HIV

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is a retrovirus that infects cells of the human immune system (mainly CD4-positive T-cells and macrophages—key components of the cellular immune system) and destroys or impairs their function. Infection with this virus results in the progressive depletion of the immune system, leading to immunodeficiency.

The immune system is considered deficient when it can no longer fulfill its role of fighting off infection and diseases. People with immunodeficiency are much more vulnerable to a wide range of infections and cancers, most of which are rare among people without immunodeficiency. Diseases associated with severe immunodeficiency are known as opportunistic infections because they take advantage of a weakened immune system.

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and describes the collection of symptoms and infections associated with acquired deficiency of the immune system. Infection with HIV has been established as the underlying cause of AIDS. The level of immunodeficiency or the appearance of certain infections are used as indicators that HIV infection has progressed to AIDS.

A CD4 count is a blood test that measures the number of CD4 cells in a sample of your blood. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell. They're also called CD4 T lymphocytes or "helper T cells." That's because they help fight infection by triggering your immune system to destroy viruses, bacteria, and other germs that may make you sick.

A CD4 count is mostly used to check the health of your immune system if you are infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

An HIV viral load is a blood test that measures the amount of HIV in a sample of your blood. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. The test looks for genetic material from the virus in your blood. These tests are called molecular tests or nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT or NAT). There are several types of NAAT tests. A PCR test is one type of NAAT that may be used to find HIV.

HIV can affect anyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, gender, age, or where they live. However, certain groups of people in the United States are more likely to get HIV than others because of particular factors, including the communities in which they live, what subpopulations they belong to, and their risk behaviors.

The NHAS identifies the following priority populations disproportionally impacted by HIV:

• Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, in particular Black, Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native men

• Black women

• Transgender women

• Youth aged 13–24 years

• People who inject drugs

Using a condom is a critical practice for safeguarding your health and the health of your partner. Condoms are highly effective in preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. They also serve as a reliable method of contraception, helping to prevent unintended pregnancies. By using condoms consistently and correctly, you're taking proactive steps to protect yourself and contribute to the overall health and safety of the community.

If you believe you've been recently exposed to HIV, contact your healthcare provider immediately or go to an emergency room to discuss starting post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP is a course of medication that can help prevent HIV infection if taken within 72 hours of exposure. The sooner you start PEP, the better the chance of it being effective.

Within 2–4 weeks of infection, some people experience flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and mouth ulcers. These symptoms can last for a few days to several weeks.

Other symptoms of HIV include diarrhea, weight loss, chronic diarrhea, skin problems, and recurrent infections.

The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested. Symptoms of HIV may not appear for many years, so you can't rely on symptoms to tell if you have HIV.

You can get tested for HIV at a health care setting or lab, or use a home testing kit. A health care provider will take a blood or oral fluid sample. Rapid tests may provide results on the same day, while lab tests may take several days.

If you test positive for HIV, you can take medicine to treat it. This is called antiretroviral therapy (ART) and can make HIV a manageable chronic condition. ART can also reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others.

You can find an HIV test site near you by using HIV.gov’s HIV Services Locator

HIV can typically be detected within 10 to 33 days after exposure using an HIV RNA test, which identifies the virus itself. Antigen/antibody tests, which are commonly used, can generally detect HIV within 18 to 45 days after exposure. Rapid tests and at-home test kits, which detect antibodies to HIV, may take longer, usually between 23 to 90 days post-exposure. For the most accurate results, it's essential to follow up initial tests with additional testing as advised by healthcare professionals.

After testing positive for HIV, the first step is to talk to a healthcare provider—even if you don't feel sick. Seeking medical care and starting HIV treatment right away helps you get off to a good start with important health benefits.

Yes, there is a significant connection between HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and STIs are both transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles, and from mother to child during childbirth or breastfeeding. Having an STI can increase the likelihood of contracting HIV due to sores or breaks in the skin, which can serve as entry points for the virus. Additionally, the inflammation caused by STIs can attract immune cells to the site, which are the very cells that HIV targets and infects. This means that individuals with an existing STI are at a higher risk of acquiring HIV if they are exposed to the virus.