When the immune system is weakened from AIDS, the body may have difficulty fighting off certain cancers or viral, fungal, or bacterial infections, and these conditions may prove fatal.
Stage 1: Acute HIV Infection
Within the first two to four weeks after HIV infection, about two-thirds of people will experience symptoms that feel like a really bad flu. As the immune system rallies to fight off the virus, fever may develop along with additional symptoms, such as sore throat, swollen glands, mouth sores, rashes, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, and muscle and joint pain.
Stage 2: Clinical Latency
If the infection goes undiagnosed or untreated, the immune system can bring the HIV level down some, but it can’t completely control or contain it; the virus is still active but multiplies more slowly, often without causing any symptoms. This is also called the clinical latency stage, or chronic HIV infection, and it can last up to 15 years.
Stage 3: AIDS
If a person goes for years without treatment for HIV, the next and final stage is AIDS.
Sudden weight lossRecurring feverNight sweatsFatigue and weaknessSwollen lymph glandsChronic diarrheaSores in the mouth, anus, or genitalsBlotches on the skin, under the skin, or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelidsNeurological issues, including memory loss and depression
Learn More About Signs and Symptoms of HIV
BloodSemen (cum) and preseminal fluidRectal fluidsVaginal fluidsBreast milk
In the United States, HIV is mostly spread through sex, particularly anal and vaginal intercourse. People can also transmit HIV by sharing used injection equipment, such as syringes and other paraphernalia. Mothers can spread HIV to babies during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. Learn More About HIV Transmission People more vulnerable to HIV should get tested more frequently. The CDC defines people in this higher-risk group as those who have:
Had more than one sex partner in the past yearHad an HIV-positive partnerBeen diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis or tuberculosis or a sexually transmitted disease in the past yearExchanged sex for drugs or moneyShared injection equipment
Types of HIV Tests
There are lots of options for HIV tests. There are tests that analyze saliva, blood, or even urine. Tests screen for different signs of HIV infection: antibodies (proteins your body makes to fight the virus); antigens (proteins on the surface of HIV cells that trigger the production of antibodies); or actual genetic material from the HIV virus. Which test you take depends on how recently you think you may have been exposed to HIV, how long you want to wait for results, and how you feel about blood draws. Antibody/antigen test: 18 to 45 days after an exposure This test, commonly performed in a lab, checks for both antibodies and antigens. Antigens are detectable in the blood before antibodies develop, signaling the presence of HIV. An antibody/antigen test can be a rapid test that uses blood from a finger prick and delivers results in less than 30 minutes. Or it could be a test that uses blood drawn from a vein and delivers results in a few days. Antibody test: 23 to 90 days after an exposure An antibody-only test uses a fluid sample swabbed from inside your cheek or blood from a finger prick. These rapid tests and at-home tests can detect HIV antibodies three weeks after exposure at the earliest and deliver results in 20 to 30 minutes. They are also good at detecting chronic HIV. Learn More About HIV Testing and Diagnosis
Diagnosis of AIDS
A person is diagnosed with AIDS when one of two things happen:
CD4 cell count drops from normal levels of 500–1,200 cells per cubic millimeter to 200 cells or fewer.As the CD4 count drops, usually the volume of HIV in the blood, known as the viral load, rises.Viral, fungal, or bacterial infections, and cancers, which healthy immune systems can fight off, emerge and worsen. These so-called AIDS-defining conditions are often the cause of death for people living with HIV who are not receiving treatment.
Prognosis of HIV
Prevention of HIV
There a number of strategies that can reduce your risk of becoming infected with HIV or greatly lower the odds that you will transmit the virus to an HIV-negative partner. You can also reduce your risk of getting or transmitting HIV if you and your partner:
Use HIV prevention medications, an approach called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)Take a combination of HIV medicines within 72 hours after you think you may have been exposed, an approach called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)Use condoms correctly and consistentlyHave a circumcised penisNever share drug injection equipmentLimit your number of sexual partnersAbstain from sex or choose less-risky sexual behaviors, such as oral sex or mutual masturbation instead of anal or vaginal sexGet checked and treated for other sexually transmitted diseases
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)
PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)
If you think you may have been exposed to HIV — for instance if a condom broke or you have experienced a sexual assault — you can also take medicine after the event to prevent yourself from acquiring HIV. If you visit a healthcare provider and begin taking the medicine within 72 hours of exposure, it can prevent any HIV in your system from setting up shop and proliferating. Emergency rooms are a common provider of PEP.
The CDC further estimates that roughly 1.2 million people in the United States were living with HIV at the end of 2019, and that about 13 percent of those individuals were unaware they were HIV-positive. Anyone can acquire HIV, but the prevalence of HIV is not the same in all communities and varies depending on social and demographic factors.
Kaposi sarcomaNon-Hodgkin lymphomaCervical cancer
Anal cancerHodgkin diseaseMelanomaLiver cancerLung cancerMouth and throat cancerTesticular cancerSquamous cell and basal cell skin cancers
The CDC works 24/7 to protect Americans from health, safety, and security threats. From statistics to treatment options, the agency provides comprehensive information about HIV and AIDS. HIV.gov This organization collaborates with departments across the federal government to offer HIV-related information. It’s a great source for up-to-date news about treatments and events. Clinical Info Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health’s Office of AIDS Research, this site gives you access to the latest HIV/AIDS medical practice guidelines, clinical trials, and other research material. We like their glossary feature, which allows users to search different terms related to HIV and AIDS. Greater Than AIDS
Favorite Online Support and Advocacy Networks
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) For more than 30 years, AHF has been committed to providing cutting-edge medical care to the public, regardless of a person’s ability to pay. AHF gives patients access to specialists, medication, and services. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program If finances are a problem, this resource is for you. The program helps people with HIV and AIDS get medical care and other services even if they don’t have health insurance or money to pay for their healthcare. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides services to more than half a million people each year. Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) AmfAR is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, the organization has invested nearly $600 million in its programs. They host different events, and their office in Washington, DC, educates governing figures, the media, and the public about evidence-based policies that address HIV and AIDS. American Academy of HIV Medicine’s Referral Link Looking for an HIV specialist? The American Academy of HIV Medicine is a group dedicated to supporting HIV care providers. Their Referral Link feature provides you with the most comprehensive, up-to-date database of HIV doctors around the country. Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) HOPWA is the only federal program dedicated to serving the housing needs of those living with HIV and AIDS. Under this plan, HUD makes grants to local communities, states, and nonprofits for projects that benefit low-income people with HIV and AIDS. Center for HIV Law and Policy Disclosing your HIV status can sometimes be socially and professionally risky. This organization provides information and resources about the law as it pertains to HIV. You can even search different laws in your state.
Favorite Apps
Clinical Info HIV/AIDS from the NIH With three different options, Clinical Info is your go-to app source. The Glossary app lets you search for definitions of more than 700 terms. Or you can try the Drug Database app, which provides access to information about different medicines. The Guidelines app provides information about federally approved HIV/AIDS medical practice guidelines. You can download one, two, or all three. Life4me+ The Life4me+ app helps establish communication between physicians and patients. It lets you organize your medication schedule and set private personalized reminders. You can also enter your tests results in the app, so you always have them on hand.
Favorite HIV Home Testing Resources
myLAB Box Need to take an STD test, but don’t want to leave your home? myLab Box offers kits that screen for STDs like HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV, and more. Depending on the test, you’ll mail in a small sample of urine, a vaginal swab, or a prick of blood, and you’ll get your results in one to five days. OraQuick Testing couldn’t be any more convenient. This in-home HIV test is approved by the FDA and doesn’t require sending a sample to a lab. You can test yourself in the privacy of your own home with an oral swab. The kit gives you a result in 20 to 40 minutes.
Favorite HIV Blogs
The Body: HIV/AIDS Blog Central Reading about others’ struggles and triumphs can help you in your journey. The Body’s network of blogs features first-person accounts from the HIV/AIDS community. The topics are diverse and designed to empower people with HIV.
Favorite Patient-Centered Annual Meetings
International AIDS Conference The International AIDS Conference is the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS. It brings together scientists, policy makers, healthcare professionals, people living with HIV, funders, the media, and the community. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Clinical Conference The annual RWHAP Clinical Care Conference provides cutting-edge scientific research, care, and treatment updates for clinical decision-makers who are responsible for the day-to-day care and treatment of people living with HIV.
Favorite Information on Nutrition for HIV
The Well Project If you’re living with HIV, nutrition is vital for your long-term health and well-being. The Well Project, a nonprofit that focuses on women with HIV and AIDS, offers resources on how to incorporate the ideal foods for optimal health. You’ll find information on how to fight weight and muscle loss, keep your energy levels high, and minimize side effects from HIV medication.
HIV/AIDS Awareness Days
Over the years, HIV and AIDS have gone from stigmatized and little-discussed conditions to the subjects of a number of awareness campaigns, walks, runs, and fundraisers throughout the year. By participating in these activities, you help bring awareness to the experience of those living with HIV and AIDS. Learn More About HIV/AIDS Awareness Month Additional reporting by Deborah Shapiro.
