HIV infection is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The condition gradually destroys the immune system, which makes it harder for the body to fight off infections.

What are the causes, incidence and risk factors associated with HIV?
  
What are the symptoms associated with HIV?
  
What are the treatment options for HIV?

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be spread by the following:

• Contaminated blood transfusions and blood product
• Intimate sexual contac
• The use of contaminated needles and syringes

The virus may also spread from the mother to her baby, either at birth or through breastfeeding.

People who become infected with HIV may have no symptoms for up to 10 years, but they can still pass the infection to others. After being exposed to the virus, it usually takes about 3 months for blood test results to change from HIV negative to HIV positive.

HIV has spread throughout the US. Higher concentrations of the disease are found in inner cities.

Symptoms

HIV can cause any symptoms of illness, since infections can occur throughout the body. Some ymptoms related to HIV infection include:

• Diarrhea
  
• Fatigue
  
• Fever
  
• Frequent vaginal yeast infections
  
• Headache
  
• Mouth sores, including candidal infection
  
• Muscular stiffness or aching
  
• Rash of various types, including seborrheic dermatitis
  
• Sore throat
  
• Swollen lymph glands

Note: At the time of diagnosis with HIV infection, many people may not have experienced any symptoms.
Signs and tests

The HIV ELISA/Western blot test detects antibodies to the HIV virus. Having these antibodies means you are infected with HIV. If the test is negative (no antibodies found) and you have risk factors for HIV infection, you should be retested in 3 months.

If the HIV ELISA/Western blot test is positive, other blood tests can be done to determine how much HIV is in your bloodstream. White blood cell differential may also show abnormalities.

A lower-than-normal CD4 cell count may be a sign that the virus is suppressing your immune system.

Treatment

Doctors often recommend drug therapy for patients who are committed to taking all their medications and have a CD4 count below 350 cells/mL (indicating their immune system is suppressed). Some people, including pregnant women and people with kidney or neurological problems related to HIV, may need treatment regardless of their CD4 count.

It is extremely important for people with HIV to take all doses of their medications, otherwise the virus will quickly become resistant to the drugs. Therapy always involves a combination of antiviral drugs.

People with HIV infection need to become educated about the disease and treatment so that they can be active partners in making decisions with their health care provider.