What is HIV?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that affects the immune system, gradually damaging it until it can no longer fight off infection and disease. The HIV infects the cells of the immune system. However, for reasons that scientists don’t fully understand, HIV remains resistant to the immune system’s efforts to eliminate it.
Symptoms Of An Advanced HIV Infection
It may take a number of weeks, months or years, but the HIV infection will eventually break down your immune system. This weakened immune system leaves the body susceptible to attack by so called ‘opportunistic infections.’ These are conditions that your body would normally be able to fight off, but which can prove fatal in HIV-positive individuals.
You may notice:
- Recurrent fungal infections such as fungal nail infections that will not go away or respond to over-the-counter medication
- Recurrent colds, flu and viruses
- Dementia, confusion and impaired motor skills
Who is at Risk for HIV?
HIV infection is usually acquired through sexual intercourse or exposure to infected blood or body fluids. This may occur:
- During sexual contact with an infected person, especially if you have unprotected vaginal or anal sex
- By sharing needles or syringes used by an infected person.
Transmission from a pregnant woman to her baby may occur during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding, although this is uncommon with the use of HIV medications during and after pregnancy.
HIV infection is NOT spread by casual contact.
Certain individuals may have an increased risk of HIV infection, including the following:
- Men who have sex with men
- Injection drug users who share needles or “works”
- Sexual partners of people who are infected with HIV
- People with a history of a sexually transmitted disease
- Victims of sexual assault (see “Patient information: Care after sexual assault (Beyond the Basics)”)
- Men and women who have unprotected sex with multiple partners
- Men and women who exchange sex for money or drugs or have sex partners who do
- Anyone who is accidentally stuck with a needle or sharp in a healthcare facility
- People who received a blood transfusion or other blood products before 1984
Photos of Hiv Symptoms in Men
