About HIV

• HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. The HIV virus attacks the immune system, which keeps a person healthy and fights infection. It can take many years for HIV to become full-blown AIDS.
  
  

Symptoms

• Many people who have HIV do not have any symptoms for years, according to the CDC. However, if there are symptoms, they may include rapid weight loss, recurrent fever, dry cough, night sweats, extreme fatigue, lasting diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes, spots on the tongue and mouth, reddish or brownish spots under the skin, pneumonia and memory loss. Some of these are also symptoms of other diseases and conditions, so people who have these symptoms should seek the advice of a health-care provider.
  
  

Causes

• The HIV virus is spread through exposure to infected body fluids. This includes blood, semen and vaginal secretions. A person can be exposed through unprotected sexual acts, receiving tainted blood, sharing dirty needles, accidental needle sticks and transmission from pregnant mothers to their infants. HIV is not spread through hugging, kissing or shaking hands with someone who is infected.
  
  

Diagnosis

• A doctor can order blood or oral mucous tests to check for HIV. Testing is available at health clinics, hospitals, health departments, Planned Parenthood clinics and doctors' offices. There is also a home test kit approved by the Food and Drug Administration that is sold by Home Access Health.
  
  It can take several weeks after exposure for enough of the virus to be present to detect in a test; occasionally, it may take six months for the infection to show up.
  
  

Treatment

• There is no cure for HIV or AIDS. Anti-retroviral drugs are available to slow the progress of the disease. These drugs slow the production of the virus and can give the person with HIV a longer lifespan. However, these drugs can have severe side effects, including digestive troubles, extreme weight loss, liver damage and heart problems.
  
  

Warning

• Because HIV destroys the body's ability to fight off infection, it is a life-threatening illness. Anyone who suspects that he may have been infected with HIV should seek immediate medical attention.