HIV Infection: All you need to know

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What is HIV and What is Its Impact?

HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a virus that causes a systemic infection by targeting the immune system. Once infected, it remains in the body’s cells, creating reservoirs and continuously replicating. This persistent infection gradually weakens the immune system, leading to increased vulnerability to other diseases and infections.
In today’s health-conscious world, understanding Human Immunodeficiency Virus is crucial for everyone. HIV is a leading concern in sexually transmitted diseases, affecting millions globally, irrespective of age, gender, or sexual orientation.

How Does HIV Affect the Body?

HIV specifically targets CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell vital for immune defense. By infecting and destroying these cells, it compromises the immune system. Over time, the loss of CD4 cells leaves the body vulnerable to infections and diseases, potentially leading to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) if untreated.

What are the Long-Term Implications of HIV?

The impact of Human Immunodeficiency Virus on an individual’s health can be profound. Early stages may present minimal to no symptoms, making it easy to overlook without testing. Untreated, it progresses, compromising the immune system and increasing susceptibility to common infections and conditions that a healthy immune system could otherwise manage or prevent.

How is HIV transmitted ?

HIV transmission occurs through specific means, highlighting the importance of awareness and preventive measures. Understanding how it spreads is crucial in reducing the risk of infection and promoting public health.

What are the common modes of HIV transmission?

  • Body Fluids: HIV is primarily spread through direct contact with infected body fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal and rectal fluids, and breast milk. Notably, saliva, sweat, or urine do not transmit the virus unless they are mixed with blood containing the virus.
  • Transmission Modes: Common modes include unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person, sharing needles or syringes, from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding, and, less commonly, through blood transfusions with infected blood. Understanding these transmission pathways helps in identifying and mitigating risks.

How Can HIV Transmission be Reduced?

  • Safe Practices: Using condoms during sexual intercourse, ensuring sterile needles for injections, and opting for regular HIV testing are effective ways to reduce transmission. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-positive individuals significantly lowers their viral load, reducing the risk of transmission.
  • Preventive medication: Certain kinds of medication can help reduce chance of getting HIV infection.
  • Mother-to-Child Prevention: Pregnant women with HIV can take ART to lower the risk of passing the virus to their babies. Safe breastfeeding practices and appropriate medical interventions during delivery further reduce transmission rates, ensuring healthier outcomes for both mother and child.

What are symptoms of HIV infection?

Understanding the symptoms of the virus is crucial for early detection and treatment. Recognizing these symptoms can prompt early testing, which is essential for managing the virus. Early diagnosis and treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) can significantly improve quality of life and longevity, even transforming it into a manageable chronic condition.

Early Symptoms of HIV

Initially, it can be asymptomatic or mimic a flu-like illness, making it challenging to diagnose without testing. Common early symptoms, when they do occur, can include:
  • Fever and chills
  • General malaise and chronic fatigue
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Advanced Symptoms of HIV

As the virus advances, without treatment, it compromises the immune system further, leading to more pronounced symptoms such as:
  • Persistent cough and difficulty breathing
  • Night sweats
  • Unexplained weight loss, or lumps
  • Unexplained rash or shingles
  • Persistent, unexplained fatigue

How to prevent HIV

Effective strategies and practices are crucial in preventing transmission:

What HIV Preventive Measures are Available?

  • PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis): An emergency intervention for unprotected or sexual risks activities happened within 72 hours
  • PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis): Recommended for individuals at high risk of HIV, PrEP involves taking a daily medication to significantly reduce the risk of contracting it through sex or needle use.
  • HIV Screening / Regular Test: Early detection through routine testing is vital for effective management and reducing transmission risk.
  • Protected Sex: Consistently using condoms during sexual activities is one of the most effective ways to prevent STDs transmission, as well as other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
  • Needle Safety: Ensuring needles and syringes are never shared, especially among individuals who inject drugs, is crucial for prevention.

How Effective are HIV Prevention Methods?

  • Protected Sex: Using condom works 63-91% in terms of HIV prevention depending on the method.
  • PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis): Could reduce risk of getting HIV infection for 70-80%.
  • PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis): PrEP daily works 99% and PrEP on-demand works 86%+ in terms of prevention.
  • Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U=U): Have sex with an HIV patient who is undetectable is 100% safe.

What is it Like Living with HIV?

Living with HIV today is vastly different from decades past, thanks to significant advancements in treatment and support networks:

How to Manage Daily Life with HIV

  • Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): is cornerstone of HIV treatment. ART can suppress the virus to undetectable levels, halting disease progression and significantly reducing the risk of transmission. Consistent adherence to ART enables individuals with HIV to maintain their health and prevent the virus from advancing to AIDS. Effective ART management is crucial for long-term health and well-being.
  • Prevention of Transmission: With effective ART, individuals with HIV can achieve an undetectable viral load, greatly minimizing the chance of transmitting the virus to others. This concept is known as “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U=U), emphasizing that when the viral load is undetectable, it cannot be transmitted through sexual contact.

What Support Systems are Available for People with HIV?

  • Support Networks: Comprehensive care includes medical treatment, counseling, and community support services, available through both private and public hospitals. These resources address the physical, emotional, and social aspects of living with HIV. Access to support networks is essential for managing the challenges, providing a sense of community, and enhancing overall quality of life.
  • Counseling and Community Services: Counseling services help individuals cope with the emotional and psychological impact of HIV. These services play a critical role in improving mental health and social well-being.

Why is Comprehensive HIV Care Important at H.U.M. Clinic?

H.U.M. Clinic is your partner in HIV care, from prevention and early detection to treatment and beyond. Our goal is to support your health and well-being with compassionate, state-of-the-art care tailored to your unique needs. We stands at the forefront of holistic care, offering a comprehensive approach that emphasizes education, prevention, and personalized treatment:

What Services Does H.U.M. Clinic Provide for HIV Care?

How Can Patients Benefit from HIV Care at H.U.M. Clinic?

  • Expert Training: Our doctors is well trained by both the European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) and the Thai AIDS Society.
  • Holistic Approach: We view the care as multifaceted, addressing not only the virus itself but also the psychological, social, and lifestyle factors that affect health and well-being.
  • Preventive Services and Education: Recognizing the power of prevention, we provide extensive information on how to prevent transmission, including safe sex practices, PrEP, and PEP, aiming to reduce new infections and empower individuals with the knowledge they need to protect themselves.
  • Testing and Personalized Treatment: We advocate for early detection through regular testing and offer tailored treatment plans. By managing it effectively, we help individuals maintain undetectable viral loads, significantly improving life expectancy and quality of life.

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