HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS. The most common test for the HIV virus, and the AIDS condition it causes, is a test that looks for anti-bodies to the HIV virus in humans. This test will not determine if the infection will develop into AIDS.
There are many misconceptions about how HIV is transmitted, so here are some important facts you need to know:
- HIV is not spread through casual contact such as hugging.
- HIV is not a disease of just gay men and drug users.
- HIV lives in blood, semen, and vaginal fluid. Contact with these fluids has the highest risk of spreading HIV.
- HIV can be spread from men to men, women to women, men to women, and women to men.
- A pregnant woman can give the infection to her baby. Pregnant women should be tested for HIV. There are medicines that can protect the baby from being infected.
What are the risks?
When you test for HIV, staff will talk with you about your risk for getting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and can also help you make a plan to reduce your risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
The HIV virus destroys the body's immune system so it can't fight off infections and other diseases. Currently there are some drugs available to help people with HIV, however there is no cure.
Persons at higher risk include:
- A drug user who shares needles and syringes with others who have HIV.
- A person who has sex with a drug user who shares needles
- A person who has sex with a person who has HIV
- A person who received transfusions of blood or blood products before 1985
Symptoms:
- Thick, whitish coating of the tongue or mouth which is called thrush
- Unexplained, extreme fatigue
- Rapid weight loss
- Long-lasting occurrences of diarrhea
- Fever and night sweats
- Swelling or hardening of glands located in throat, groin or armpit
- Periods of deep, dry coughing not caused by illness or smoking
- Shortness of breath
- Discolored or purplish growth on skin or inside mouth
- Severe numbness or pain in hands and feet
- Loss of motor control and reflex
- Altered state of consciousness, personality change or mental deterioration
