Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Ang AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) ang sukdulan at pinakamalubhang yugto ng sakit na dulot ng HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) na nagiging sanhi ng mapanganib at malubhang pinsala sa sistema ng panlaban sa sakit ng tao (immune system). Ayon sa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ang AIDS ay nagsisimula kapag ang isang tao na may impeksiyon ng HIV ay may CD4 na bilang ng selula na mababa sa 200. Ang CD4 na selula ay tinatatawag na “T-cells” o “helper cells” na pananggalang sa sakit. Lumilitaw ang AIDS kapag naubos ang panlaban sa sakit ang tao at lumitaw ang sakit na dulot ng impeksiyon.

Mga Sanhi

Ang AIDS ay ang ikalimang sanhi ng kamatayan ng mga taong nasa edad 25–44 sa Estados Unidos kung ihahambing sa Filipinas na napakaliit na porsiyento lamang ang apektado ng sakit na ito. Humigit-kumulang sa 25 tao sa buong mundo ang namatay sa AIDS simula pa nang pumutok ang epidemyang ito. Tinatayang 40.3 milyon na tao sa buong mundo ang ngayon ay namumuhay na may AIDS virus.

Ang Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) ang sanhi ng AIDS. Ang virus ay umaatake sa sistema ng panlaban sa sakit ng tao, at pinahihina ang katawan nito kaya madaling kumapit ang iba't ibang impeksiyon at kanser.

Ang karaniwang bakterya, parasito, at mikrobyo—na hindi nagiging dahilan ng malalang pagkakasakit sa mga taong may malusog na sistema ng pananggalang sa sakit— ay maaaring maging sanhi ng pagkamatay ng mga taong nahawa ng HIV.

Ang HIV ay sinasabing matatagpuan sa laway at luha; sa himaymay ng sistema sa nerbiyos at katas sa gulugod; sa dugo, tamod, at hima (vaginal fluid); at sa gatas na nagmumula sa suso. Gayunpaman, sinasabing tanging ang dugo, semilya, hima, at gatas ng ina ang siyang makapagdudulot ng impeksyon sa iba.
Paano kumakalat ang HIV?

* Mula sa pakikipagtalik—kasama na rito ang pagsupsop sa titi o puke, at pagpasok ng titi sa puwit;
* Mula sa dugo—kapag naisalin sa tao ang dugo na may HIV o ang nasabing tao ay nakikipaghiraman ng karayon na itinurok sa ibang tao na may HIV;
* Mula sa ina papunta sa kaniyang anak-—Ang buntis ay maaaring maisalin ang virus sa sanggol na nasa kaniyang sinapupunan dahil iisa ang dinadaluyan ng dugo sa kanilang katawan. Maaari din namang ang isang nagpapasusong ina ay maisalin sa anak ang virus sa pamamagitan ng gatas.

Ang iba pang dahilan ng pagkakahawa sa AIDS ay ang aksidenteng matusok ng karayom mula sa hirenggilyang ginamit ng may impeksiyon sa AIDS; ang pagpupunlang artipisyal na may semilyang ibinigay bilang donasyon; at ang pagsasalin ng organ ng tao sa ibang tao.

Ang impeksiyon na dala ng HIV ay hindi nakahahawa, gaya sa sumusunod na paraan: pagyakap, paghawak, , pakikilahok sa palakasan, o kaya ay kagat ng lamok.

Hindi rin naisasalin ang AIDS sa isang taong nagbigay ng kanyang dugo bilang donasyon o ng anumang bahagi ng kanyang katawan. Ang sinumang nagbigay ng organ ng kaniyang katawan ay walang direktang kontak sa taong tumanggap nito. Gayundin kapag ang taong nagbigay ng kaniyang dugo ay walang kontak sa taong tumanggap ng kaniyang dugo. Sa prosesong ito, ang ginagamit na mga karayom at instrumento ay pinakukuluan sa tubig upang matiyak na esterilisado.

Gayunpaman, ang HIV ay maaaring mailipat ng taong tumanggap ng dugo o anumang bahagi ng katawan mula sa isang donor na may impeksiyon. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit ang mga blood bank ay idinadaan sa mahipit na pagsusuri ang kanilang mga donor.

Ang mga taong higit na nasa panganib na mahawa ng AIDS ay ang sumusunod:

* ang mga taong may nakikipagtalik nang walang kondom o iba pang proteksiyon;
* ang nakikipagtalik sa puwitan (anal sex);
* ang mga adik sa droga at naghihiraman ng karayom;
* mga sanggol na ipinapanganak na ang mga ina ay hindi dumaan sa paggagamot sa impeksiyong dulot ng HIV habang nagbubuntis;
* mga taong nasalinan ng dugo mulang 1977 hanggang 1985 (bago nagkaroon ng pagsisimula ng mga pamantayan sa pagsusuri ng mikrobyo sa dugo)

Ang AIDS ay nagsisimula sa impeksiyon mula sa HIV. Amg mga taong may HIV ay maaaring walang sintomas sa loob ng 10 taon o mahigit pa. Ngunit maaari nilang mailipat ang impeksiyon sa iba sa panahon na wala silang nararamdaman o nakikitang sintomas ng AIDS sa kanilang katawan. Kapag ang ang impeksiyon ay hindi nakita at nagamot, ang humihina ang panlaban sa sakit ng tao atunti-unting tumitindi ang AIDS.
Sintomas ng AIDS

Pangunahing sintomas ng AIDS ang resulta ng mga impeksiyon na hindi normal na nabubuo sa mga taong may malusog na panlaban sa sakit.

Ang panlaban sa sakit ng mga pasyenteng may HIV ay nauubos ng naturang virus kaya lumilitaw ang sari-saring impeksiyon. Karaniwan nang sintomas ang paglalagnat, pamamawis (lalo pagdating ng gabi), pamamaga ng glandula, panginginig, pagiging mahina, at pagbaba ng timbang.

Ang pagsisimula ng impeksiyon ng HIV ay maaaring walang ipinapakitang anumang sintomas. Karamihan sa mga may impeksiyon ng AIDS ay makararanas ng senyales na gaya ng lagnat, singaw ng balat, masakit na lalamunan, at namamagang kulani. Karaniwan na itong tumatagal nang dalawang linggo matapos na makuha ang mikrobyo. Ang iba naman na may impeksiyon ng HIV ay nananatiling walang sintomas sa loob ng maraming taon mula nang mahawa.


Mga Indikasyon at Pagsusuri

Ang mga sumusunod ay ilan lamang sa mga sakit na may kaugnayan sa impeksiyon sa AIDS at kanser na maaaring makuha kapag bumaba ang bilang ng CD4. Ang AIDS ang yugto na mababa ang bilang ng CD4 kahit na walang ibang sakit na lumilitaw sa katawan ng tao. Ang iba pang sakit na maaaring danasin ng taong may AIDS ang sumusunod:


Mga pangkaraniwang sakit kapag mas mababa ang bilang ng CD4 sa 350 selula/mililitro:

* Herpes simplex virus, na nagdudulot ng ulser sa bibig o sa ari, na higit na madalas at malubha sa isang pasyenteng may HIV .
* Tuberkulosis, ang impeksiyon na dala ng mikrobyo ng tuberkulosis na lubhang nakaaapekto sa baga, ngunit maaari ding makaapekto sa iba pang bahagi ng katawan, gaya ng bituka, puso, utak, tadyang, o central nervous system;
* Oral o vaginal thrush, ang singaw na dulot na yeast infection sa bibig o titi o puke;
* Herpes zoster (shingles), ang ulser o singaw sa balat na sanhi ng varicella zoster virus;
* Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, ang kanser ng kulani;
* Kaposis's sarcoma, ang kanser ng balat, baga, at bituka, na may kasamang herpes virus (HHv-8). Maaari itong makita sa CD4 count, ngunit mas inaasahan sa mababang CD4 counts. Ito ay mas karaniwan sa lalaki kaysa babae.

Mga karaniwang sakit kapag mababa ang bilang ng CD4 sa 200 selula/mililitro:

* Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, “PCP pneumonia,” na may katawagang Pneumocystic jiroveci pneumonia;
* Candida esophagitis, na makirot na yeast infection ng lalamunan;
* Bacillary angiomatosis, ang pagputok ng iba't ibang sugat na sanhi ng bakterya na tinatawag na Bartonella. Kadalasang nakukuha mula sa kalmot ng pusa

Mga karaniwang sakit kapag mababa ang bilang ng CD4 sa 100 selula/mililitro:

* Cryptococcal meningitis, na yeast infection sa rabaw ng utak;
* AIDS dementia, ang pagkalimot at pagbagal ng pag-iisip;
* Toxoplasmosis encephalitis, ang impeksiyon ng utak na sanhi ng parasitiko , na madalas na nakikita sa cat feces; nagiging sanhi ng discrete lesions sa utak
* Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, ang uri ng sakit na sanhi ng JC virus, at nagpapahina sa funsiyon ng pag-iisip at kilos ng tao;
* Wasting syndrome, ang malabis na pagbaba ng timbang at pagkawala ng gana na sanhi ng HIV;
* Cryptosporidium diarrhea, ang malalang pagtatae na sanhi ng ilan sa magkakaugnay na parasito.

Mga karaniwang sakit bumaba ang bilang ng CD4 sa 50 selula/mililitro:

* Mycobacterium avium , ang impeksiyon sa dugo na sanhi ng bacterium na may kaugnayan sa tuberkulosis;
* Cytomegalovirus infection , ang isang impeksiyong dulot ng virus na maaaring makaapekto sa kahit na anong maselang bahagi ng katawan o sistema, lalong-lalo na sa bituka at mata.

Mahalaga rin ang regular na vaginal pap smear upang masubaybayan ang impeksiyon sa HIV. Mataas ang panganib ng magkakanser sa cervix ang may HIV. Ang anal pap smear ay kailangan din upang malaman kung may posibilidad ng kanser ang lalaki at babae nahawa ng HIV.


Paggamot

Walang nakagagamot sa AIDS sa ngayon. Subalit may iba't ibang uri ng paggamot na maaaring magamit upang maantala ang paglaganap ng virus sa loob ng maraming taon at mapabuti ang kalidad ng buhay ng mga taong may sintomas ng pagkakaroon ng AIDS.

Ang Antiretrovial therapy ay sumusugpo sa paglala ng HIV virus sa katawan. Ang kumbinasyon ng iba't ibang antiretroviral agents na sinasabing may mataas at aktibong antiretroviral therapy (HAART) ay sinasabing epektibo sa pagpapababa ng bilang ng HIV particles sa pagdaloy ng dugo na sinusukat sa tinatawag na viral road. Maaari itong makatulong sa sistema ng panlaban sa sakit ng tao at mapataas ang bilang ng T-cells.

Ang paggamot na gingamit ang HAART ay may kasamang mga kumplikasyon. Ang HAART ay koleksiyon ng iba't ibang uri ng gamot, na may di-inaasahang epekto sa katawan. Ilan sa mga ito ang pagkahilo, sakit ng ulo, panlalambot, at pag-iimbak ng taba sa likod at sa tiyan. Kapag ginamit nang matagalan, ang mga gamot na ito ay nakapagpapataas ng panganib ng atake sa puso dahil pinalalaki nito ang antas ng lipids at glucose.

Ang iba pang antiviral agents ay nasa estado pa ng pagtuklas at marami pang uri ng gamot ang sa kasalukuyan ay nasa proseso ng masusing pag-aaral.
Mga komplikasyon

Kapag ang sistema ng panlaban sa sakit ay masidhing napinsala, magkakaroon ng AIDS ang pasyente, at madaling tablan ng iba pang impeksiyon at kanser. Gayunman, sinasabing ang antiretroviral na paggamot ay maaaring maging epektibo, kahit na sa estado ng ganoong uri ng pagkakasakit.
Paghadlang sa AIDS

* Hangga't maiiwasan ay huwag gumamit ng drogang itinuturok. Kapag gumamit nito, huwag ng karayom o hirenggilya.
* Umiwas sa matalsikan ng dugo ng ibang tao kapag ang estado ng HIV ng taong may pagdurugo ay hindi pa nalalaman. Gumamit ng proteksiyon gaya ng damit, maskara, guwantes, o salaming pang-proteksiyon sakali't may taong maysakit na inyong gagamutin.
* Ang sinuman na napatunayang positibo sa HIV ay maaaring maisalin o mahawaan ang iba kaya't hindi siya maaaring magbigay ng kaniyang dugo, plasma, organ, at semilya. Ang isang taong may impeksiyon ng HIV ay nararapat lamang na balaan ang sinuman na kaniyang makakatalik tungkol sa kaniyang pagiging positibo sa HIV. Hindi siya maaaring makipagpalitan ng body fluids kung mayron mang sekswal na aktibidades. Ipinapayo na gumamit ng proteksiyon, gaya ng paggamit ng kondom.
* Ang mga babaing positibo sa HIV na nais na magbuntis ay nararapat na humingi ng tulong mula sa awtoridad nang mapangalagaan ang sanggol na ipagbubuntis. Kinakailangan ding siya ay mabigyan ng pagpapayong medikal kung ano ang nararapat gawin upang hindi mahawa ang sanggol na kaniyang dinadala. Ang tamang pagagagamot ay maaaring makatulong upang mabawasan ang panganib na ang sanggol ay mahawa ng HIV sa panahon ng pagbubuntis.
* Ang mga ina na napatunayang positibo sa HIV ay ipinagbabawal na pasusuhin niya ang sanggol.
* Ang tinatawag na “safe-sex practices,” gaya nang paggamit ng kondom ay mabisa upang mapigil ang pagkalat ng HIV. Gayunman, may panganib na mahawa sa impeksiyon kahit na gumamit ng kondom, kapag ang nabutas iyon. Ang pagtigil o ang pag-iwas sa pakikipagtalik ay tinatayang siyang pinakamabisang paraan upang maiwasang mahawa sa HIV.

Ang pinakamapanganib na paraan ng pakikikarát ay pakikipagkarat nang walang kondom sa puwitan. Samantala, ang hindi gaanong mapanganib na paraan ng pakikipagtalik ay pagsupsop sa titi o puke. Ang paglilipat ng HIV ng babae sa lalaki ay hindi gaano ang peligro kaysa paglilipat ng impeksiyon na galing sa lalaki tungo sa babae. Kapag nakipag-oral sex sa isang babae sa panahong hindi siya nagreregla ay tinatayang mas mababa ang panganib ng pagkahawa ng HIV.
Paghingi ng suporta at tulong

Ipinapayo na kumonsulta sa doktor kapag may panganib na mahawa ng HIV o kaya'y lumilitaw ang mga sintomas ng AIDS. Ayon sa batas, ang pagsusuri sa kaso ng AIDS ay nararapat na maging lihim. Ikaw at ang iyong doktor lamang ang nararapat na mag-usap tungkol sa resulta ng mga gagawing pag-eeksamen sa iyo.

AIDS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the final stage of HIV disease, which causes severe damage to the immune system.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Important facts about the spread of AIDS include:

*

AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among people ages 25 - 44 in the United States, down from number one in 1995.
*

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 25 million people worldwide have died from this infection since the start of the epidemic.
*

In 2008, there were approximately 33.4 million people around the world living with HIV/AIDS, including 2.1 million children under age 15.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS. The virus attacks the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of life-threatening infections and cancers.

Common bacteria, yeast, parasites, and viruses that usually do not cause serious disease in people with healthy immune systems can cause fatal illnesses in people with AIDS.

HIV has been found in saliva, tears, nervous system tissue and spinal fluid, blood, semen (including pre-seminal fluid, which is the liquid that comes out before ejaculation), vaginal fluid, and breast milk. However, only blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk have been shown to transmit infection to others.

The virus can be spread (transmitted):

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Through sexual contact -- including oral, vaginal, and anal sex
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Through blood -- via blood transfusions (now extremely rare in the U.S.) or needle sharing
*

From mother to child -- a pregnant woman can transmit the virus to her fetus through their shared blood circulation, or a nursing mother can transmit it to her baby in her breast milk

Other methods of spreading the virus are rare and include accidental needle injury, artificial insemination with infected donated semen, and organ transplantation with infected organs.

HIV infection is NOT spread by:

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Casual contact such as hugging
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Mosquitoes
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Participation in sports
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Touching items that were touched by a person infected with the virus

AIDS and blood or organ donation:

*

AIDS is NOT transmitted to a person who DONATES blood or organs. People who donate organs are never in direct contact with people who receive them. Likewise, a person who donates blood is never in contact with the person receiving it. In all these procedures, sterile needles and instruments are used.
*

However, HIV can be transmitted to a person RECEIVING blood or organs from an infected donor. To reduce this risk, blood banks and organ donor programs screen donors, blood, and tissues thoroughly.

People at highest risk for getting HIV include:

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Injection drug users who share needles
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Infants born to mothers with HIV who didn't receive HIV therapy during pregnancy
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People engaging in unprotected sex, especially with people who have other high-risk behaviors, are HIV-positive, or have AIDS
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People who received blood transfusions or clotting products between 1977 and 1985 (before screening for the virus became standard practice)
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Sexual partners of those who participate in high-risk activities (such as injection drug use or anal sex)

Symptoms

AIDS begins with HIV infection. People who are infected with HIV may have no symptoms for 10 years or longer, but they can still transmit the infection to others during this symptom-free period. If the infection is not detected and treated, the immune system gradually weakens and AIDS develops.

Acute HIV infection progresses over time (usually a few weeks to months) to asymptomatic HIV infection (no symptoms) and then to early symptomatic HIV infection. Later, it progresses to AIDS (advanced HIV infection with CD4 T-cell count below 200 cells/mm3 ).

Almost all people infected with HIV, if they are not treated, will develop AIDS. There is a small group of patients who develop AIDS very slowly, or never at all. These patients are called nonprogressors, and many seem to have a genetic difference that prevents the virus from significantly damaging their immune system.

The symptoms of AIDS are mainly the result of infections that do not normally develop in people with a healthy immune system. These are called opportunistic infections.

People with AIDS have had their immune system damaged by HIV and are very susceptible to these opportunistic infections. Common symptoms are:

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Chills
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Fever
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Sweats (particularly at night)
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Swollen lymph glands
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Weakness
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Weight loss

Note: At first, infection with HIV may produce no symptoms. Some people, however, do experience flu-like symptoms with fever, rash, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes, usually 2 - 4 weeks after contracting the virus. Some people with HIV infection stay symptom-free for years between the time when they are exposed to the virus and when they develop AIDS.
Signs and tests

CD4 cells are a type of T cell. T cells are cells of the immune system. They are also called "helper cells."

The following is a list of AIDS-related infections and cancers that people with AIDS may get as their CD4 count decreases. In the past, having AIDS was defined as having HIV infection and getting one of these other diseases. Today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a person may also be diagnosed with AIDS if they are HIV-positive and have a CD4 cell count below 200 cells/mm3, even if they don't have an opportunistic infection.

AIDS may also be diagnosed if a person develops one of the opportunistic infections and cancers that occur more commonly in people with HIV infection. These infections are unusual in people with a healthy immune system.

Many other illnesses and their symptoms may develop, in addition to those listed here.

The following illnesses are common with a CD4 count below 350 cells/mm3:

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Herpes simplex virus -- causes ulcers/small blisters in the mouth or genitals, happens more often and usually much more severely in an HIV-infected person than in someone without HIV infection
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Herpes zoster (shingles) -- ulcers/small blisters over a patch of skin, caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox
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Kaposi's sarcoma -- cancer of the skin, lungs, and bowel due to a herpes virus (HHV-8). It can happen at any CD4 count, but is more likely to happen at lower CD4 counts, and is more common in men than in women.
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Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma -- cancer of the lymph nodes
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Oral or vaginal thrush -- yeast (typically Candida albicans) infection of the mouth or vagina
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Tuberculosis -- infection by tuberculosis bacteria mostly affects the lungs, but can also affect other organs such as the bowel, lining of the heart or lungs, brain, or lining of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)

Common with CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3:

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Bacillary angiomatosis -- skin sores caused by a bacteria called Bartonella, which may be caused by cat scratches
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Candida esophagitis -- painful yeast infection of the esophagus
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Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, "PCP pneumonia," previously called Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, caused by a fungus

Common with CD4 count below 100 cells/mm3:

*

AIDS dementia -- worsening and slowing of mental function, caused by HIV
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Cryptococcal meningitis -- fungal infection of the lining of the brain
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Cryptosporidium diarrhea -- Extreme diarrhea caused by a parasite that affects the gastrointestinal tract
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Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy -- a disease of the brain caused by a virus (called the JC virus) that results in a severe decline in mental and physical functions
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Toxoplasma encephalitis -- infection of the brain by a parasite, called Toxoplasma gondii, which is often found in cat feces; causes lesions (sores) in the brain
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Wasting syndrome -- extreme weight loss and loss of appetite, caused by HIV itself

Common with CD4 count below 50/mm3:

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Cytomegalovirus infection -- a viral infection that can affect almost any organ system, especially the large bowel and the eyes
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Mycobacterium avium -- a blood infection by a bacterium related to tuberculosis

In addition to the CD4 count, a test called HIV RNA level (or viral load) may be used to monitor patients. Basic screening lab tests and regular cervical Pap smears are important to monitor in HIV infection, due to the increased risk of cervical cancer in women with a compromised immune system. Anal Pap smears to detect potential cancers may also be important in both HIV-infected men and women.
Treatment

There is no cure for AIDS at this time. However, a variety of treatments are available that can help keep symptoms at bay and improve the quality of life for those who have already developed symptoms.

Antiretroviral therapy suppresses the replication of the HIV virus in the body. A combination of several antiretroviral drugs, called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), has been very effective in reducing the number of HIV particles in the bloodstream. This is measured by the viral load (how much free virus is found in the blood). Preventing the virus from replicating can improve T-cell counts and help the immune system recover from the HIV infection.

HAART is not a cure for HIV, but it has been very effective for the past 12 years. People on HAART with suppressed levels of HIV can still transmit the virus to others through sex or by sharing needles. There is good evidence that if the levels of HIV remain suppressed and the CD4 count remains high (above 200 cells/mm3), life can be significantly prolonged and improved.

However, HIV may become resistant to one combination of HAART, especially in patients who do not take their medications on schedule every day. Genetic tests are now available to determine whether an HIV strain is resistant to a particular drug. This information may be useful in determining the best drug combination for each person, and adjusting the drug regimen if it starts to fail. These tests should be performed any time a treatment strategy begins to fail, and before starting therapy.

When HIV becomes resistant to HAART, other drug combinations must be used to try to suppress the resistant strain of HIV. There are a variety of new drugs on the market for treating drug-resistant HIV.

Treatment with HAART has complications. HAART is a collection of different medications, each with its own side effects. Some common side effects are:

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Collection of fat on the back ("buffalo hump") and abdomen
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General sick feeling (malaise)
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Headache
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Nausea
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Weakness

When used for a long time, these medications increase the risk of heart attack, perhaps by increasing the levels of cholesterol and glucose (sugar) in the blood.

Any doctor prescribing HAART should carefully watch the patient for possible side effects. In addition, blood tests measuring CD4 counts and HIV viral load should be taken every 3 months. The goal is to get the CD4 count as close to normal as possible, and to suppress the amount of HIV virus in the blood to a level where it cannot be detected.

Other antiviral medications are being investigated. In addition, growth factors that stimulate cell growth, such as erthythropoetin (Epogen, Procrit, and Recomon) and filgrastim (G-CSF or Neupogen) are sometimes used to treat AIDS-associated anemia and low white blood cell counts.

Medications are also used to prevent opportunistic infections (such as Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia) if the CD4 count is low enough. This keeps AIDS patients healthier for longer periods of time. Opportunistic infections are treated when they happen.
Support Groups

Joining support groups where members share common experiences and problems can often help the emotional stress of devastating illnesses. See AIDS - support group.
Expectations (prognosis)

Right now, there is no cure for AIDS. It is always fatal without treatment. In the U.S., most patients survive many years after diagnosis because of the availability of HAART. HAART has dramatically increased the amount of time people with HIV remain alive.

Research on drug treatments and vaccine development continues. However, HIV medications are not always available in the developing world, where most of the epidemic is raging.
Complications

When a person is infected with HIV, the virus slowly begins to destroy that person's immune system. How fast this occurs differs in each individual. Treatment with HAART can help slow or halt the destruction of the immune system.

Once the immune system is severely damaged, that person has AIDS, and is now susceptible to infections and cancers that most healthy adults would not get. However, antiretroviral treatment can still be very effective, even at that stage of illness.
Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have any of the risk factors for HIV infection, or if you develop symptoms of AIDS. By law, the results of HIV testing must be kept confidential. Your health care provider will review results of your testing with you.
Prevention

1.

See the article on safe sex to learn how to reduce the chance of catching or spreading HIV, and other sexually transmitted diseases.
2.

Do not use illicit drugs and do not share needles or syringes. Many communities now have needle exchange programs, where you can get rid of used syringes and get new, sterile ones. These programs can also provide referrals for addiction treatment.
3.

Avoid contact with another person's blood. You may need to wear protective clothing, masks, and goggles when caring for people who are injured.
4.

Anyone who tests positive for HIV can pass the disease to others and should not donate blood, plasma, body organs, or sperm. Infected people should tell any sexual partner about their HIV-positive status. They should not exchange body fluids during sexual activity, and should use preventive measures (such as condoms) to reduce the rate of transmission.
5.

HIV-positive women who wish to become pregnant should seek counseling about the risk to their unborn child, and methods to help prevent their baby from becoming infected. The use of certain medications dramatically reduces the chances that the baby will become infected during pregnancy.
6.

The Public Health Service recommends that HIV-infected women in the United States avoid breast-feeding to prevent transmitting HIV to their infants through breast milk.
7.

Safer sex practices, such as latex condoms, are highly effective in preventing HIV transmission. HOWEVER, there is a risk of acquiring the infection even with the use of condoms. Abstinence is the only sure way to prevent sexual transmission of HIV.

The riskiest sexual behavior is receiving unprotected anal intercourse. The least risky sexual behavior is receiving oral sex. There is some risk of HIV transmission when performing oral sex on a man, but this is less risky than unprotected vaginal intercourse. Female-to-male transmission of the virus is much less likely than male-to-female transmission. Performing oral sex on a woman who does not have her period has a low risk of transmission.

HIV-positive patients who are taking antiretroviral medications are less likely to transmit the virus. For example, pregnant women who are on effective treatment at the time of delivery, and who have undetectable viral loads, give HIV to their baby less than 1% of the time, compared with 13% to 40% of the time if medications are not used.

The U.S. blood supply is among the safest in the world. Nearly all people infected with HIV through blood transfusions received those transfusions before 1985, the year HIV testing began for all donated blood.

If you believe you have been exposed to HIV, seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY. There is some evidence that an immediate course of antiviral drugs can reduce the chances that you will be infected. This is called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and it has been used to prevent transmission in health care workers injured by needlesticks.

There is less information available about how effective PEP is for people exposed to HIV through sexual activity or injection drug use, but it appears to be effective. If you believe you have been exposed, discuss the possibility with a knowledgeable specialist (check local AIDS organizations for the latest information) as soon as possible. Anyone who has been sexually assaulted should consider the potential risks and benefits of PEP.