HIV
Explained:
Symptoms, Risks, & Prevention
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system and lowers the body’s natural defence against illness and disease.
HIV is a lifelong condition. It can be managed with effective treatment, but right now there isn't a cure.
There is a risk of HIV being transmitted only when one of the following fluids enters the bloodstream of somebody else. This can be through broken skin (e.g. injecting drugs, cuts or sores) or a mucous membrane (in the rectum, vagina, and penis):
*There is no risk of HIV from receiving any kind of oral sex. There is almost no risk from fellatio (giving head) if your partner doesn't cum in your mouth or from performing cunnilingus (eating someone out). HIV transmission could be a risk if your partner cums in your mouth and you have cuts or sores there.
*There is no evidence that HIV transmission occurs these ways, but in theory it is possible if broken skin or a mucous membrane makes contact with infectious bodily fluids.
This is known as Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U).
With today's medical advancements, HIV+ individuals can:
Not everyone that has HIV will show symptoms. The only way to be sure of one’s HIV status is by testing.
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This is when the body will recognize the new infection, as the virus has had time to multiply. Due to the body’s fight against the new HIV infection, its immune system can cause the symptoms listed below. However, it is also common to have no symptoms at all.
Symptoms:
Since these symptoms usually happen before HIV is detected, they are hard to prevent.
The acute HIV stage is also when the body begins producing antibodies to recognize HIV.
For most people, an HIV test will turn positive just after this period. This testing is possible because there will now be enough of the virus and subsequent antibodies to detect the presence of HIV.
Can it be treated at this stage?
Yes, you can start HIV treatment at any point after diagnosis and international guidelines support starting treatment as soon as possible.
Chronic HIV is often referred to as the asymptomatic stage. During this stage, many people with HIV do not have any symptoms. This asymptomatic period can range from just a few years to over 20 years.
However, as time passes and HIV slowly compromises the immune system, some symptoms listed below can start to develop.
Symptoms:
Can it be treated at this stage?
Yes, treatment can resolve symptoms experienced in the chronic HIV stage. All people living with HIV must maintain this treatment for the rest of their life for it to keep working.
While HIV is a virus, AIDS is a syndrome. This means AIDS is a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms that consistently occur together.
A person who is living with HIV is classified as having AIDS when one of the following conditions is met:
1. Their T-cell count (a kind of white blood cell) drops below 200 per cubic millimetre of blood.
2. They have an opportunistic infection or a type of cancer that’s rare for HIV-negative people.
Symptoms:
This list isn’t exhaustive as AIDS can include a number of opportunistic infections.
Can it be treated at this stage?
AIDS can be reversed, meaning the diagnosis is removed, with effective treatment of HIV and treatment of the opportunistic infection or illness. This possibility of reversal is because AIDS is a syndrome, not the infection itself.
If you start on HIV medications and follow the advice of your doctor, it is possible for your health to improve.
This is when the body will recognize the new infection, as the virus has had time to multiply. Due to the body’s fight against the new HIV infection, its immune system can cause the symptoms listed below. However, it is also common to have no symptoms at all.
Symptoms:
Since these symptoms usually happen before HIV is detected, they are hard to prevent.
The acute HIV stage is also when the body begins producing antibodies to recognize HIV.
For most people, an HIV test will turn positive just after this period. This testing is possible because there will now be enough of the virus and subsequent antibodies to detect the presence of HIV.
Can it be treated at this stage?
Yes, you can start HIV treatment at any point after diagnosis and international guidelines support starting treatment as soon as possible.
Chronic HIV is often referred to as the asymptomatic stage. During this stage, many people with HIV do not have any symptoms. This asymptomatic period can range from just a few years to over 20 years.
However, as time passes and HIV slowly compromises the immune system, some symptoms listed below can start to develop.
Symptoms:
Can it be treated at this stage?
Yes, treatment can resolve symptoms experienced in the chronic HIV stage. All people living with HIV must maintain this treatment for the rest of their life for it to keep working.
While HIV is a virus, AIDS is a syndrome. This means AIDS is a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms that consistently occur together.
A person who is living with HIV is classified as having AIDS when one of the following conditions is met:
Symptoms:
This list isn’t exhaustive as AIDS can include a number of opportunistic infections.
Can it be treated at this stage?
AIDS can be reversed, meaning the diagnosis is removed, with effective treatment of HIV and treatment of the opportunistic infection or illness. This possibility of reversal is because AIDS is a syndrome, not the infection itself.
If you start on HIV medications and follow the advice of your doctor, it is possible for your health to improve.
If you have had a potential HIV exposure within the last 72 hours, it’s recommended you head to your nearest emergency room to get PEP.
If you have had a potential HIV exposure within the last 72 hours, it’s recommended you head to your nearest emergency room to get PEP.
When to get tested
It can take anywhere between 2 weeks and 3 months after exposure for HIV to show up through testing. This time frame is known as the HIV window period. The time varies based on the person and the type of test used.
Regardless of where you access it, HIV testing should be provided free of charge.
Types of tests
The type of HIV test can vary with three main characteristics:
1. Timeliness: How quickly you can receive a result.
2. Accuracy: How reliable the result is.
3. Accessibility: How easy it is to get the test performed.
Condoms - Help prevent HIV & STIs
Condoms, when used consistently and correctly, prevent the transmission of HIV and other STIs by up to 98%.
When using condoms, make sure to use only water or silicone-based lubricants. Oil-based lubricants can cause condoms to break, which raises the risk of HIV and STI transmission.
U=U - HIV+ individuals can’t transmit
By taking the right medications, persons living with HIV can achieve a state where they cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partners.
PrEP - A daily pill to prevent HIV
PrEP is a daily pill that can help prevent HIV when taken as prescribed. If you are inconsistent with condom use, have multiple sexual partners, or just want an additional layer of protection, PrEP is an accessible option for many Canadians.
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