, regardless of how long they've had the virus or how healthy they are.
HIV is treated with antiretroviral medicines, which work by stopping the virus replicating in the body. This allows the immune system to repair itself and prevent further damage. A combination of HIV drugs is used because HIV can quickly adapt and become resistant.

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Trimethoprim-sulfamethizole is the most common drug used in HIV-infected children because it is recommended for the initial therapy and for prophylaxis of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, which occurs in as many as 42% of these children.

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Missing doses of HIV medicines can reduce their usefulness and increase the possibility of developing drug resistance, which makes certain HIV drugs lose their effectiveness. If the patient realizes they have missed a dose, they can go ahead and take the medication as soon as possible, then take the next dose at their usual scheduled time.

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Ways to prevent HIV infection

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HIV is one of the most fatal infectious diseases in the world. Every year, over 1 million people die of HIV infection/AIDS. In some countries, it is the leading cause of death. Particularly across Sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease has had a massive impact on health outcomes and life expectancy in recent decades.

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We can use strategies such as abstinence (not having sex), never sharing needles, and using condoms the right way every time we have sex. We may also be able to take advantage of HIV prevention medicines such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

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The best way to prevent HIV is to not have vaginal, oral, or anal sex or share needles at any time. Sharing needles for any reason is very risky.
If a person does have sex, they can lower their risk of getting an STI with the following steps:

Use condoms

Get tested for HIV

Be monogamous

Limit their number of sexual partners

Get vaccinated- They can get a vaccine to protect against HPV and hepatitis B, which are STIs. There is no vaccine to prevent or treat HIV.

Do not abuse alcohol or drugs- Alcohol or drug abuse may lead to risky behaviors such as sharing needles to inject drugs or not using a condom when they have sex.

The steps work best when used together. No single step can protect us from every single type of STI.

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THANK YOU!

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Ways to prevent HIV infection