All you need to know about HIV

[tommyleesg]

Psoriasis related to hiv? I have itchy patch that looks like psoriasis. Tested from 2015 November till 2016 August. 1 month pep since oct. February 2016 viral load undetectable using pcr rna. August 2016 test is 3rd gen finger prick. June had combo and Eliza. Negative for combo and Eliza not within range or even close to reactive range. My main concern till now: false negative test throughout. Pep might have delayed my infection. Seroconversion like neck rash, chills, diarrhoea, etc I have all experienced it. I am running out of cash to continue testing. Still thinking that I'm plagued with hiv.

[Big Sexy]

how do u confirm it is psoriasis and not eczema?
anyway i dont think your skin problem is HIV related.

Originally Posted by tommyleesg

Psoriasis related to hiv? I have itchy patch that looks like psoriasis. Tested from 2015 November till 2016 August. 1 month pep since oct. February 2016 viral load undetectable using pcr rna. August 2016 test is 3rd gen finger prick. June had combo and Eliza. Negative for combo and Eliza not within range or even close to reactive range. My main concern till now: false negative test throughout. Pep might have delayed my infection. Seroconversion like neck rash, chills, diarrhoea, etc I have all experienced it. I am running out of cash to continue testing. Still thinking that I'm plagued with hiv.

[Big Sexy]

What increases the chance of getting HIV?
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315920.php

A few decades ago, HIV was a mystery and an inevitable death sentence. We now have a keen understanding of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Since the beginning of the epidemic in 1981, 35 million people worldwide have died of HIV and AIDS. People now live long and reasonably healthy lives with HIV, thanks in large part to antiretroviral drugs that slow the growth of the virus.

Treatment is expensive, though, and is often associated with a wide range of side effects. Remaining free of HIV is still the best option. A number of lifestyle choices greatly increase the risk of contracting HIV. A few simple prevention strategies can almost completely eliminate the risk of HIV infection.

How is HIV spread?

HIV can't spread through the air or through physical contact with an infected person. It can only be spread via a few bodily fluids. Those include:

blood
semen
pre-seminal fluid
rectal fluids
vaginal fluids
breast milk

HIV is considered a blood-borne illness, which means that the virus must come into contact with the blood to spread an infection. However, it is also spread through other bodily fluids as listed above. Exposure to infected fluids alone will not cause infection. For example, a person who touches infected blood will not become infected unless they have an open wound.

Fluid from a very small open wound on person with HIV can infect others. A person bitten by someone with HIV has a very small chance of contracting the virus if the biter has an open sore in their mouth.

Blood typically contains more of the virus than other bodily fluids, so exposure to infected blood is the riskiest of all HIV exposures. Blood injected directly into the bloodstream is more likely to cause an infection than blood that comes into contact with a small wound. This can happen in the form of needlestick injuries, intravenous drug use, or blood transfusions.

Unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse is the most common sources of HIV infections.

It's a myth that HIV can be transmitted through:

toilet seats
swimming pools
kissing
water fountains
tears
physical contact with a person who has HIV
pets

Risk factors for contracting HIV

Anyone can develop HIV, but a number of risk factors increase the risk. These include:

Injecting intravenous drugs, especially when needles are shared.
Undergoing a blood transfusion.
Getting a tattoo with a used needle.
Engaging in unprotected intercourse; unprotected anal intercourse makes people particularly vulnerable to infection.
Having a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Frequent exposure to infected fluids, such as in medical or emergency settings.
Drug and alcohol use, which can undermine judgment. Between 2005-2009, 1 in 3 people infected with HIV in the United States used drugs or binged on alcohol.
Exposure to the virus during childbirth, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Mothers and their babies can transmit the infection to one another.

Without any form of treatment in place, HIV transmission rates from mother to child range from 15-45 percent. Interventions such as antiretroviral treatment can reduce this rate to 5 percent.

A 2014 study looked at data on HIV transmission per 10,000 exposures to infected fluids. The number of infections for every 10,000 exposures was as follows:

blood transfusion: 9,250
sharing needles among injectable drug users: 63
needlesticks (such as blood tests or vaccinations): 23
being the receptive partner during anal intercourse: 138
being the penetrative partner during anal intercourse: 11
being the receptive partner during vaginal intercourse: 8
being the penetrative partner during vaginal intercourse: 4

Today, the blood supply is safe. However, sharing needles among drug users remains a significant source of HIV transmission.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have a risk estimation tool on their website. It works out the risk of HIV transmission for different sexual activities where one person is HIV positive and the other is HIV negative. The tool is based on the most recent evidence.

Other methods of exposure, such as through oral sex, biting, and thrown bodily fluids produced a statistically nonexistent risk of getting the virus. It's possible to get HIV in these ways, but the risk is extremely small.

Because breast milk is so beneficial to babies, doctors continue to weigh the risks of breastfeeding-related HIV transmission.

A recent study that reviewed five previous studies on infected children giving their mothers HIV through breastfeeding found that the risk ranged between 40-60 percent. Open sores in the mouth can shed the virus into tiny sores on a mother's breast. Mothers with HIV may also transmit the virus through breastfeeding.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommend that women avoid breastfeeding when only one member of the mother-child pair has HIV and the mother is not taking antiretroviral drugs. However, there are different recommendations. Any decision to breastfeed should be an informed one that is made after speaking with a doctor.

Groups at highest risk of HIV

Some groups of people are more likely to develop HIV than others. This is due to a combination of lifestyle, economic, and health factors. This is not because HIV targets some groups more aggressively than others.

Groups at risk include:

Men who have sex with men: Anal intercourse is riskier than vaginal intercourse. Anti-homosexual stigma may also undermine men's ability to access HIV services, or to confidently discuss safer sex.

Injectable drug users: Needle-sharing further increases the risk in this group. Around 13 percent of injectable drug users have HIV.

Sex workers: Stigma, power imbalances, and unsafe sex practices make sex workers vulnerable. Their risk of contracting HIV is 12 times higher than that of the general population.

Prisoners: Prisoners may engage in high-risk behavior, such as needle-sharing and unsafe sex, which increases their exposure to HIV.

Children: Birth and breastfeeding are the most common means through which children contract HIV.

Teens and young adults: Young people are more likely than older adults to engage in high-risk behaviors, such as needle-sharing and unsafe sex.

Women: Receptive vaginal intercourse is more likely than penetrative vaginal intercourse to spread HIV. Gender inequality, including the threat of violence, may also reduce women's ability to discuss safer sex.

Transgender people: Transgender people face discrimination and stigma, as well as violence. This can increase exposure to HIV and reduce negotiating power in relationships.

Reducing the risk of HIV

A range of strategies can reduce the risk of developing HIV. Steps that people can take include:

never sharing needles with another person
frequent HIV testing for anyone who has multiple sexual partners
avoiding breastfeeding when a woman or her child has HIV
using gloves and other sterile equipment in medical settings
practicing safer sex, including the use of condoms

Pregnant women with HIV should discuss risk mitigation strategies with their doctors.

People who already have HIV can reduce the risk of spreading the virus to someone else by taking antiretroviral drugs. These drugs also slow the spread of the virus, potentially prolonging life.

A 2016 study looked at couples in which one partner was HIV-positive. Even when the couples had intercourse without condoms, the HIV transmission rate over 3 years was zero when the HIV-positive partner took antiretrovirals. This does not mean that HIV drugs remove the risk entirely, but they do substantially reduce it.

Who should get tested for HIV?

hortly after being infected with HIV, usually within a month, many people develop intense flu-like symptoms. People who experience these symptoms should see their doctor. However, not everyone develops these symptoms, so anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to HIV should see a doctor and get tested.

Frequent HIV testing is an inexpensive and effective way to stop the spread of HIV. Early diagnosis can also prolong life with prompt access to HIV drugs.

Testing in the following circumstances can slow the spread of HIV:

when planning to become pregnant, or after becoming pregnant
before having sex with a new partner

People who are at a high risk of contracting the virus, including sex workers, intravenous drug users, and those who regularly come into contact with bodily fluids, should get tested every 3-6 months.

[Big Sexy]

HIV symptoms timeline: How do symptoms change?
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316056.php

HIV is a virus which attacks the body's CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell that helps protect the body from infection. HIV, therefore, weakens the body's defenses against infection and illness.

The virus, which is transmitted from person to person through certain bodily fluids, is a life-long condition that typically progresses over time. Certain treatments help to slow or stop HIV progression.

If left untreated, HIV continues to damage the immune system cells and increases the likelihood of developing AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).

Untreated HIV also increases the risk of developing certain types of infections known as opportunistic infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opportunistic infections are "infections that occur more frequently and more severely in those with weakened immune systems, including people with HIV."

Contents of this article:

Stages of HIV
Slowing or preventing HIV progression
Outlook if treatment is not received

Stages of HIV
There are three stages to HIV infection.

Stage 1: Acute HIV infection
Those in stage 1 of HIV have a large amount of the virus in their bloodstream. During this stage, there is a high risk of transmitting the virus to others.

Within 2 to 4 weeks of becoming infected with the HIV, flu-like symptoms develop in many people, but not all. These symptoms represent the body's natural response to an infection as it attempts to kill off the virus. However, the human body is unable to completely remove HIV once it is contracted.

The virus replicates itself using the body's own CD4 cells and spreads throughout the body. In the process, it destroys the CD4 cells.

Eventually, this process stabilizes. The immune system brings the level of viral cells down while the CD4 cell count increases. However, CD4 cells may not return to their original level.

Symptoms at acute stage

muscle and joint aches and pains
tiredness
raised temperature
ulcers in the mouth
night sweats
body rash
sore throat
swollen glands

Stage 2: Clinical latency

During the second stage, the virus is active but reproduces at very low levels. People in this stage of HIV generally experience no symptoms, or very mild ones. This is why stage 2 is also known as the "asymptomatic stage."

For people who are not taking any medication, the clinical latency stage lasts approximately 10 years. Those who are on a treatment program may remain in this stage for many decades, as drug treatment reduces viral activity.

HIV can be transmitted to others during the clinical latency stage, although those undergoing treatment are less likely to transmit it. However, transmission is still possible at all stages so appropriate precautions must be always be taken.

Stage 3: AIDS

AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. Those who are not taking medication for HIV are likely to progress to this stage once their viral load increases and their CD4 cell count drops. People who are undergoing drug therapy for HIV may never progress to AIDS.

An AIDS diagnosis is made when the CD4 cell count of someone with HIV drops to under 200 cells per cubic millimeter (cells/mm3) of blood. Healthy individuals have a CD4 count of between 500 and 1,600 cells/mm3.

Alternatively, the development of one or more opportunistic infections can also indicate the virus has progressed to AIDS.

Symptoms at AIDS stage

Symptoms at this stage vary greatly as they are typically symptoms associated with various opportunistic infections. Some of the more common symptoms include:

blotches under the skin or in the mouth and nose
blurred vision
diarrhea lasting longer than 1 week
swollen lymph glands
constant tiredness
fever that keeps coming back
memory loss
depression
pneumonia
weight loss
mouth, anus, or genital sores

Slowing or preventing HIV progression

The most effective way of slowing or stopping the progression of HIV is through early diagnosis and appropriate drug therapy. The earlier a person is diagnosed with HIV and a drug treatment program is started, the greater the chance they will enjoy a near-normal lifespan. Early diagnosis also lowers the risk of transmission of the virus to others.

Medication

The two types of medications used to inhibit the progression of the virus are:

Antiretroviral therapy (ART)

The medication used to treat HIV is known as antiretroviral therapy. This treatment is beneficial for people at all stages of the virus. ART suppresses viral activity, increasing the lifespan of people with HIV.

Doctors can adapt the combination of drugs used to each patient. The prescribed schedule of medication should be strictly adhered to in order to ensure its effectiveness and prevent the virus becoming resistant to the drugs.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

This is an emergency treatment that can be given to someone who believes they have been exposed to HIV within the previous 72 hours. It aims to stop HIV from becoming a lifelong condition.

The World Health Organization estimate that when taken correctly, the 28-day course of PEP reduces the risk of HIV infection by over 80 percent.

Lifestyle choices

Certain lifestyle factors play a role in the progression of HIV, particularly those that boost the immune system and help the body fight infection. They include:

Reducing stress: Stress weakens the immune system and increases the risk of developing other illnesses and opportunistic infections.
Avoiding infections: People with HIV should take steps to protect against infection and illness, and get regular vaccinations if advised to by a doctor.
Using condoms during intercourse: Condoms reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others. They also safeguard those with HIV against other sexually transmitted infections that will further weaken immunity.
Quitting smoking: Smokers with HIV are more likely to get infections such as candidiasis and pneumonia, or other illnesses such as certain cancers, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Exercising regularly: A regular exercise plan brings many benefits to those with HIV including reduced risk of heart disease, increased energy, improved circulation and lung capacity, better sleep, and less stress.
Eating a healthful diet: Maintaining a balanced diet with low or no alcohol intake will help to boost the immune system and ward off infections.

Other factors affecting progression

Although many of the factors that affect disease progression can be controlled by people with HIV, other factors also have an influence. These include:

age
general health before infection
genetics
HIV subtype
the presence of other infections

Outlook if treatment is not received

People who are HIV-positive and do not seek treatment will generally progress to the AIDS stage within 2 to 15 years after infection.

After a diagnosis of AIDS, people who do not have treatment typically survive for 3 years. If a person who is not receiving treatment for AIDS also develops an opportunistic illness, their life expectancy drops to 12 months.

However, if treatment is sought before the virus advances, and the treatment regimen is adhered to, people with HIV can generally expect to live almost as long as those who do not have HIV.

According to 2013 research, a 20-year-old person who has HIV and who is receiving ART in the United States or Canada can expect to live into their early 70s. This life expectancy is not far off that of the general population.

[Big Sexy]

HIV vs. AIDS: Differences and connections

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316019.php

Although the terms HIV and AIDS are often used interchangeably, there are differences between the two diagnoses.

HIV is a virus that attacks a type of white blood cells called CD4 cells in the body's immune system. HIV reduces the body's ability to fight infection and illness. While humans can fight off many other viruses, the body can never completely remove HIV once it is contracted.

AIDS is a condition that may develop after a person gets HIV. It is possible to have HIV without developing AIDS, but it is not possible to have AIDS without first having HIV.

Contents of this article:

How does HIV lead to AIDS?
Causes of HIV and AIDS
Symptoms of HIV and AIDS
Testing and diagnosis
Treating HIV and AIDS
HIV prevention

How does HIV lead to AIDS?

Not everyone who gets HIV goes on to develop AIDS. However, a proper treatment program is necessary to slow or stop this progression in most cases.

If left untreated, HIV continues to damage the immune system and increases the risk of developing an opportunistic infection.
Opportunistic infections

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define opportunistic infections as "infections that occur more frequently and are more severe in individuals with weakened immune systems."

Examples of opportunistic infections that develop in those with HIV include:

cancers, such as invasive cervical cancer, lung cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, carcinomas, and lymphomas
candidiasis, a fungal infection of the mouth, throat, or vagina
cytomegalovirus, a viral infection that can cause blindness
pneumocystis pneumonia, a fungal form of pneumonia that can be fatal
toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection of the brain
tuberculosis, a bacterial infection of the lungs

AIDS: Stage 3 of HIV infection

AIDS is the final stage (stage 3) of HIV infection. It is diagnosed based on a CD4 cell count or the development of one or more opportunistic infections. Stage 1 is the acute stage of HIV and stage 2 is the clinical latency stage. More information on these two stages is included later in the article.

The CD4 cell count in healthy individuals ranges from 500 to 1,600 cells per cubic millimeter of blood (cells/mm3). According to AIDS.gov, those with HIV are considered to have developed AIDS when their CD4 cell count drops to under 200 cells/mm3.

If treatment is not sought, AIDS typically develops between 2 and 15 years after infection with HIV. The rate at which the virus develops depends on many factors, including the patient's age, general health, genetics, the presence of other infections, and standard of health care.

People who seek treatment before the condition advances, and maintain treatment throughout their lives, can usually expect to live almost as long as a person without HIV.

Causes of HIV and AIDS

AIDS was first recognized as a distinct condition in 1981 due to an increase in the incidence of rare opportunistic infections and cancers in homosexual men who presented as otherwise healthy.

It is believed to have originated in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century in Western and Central Africa. Scientists suggest that a primate version of the virus was transmitted to humans who killed and ate the infected creatures.

HIV is transmitted between humans through the exchange of bodily fluids. It can spread via:

Sexual contact: AIDS is primarily considered to be a sexually transmitted disease. HIV is passed from one person to another through unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse.
Pregnancy or childbirth: A mother who is infected with HIV, or who has developed AIDS, may pass the virus to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or even through breastfeeding.
Blood transfusion: While HIV can be passed along through blood transfusions, the risk is extremely low in developed countries due to comprehensive screening systems.
Syringe and needle use: Drug users who share syringes with others are at increased risk of getting the virus. Those who give and receive tattoos and piercings may also be at risk if needles are not cleaned properly.


Symptoms of HIV and AIDS

The symptoms of HIV vary widely and depend on both the individual and the stage of the disease.
Acute stage symptoms

In the first stage of HIV, 2 to 4 weeks after getting the virus, people can experience flu-like symptoms including:

aching muscles
chills
fatigue
fever
mouth ulcers
night sweats
rashes
sore throat
swollen lymph nodes

It should be noted that not everyone with HIV will experience these symptoms. Some people with HIV do not experience symptoms for 10 years or more.

Clinical latency stage symptoms

During stage 2, the virus is active but reproduces at very low levels. People in this stage may experience only mild symptoms, or none at all.

Medication for HIV can help to halt progression and keep the virus in this stage for many decades.

AIDS symptoms

AIDS is considered to be the third and final stage of the virus. Symptoms at this stage are related to the various infections that develop as a result of a compromised immune system.

For this reason, symptoms can vary greatly. Some of the more common ones include:

blotches under the skin or in the mouth and nose
blurred vision
chronic diarrhea
continuous swelling of the lymph glands
extreme fatigue
fever that keeps returning
neurological issues including memory loss
pneumonia
rapid weight loss
sores in the mouth, anus, or genitals

Due to the variety of symptoms associated with the various stages of HIV and AIDS, it is not possible to diagnose either the virus or the syndrome based on symptoms alone. A healthcare provider will need to carry out tests to make a formal diagnosis.

Testing and diagnosis

HIV is diagnosed by a simple blood test that looks for the presence of antibodies produced by the body in an attempt to fight the virus.

It can take anywhere from several weeks to several months for these antibodies to show up in tests. Repeat testing may be necessary depending on the initial time of exposure.

However, early testing is always advisable, as an appropriate treatment plan can then be implemented to help stop further progression of the virus. Those who get tested early after exposure are at a lower risk of transmitting the virus to others.

People with HIV who receive a CD4 cell count result of under 200 cells/mm3, or who are diagnosed with certain opportunistic infections, will then be considered to have a diagnosis of AIDS rather than HIV.
Treating HIV and AIDS

Proper treatment plans and early intervention mean those with HIV can enjoy a relatively good quality of life.

However, without treatment, those diagnosed with AIDS typically survive for 3 years. If an opportunistic illness develops and treatment is not sought, life expectancy drops to 12 months.

Treatment for HIV and AIDS consists primarily of medication, including:
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

This is an emergency treatment administered to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection after exposure to someone who has the virus. To be effective, it should be taken within 72 hours of exposure, and the full 28-day course of treatment completed.

If taken correctly, the World Health Organization estimate that PEP can reduce the risk of HIV infection by over 80 percent.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART)

People with HIV or AIDS are generally prescribed a combination of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) drugs to help to slow down the progression of HIV.

This medication is adjusted to suit each individual and it needs to be taken for life.

HIV prevention

Several steps can be taken to prevent contraction of HIV. These include:

Using condoms: As HIV can be spread through unprotected sexual intercourse, using condoms can reduce the risk of transmission.
Taking certain steps during pregnancy: The risk of HIV transmission from mother to child can be reduced with HIV medications. Additional steps to reduce transmission include delivery by Cesarean section, and bottle feeding rather than breast feeding.
Avoiding sharing needles: Needle exchange programs exist to reduce the need to share syringes and needles.
Reducing exposure to bodily fluids: Healthcare workers should use gloves, masks, and other forms of barrier protection to reduce their risk of contact with HIV-infected blood. Thoroughly and regularly washing the skin after contact with bodily fluids also reduces risk.

[Big Sexy]

Acute HIV infection: Symptoms, diagnosis, and management
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316329.php

Acute HIV infection, also known as "primary HIV infection," is the first stage of HIV.

During the acute period of infection, the amount of HIV in a person's blood is very high as their body is not yet ready to mount an immune response.

Symptoms

Some reports describe the initial symptoms of acute HIV infection as being like "the worst flu ever." These symptoms usually occur 2-4 weeks after infection and may include:

fever
swollen glands
sore throat
rash
muscle and joint aches and pains
headache

When to see a doctor

The signs of acute HIV infection can be easily mistaken for the symptoms of different illnesses. Unfortunately, conventional HIV tests do not detect acute HIV infection so misdiagnoses are common.

If a person experiences these symptoms and they think they may have recently been exposed to HIV, they should speak to their doctor about what testing options are available.

How is acute HIV infection diagnosed?

The most common HIV tests are unable to detect HIV at the acute infection stage. This is because the tests are typically designed to detect the HIV-specific antibodies that are produced by the immune system during a process called seroconversion.

It can take as little as a few weeks or as many as a few months for a person's body to develop these antibodies. This means that someone who has recently been infected with HIV and is tested during the acute infection stage may not be diagnosed as HIV-positive.

However, a screening method called nucleic acid amplification testing or detecting an HIV-viral load (the amount of HIV in the bloodstream) can help to detect HIV infection in people who have been recently infected

Causes

Most people contract HIV after coming into contact with body fluids that contain the virus. Examples of these fluids include blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.

The virus is usually spread from person to person as a result of having sex or sharing needles with someone who has HIV. HIV can also be transmitted from a mother to a child, both during pregnancy, birth, and through breastfeeding.

Risk and acute HIV infection

It is estimated that about 50 percent of new HIV infections are unknowingly transmitted from people who have acute HIV infection. Regardless of gender or sexual preference, HIV transmission is about 7.25 times more likely during acute infection than it is during chronic infection, which is the second stage of HIV infection.

The HIV transmission levels are high during the acute stage of the condition because the blood contains high levels of the virus, but no antibodies; and because acute HIV infection is so difficult to diagnose, that people with HIV may engage in high-risk behavior without realizing that they pose a risk to other individuals.

Receptive anal sex is the highest-risk type of sex for HIV transmission, followed by insertive anal sex, then vaginal sex, and lastly oral sex.

A 2015 study found that, among men who have sex with men, having unprotected, receptive anal sex was associated with an increase for acquiring HIV infection. This risk became more severe for men have unprotected, receptive anal sex with five or more men.

The study did not report that use of injected or non-injected drugs was significantly associated with increased risk of acute HIV infection. However, some other studies have found that drugs such as methamphetamine seem to drive risky sexual behaviors and increase risk for acute HIV infection among men who have sex with men.
Outlook

Following acute HIV infection, patients enter the second stage of infection - chronic HIV infection. During chronic infection, HIV continues to multiply in the blood, but at lower levels than in acute infection. Although people with chronic HIV infection may not exhibit symptoms of HIV, they can still transmit the virus.

Without treatment, chronic infection may progress to the final stage of HIV infection within 10 years, on average, which is known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS.

AIDS develops when a person's immune system has been so badly damaged by HIV that their body is unable to fight the infections that a healthy immune system might be able to. People with AIDS who do not receive treatment will usually die within 3 years.

Managing an HIV infection

Medicines called antiretroviral drugs are commonly used to manage HIV infection. Antiretrovirals do not kill HIV or cure the condition. However, combinations of these drugs are able to prevent the growth of the virus and reduce the viral load to undetectable levels.

People who have an undetectable viral load stay healthier for longer and are significantly less likely to transmit the virus to other people compared to most people with HIV who are not taking antiretroviral medication.

If the viral load is undetectable that does not mean that the virus has gone or that the condition has been cured.

Increasingly, studies are suggesting that if a person begins antiretroviral therapy within 3 months of being diagnosed with acute phase HIV, progression of the disease is slowed down. It also helps to slow down other possible complications such as inflammation throughout the body.

Prevention

Experts generally agree that the following steps help reduce risk of HIV infection:

not injecting drugs
getting tested for HIV and as well as knowing the status of a partner(s)
avoiding risky sexual behaviors
using condoms with every sexual experience
limiting the number of sexual partners - the more partners someone has, the higher the risk of sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV
discussing prevention options with your doctor

One prevention option for people at high risk of HIV is called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This method involves taking HIV medication every day. There are also some newer PrEP options in clinical studies, which include receiving an injection every 8 weeks instead of taking a pill every day. However, PrEP is currently appropriate for:

people who are in a sexual relationship with a partner who has HIV
men who have sex with men who have had anal sex without a condom in the past 6 months or have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in the past 6 months
heterosexual men and women who do not always use condoms during sex with partners who are at high risk of HIV infection
people that have injected drugs in the past 6 months and have either shared needles or been in a drug treatment
people with significant, ongoing risk of acquiring HIV-infection

PrEP offers good protection against HIV infection, but it is not 100 percent effective. It is important that people taking PrEP continue to use condoms, as well as see their doctor at least every 3 months, if not more frequently.

[adonis]

Has anyone in the world been tested HIV positive from a mosquito bite? Assuming this mosquito had bitten another HIV positive person before.

[Big Sexy]

No .

------------

Originally Posted by adonis

has anyone in the world been tested hiv positive from a mosquito bite? Assuming this mosquito had bitten another hiv positive person before.

[adonis]

Hi Xfactor3230. HIV is from monkeys in Africa. Some monkeys in Africa have SIV, Simian Immuno Virus. This is the version of HIV in monkeys. It is postulated that an African hunter had caught and slaughtered an SIV infected monkey in Africa, when he cut himself doing so. Cooking bush meat is normal in Africa. It was probably a chimpanzee. The SIV made a jump to humans and mutated into HIV since we're 99% genetically the same as chimpanzees. It is thought that human deaths from HIV have been misdiagnosed as from pneumonia and other infections in the past.

[ironmaiden2015]

Hi.. just curious, is symptoms like runny nose a common sign of HIV after 4 weeks of sex with FL? Thanks..

[sibehteng]

Originally Posted by ironmaiden2015

Hi.. just curious, is symptoms like runny nose a common sign of HIV after 4 weeks of sex with FL? Thanks..

Runny nose is not a symptom of initial HIV infection.
The most common HIV seroconversion symptoms include a combination of several of the following:
fatigue (tiredness)
fever (high temperature)
sore throat.
rash.
headache.
loss of appetite.
aching muscles and joints.
swollen lymph glands.

[sammyboyfor]

Originally Posted by ironmaiden2015

Hi.. just curious, is symptoms like runny nose a common sign of HIV after 4 weeks of sex with FL? Thanks..

What did you do with her to risk catching HIV?

[ironmaiden2015]

Originally Posted by sammyboyfor

What did you do with her to risk catching HIV?

I am aware that HIV can only be confirmed through test.

We had the usual condom sex.. exactly 4 weeks later, I had runny nose and congestion (talk about bad timing).. also a single 1 cm red rash on my wrist (probably ant bite).. it had a single blister and I pop it out.. slight pain but ok now (still there but not painful, occasional itch)..

Checking the forum to see if any hiv test is needed.. I just did mine 3 months back and it's cleared but not sure if I should do another one..

Thanks guys

[sammyboyfor]

Originally Posted by ironmaiden2015

Checking the forum to see if any hiv test is needed.. I just did mine 3 months back and it's cleared but not sure if I should do another one..

Thanks guys

If a condom was used throughout the act and it did not break the chances of HIV are very low.

Just get yourself tested every 6 months and you should be fine.

[Big Sexy]

if there was no condom tear and the condom was intact.. i dont think there is a need for u to do a check after every sexual encounter...

however nothing beats a peace of mind , so go for a check if it makes u sleep better...

to addon .... runny nose after 4 weeks of sex with FL isnt a symptom that u have HIV.
more of a symptom of u being paranoid.

Originally Posted by ironmaiden2015

I am aware that HIV can only be confirmed through test.

We had the usual condom sex.. exactly 4 weeks later, I had runny nose and congestion (talk about bad timing).. also a single 1 cm red rash on my wrist (probably ant bite).. it had a single blister and I pop it out.. slight pain but ok now (still there but not painful, occasional itch)..

Checking the forum to see if any hiv test is needed.. I just did mine 3 months back and it's cleared but not sure if I should do another one..

Thanks guys