Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV Management)

1. HIV AIDS Myths and Facts Slideshow Pictures 2. Take the HIV/AIDS Quiz 3. AIDS Retrospective Slideshow Pictures
Medical Author: Eric S. Daar, MD Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD

HIV facts What is the history of HIV, and when was HIV discovered? What tests are used in the diagnosis of HIV? How is HIV spread (transmitted)? What happens after an exposure to the blood or genital secretions of an HIV-infected person? What are symptoms and signs of HIV infection and AIDS? What laboratory tests are used to monitor HIV-infected people? What are the key principles in managing HIV infection? What factors should be considered before starting antiviral therapy? When should antiviral therapy be started? What's the initial therapy for HIV? What are the side effects of HIV therapy? How is antiviral therapy monitored? What if the patient's viral load is increasing while on HIV therapy? What are the risks of missing doses or stopping HIV antiviral therapy? Should patients with the flu- or mono-like illness of primary HIV infection be treated? What about treatment for HIV during pregnancy? What can be done for people who have severe immunosuppression? What is in the future for HIV-infected individuals? What is in the future for preventing HIV transmission? HIV-AIDS FAQs Patient Comments: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV, AIDS) - Symptoms Find a local Infectious Disease Specialist in your town

Unprotected Sex Between HIV-Infected Partners: What's the Harm?

Medical Author: Eric S. Daar, M.D. Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, M.D. At least once a week, I am asked by one of my HIV-infected patients whether they need to continue to practice safe sex if they are in a monogamous (one mate only) relationship with an HIV-infected partner. Put another way, since both partners already have HIV, what's the harm of unprotected sex? Actually, this is not an easy question to answer fully. My belief, however, is that the best approach is to provide as much information as possible; emphasizing what is known versus what is uncertain. Such a complete disclosure is the only way I can remain credible while allowing the patient to make a fully informed decision. My response to this question generally begins by telling the patient what is known about the risks of unsafe (unprotected) sex between HIV-infected partners. First of all, we know that in this situation, the spread of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs),such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and herpesremains a risk, as usual. What's more, these so-called traditional STDs are well known to be associated with serious complications. Both gonorrhea and chlamydia initially can cause infections of the urethra (urethritis) and anus, or rectum (proctitis). Subsequently, these infections can progress to serious complications in these areas and even spread to other parts of the body. Read more about unprotected sex

HIV facts

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a type of virus called a retrovirus, which infects humans when it comes in contact with tissues such as those that line the vagina, anal area, mouth, or eyes, or through a break in the skin. HIV infection is generally a slowly progressive disease in which the virus is present throughout the body at all stages of the disease. Three stages of HIV infection have been described. 1. The initial stage of infection (primary infection), which occurs within weeks of acquiring the virus, and often is characterized by a flu- ormono-like illness that generally resolves within weeks. 2. The stage of chronicasymptomatic infection(meaning a long duration of infection without symptoms) lasts an average of eight to 10 years. 3. The stage of symptomatic infection, in which the body's immune (or defense) system has been suppressed and complications have developed, is called the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The symptoms are caused by the complications of AIDS, which include one or more unusual infections or cancers, severe loss of weight, and intellectual deterioration (calleddementia).

When HIV grows (that is, by reproducing itself), it acquires the ability to change (mutate) its own structure. This mutation enables the virus to become resistant to previously effective drug therapy.

The goals of drug therapy are to prevent damage to the immune system by the HIV virus and to halt or delay the progress of the infection to symptomatic disease. Therapy for HIV includes combinations of drugs that decrease the growth of the virus to such an extent that the treatment prevents or markedly delays the development of viral resistance to the drugs. The best combination of drugs for HIV has not yet been defined, but one of the most important factors is that the combination be well tolerated so that it can be followed consistently without missing doses.