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Human Immunodeficieny Virus (HIV): HIV is a virus spread through body fluids that affects specific cells of the immune system, called CD4 cells, or T cells. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t fight off infections and disease. When this happens, HIV infection leads to AIDS.
Do I need testing for HIV? :
Treatment Available: Most people who are HIV positive will seek the advice of an infectious disease physician who can discuss treatment options.
- Acute HIV: mild flu-like symptoms about 2-6 weeks after initial infection.
- Advanced HIV: swollen glands in neck, armpit, or groin, continued fever or night sweats, weight loss of more than 10 pounds (when not dieting),heavy, continual, dry cough that is not from smoking or has lasted too long to be cold or flu related, increasing shortness of breath, continuing bouts of diarrhea, thrush (a thick whitish coating on the tongue or in the throat) which may be accompanied by a sore throat, recurring vaginal yeast infections, unexplained skin rashes (ie: psoriasis or seborrhea), and herpes infections that may last longer than usual.
The CDC recommends that health care providers test everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 at least once as part of routine health care. One in six people in the United States who have HIV do not know they are infected.
HIV is spread through unprotected sex and drug-injecting behaviors (plus mother to child), so people who engage in these behaviors should get tested more often. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you should definitely get an HIV test:
- Have you had unprotected sex (sex without a condom)—anal, vaginal, or oral—with men who have sex with men or with multiple partners since your last HIV test?
- Have you injected drugs (including steroids, hormones, or silicone) and shared equipment (or works, such as needles and syringes) with others?
- Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money?
- Have you been diagnosed with or sought treatment for a sexually transmitted infection (STI), like syphilis?
- Have you been diagnosed with or sought treatment for hepatitis or tuberculosis (TB)?
- Have you had unprotected sex with someone who could answer yes to any of the above questions or someone whose history you don’t know?
If you continue having unsafe sex or sharing injection drug equipment, you should get tested at least once a year. Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 months).
You should also get tested if
- You have been sexually assaulted.
- You are a woman who is planning to get pregnant or who is pregnant.