HIV and AIDS: HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. Symptoms and signs of HIV infection include fever, headache, tiredness, and enlarged lymph nodes. Infections that happen with AIDS are called opportunistic infections. There is no cure for HIV/AIDS. Treatment usually involves a combination of at least three drugs to suppress the virus from replicating and boost the immune system.
Must Read Articles:
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Dementia Due to HIV Infection
Dementia and general cognitive decline is a hallmark of later-stage HIV infections, and is known as AIDS dementia complex (ADC). Thinking, memory, judgement, concentration, and motor function may all suffer as a result of this condition. While HIV/AIDS is incurable, antiretroviral therapy can not only prevent, but also reduce the severity of symptoms in people who have it already. -
HIV Symptoms Signs and Diagnosis
During the first few weeks of HIV infection, mononucleosis-like or flu-like symptoms may occur that include fever, body aches, headache, and rarely a brief rash. Many people do not have any symptoms at all. Around seven or eight years after HIV infection on average, the person may begin to feel unwell. Signs of HIV infection in both men and women include swollen lymph glands, loss of energy, loss of appetite, and loss of weight. The person begins to develop frequent infections, progressing to more unusual infections, as the immune system begins to fail. -
HIV Testing
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV destroys the body's immune system and leads to AIDS. The Western blot and ELISA are the two types of tests most commonly used to detect HIV infection. There are also at-home HIV tests. -
HIV Treatment Prognosis and Prevention
HIV disease is not curable, because the virus infects a person's cells throughout the body. HIV prefers to target immune defense cells, and it is this progressive destruction of immune cells that leads to HIV disease and death. It can be controlled with anti-retroviral (anti-HIV) medications. Typically, the treatment regimen involves two to four drugs used together. Treatment is started as soon as HIV infection is diagnosed. Early control of HIV means the drugs will be effective for longer. -
Rapid Oral HIV Test
Getting tested for HIV is now easier. On March 26, 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new HIV test, one that can be done without a blood test. -
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are among the most common infectious diseases in the United States. STDs can be spread through any type of sexual activity involving the sex organs, the anus or mouth, or through contact with blood during sexual activity. Examples of STDs include, chancroid, chlamydia, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, syphilis, genital herpes, genital warts, hepatitis B, trichomoniasis, pubic lice (crabs), and scabies.Treatment is generally with antibiotics; however, some STDs that go untreated can lead to death.
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Expert Views and News
- The Changing Brain Signature of HIV
- HIV Drugs May Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
- Most Americans Have Never Had an HIV Test
- Most New HIV Cases From Undiagnosed or Untreated
- Lawmakers Seek to Increase Use of Measles Vaccine
- FDA Approves Symtuza for Treatment of HIV
- FDA Clears Raltegravir (Isentress HD) for HIV
- HIV Prevention and Syringe Services Programs
- Reducing Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission
- Increasing Awareness for Daily HIV Prevention Pill
- What Charlie Sheen's Disclosure Means for HIV
- FDA Approves New Treatment for HIV
- Anti-Herpes Drug May Help Control HIV, NIH Study
- 3 in 10 Americans With HIV Have Virus in Check
- New HIV Guidelines Released by WHO
- PrEP for HIV Prevention
- World AIDS Day
- Get Tested on National HIV Testing Day, June 27
- Anti-HIV Therapy Protects Children's Hearts
- National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
- U.S. Draws Blueprint for an AIDS-Free Generation
- HIV Hits 1,000 Young Americans Each Month
- Despite Huge HIV Treatment Gains, Many Left Out
- Missed Dose? Truvada Still Prevents HIV in Men
- New 1-a-Day HIV Treatment Approved
- Man Cured of AIDS Virus: First U.S. News Conference
- HIV Diagnosis Calls for Immediate Treatment
- AIDS Cure Possible, Top Scientists Say
- FDA Approves First Drug for HIV Prevention
- FDA Approves First at-Home HIV Test
- First At-Home HIV Test Nears Approval
- FDA Panel OKs Truvada as First HIV-Preventive Drug
- More Now Die in U.S. From Hepatitis C Than HIV
- Most Americans With HIV Don't Have Infection Under Control
- Higher Cancer Risk in People With HIV
- 2011: Turning Point in World AIDS Pandemic?
- Experimental Gene Therapy May Control HIV
- AIDS Vaccine Search
- FDA Approves Once-Daily HIV Pill Complera
- HIV Infections in U.S.
- 'Explosion' of Sex-Spread Hepatitis C in HIV-Positive Men
- HIV Drug Edurant
- Decade's Top 10 Public Health Achievements
- Early Treatment Makes HIV Less Infectious
- HIV Care System Is Getting Swamped
- Pills to Prevent HIV
- HIV/AIDS Cure? FAQ
- HIV: Who Has It? 55% in U.S. Don't Know
- HIV and Gay/Bi Men
- AIDS Patients Cite Stigma, Depression
- Vaginal Gel May Prevent HIV
- White House Unveils Plan to Fight AIDS
- AIDS Vaccine Soon?
- AIDS Vaccine Success Is 'Modest'
- Circumcising Men With HIV Won't Protect Women
- Green Tea Ingredient Blocks HIV Infection
- New Vaginal Gel Stops AIDS Virus
- HIV/AIDS: 1 Million U.S. AIDS Cases
- Vaginal Gel Cuts Women's HIV Risk
- Doctors: Test All Patients Over 13 for HIV
- Gene Silencing May Stop AIDS Virus
- Marijuana Eases Nerve Pain Due to HIV
- More U.S. Deaths From MRSA Than AIDS
- First One-Pill-a-Day Drug for AIDS
HIV and AIDS Topic Guide - Visuals
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HIV and AIDS Topic Guide - Medications and Vitamins
Medications:
Emtricitabine, Rilpivirine, And TenofovirEmtricitabine, rilpivirine, and tenofovir is a combination antiviral medicine that is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that can ca...learn more »
RilpivirineRilpivirine is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body. HIV is the virus that can cause acquired...learn more »
Emtricitabine, Nelfinavir, And TenofovirEmtricitabine, nelfinavir, and tenofovir are antiviral drugs that prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
Emtricitabine, Lopinavir, Ritonavir, And TenofovirEmtricitabine, lopinavir, ritonavir, and tenofovir are antiviral medicines that prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
EtravirineEtravirine is an antiviral medicine that is used with other medicines to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV causes the acquired immunodeficiency ...learn more »
RaltegravirRaltegravir is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
MaravirocMaraviroc is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, And TenofovirAtripla is a combination antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from reproducing in your body...learn more »
DarunavirDarunavir is an antiviral medicine that is used to treat HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Daru...
learn more »
TipranavirTipranavir an antiviral medicine that is used to treat HIV, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Tipranavir is not a cure f...
learn more »
Abacavir And LamivudineAbacavir and lamivudine are antiviral medicines that prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
Emtricitabine And TenofovirEmtricitabine and tenofovir are antiviral medicines that prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
FosamprenavirFosamprenavir is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
EmtricitabineEmtricitabine is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
Atazanavir (oral)Atazanavir is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
EnfuvirtideEnfuvirtide is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from infecting healthy cells in your body...learn more »
TenofovirTenofovir is an antiviral medicine that is used to treat HIV, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Tenofovir is not a cure ...
learn more »
Abacavir, Lamivudine, And ZidovudineAbacavir, lamivudine, and zidovudine are antiviral medications that prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
Lopinavir And RitonavirLopinavir and ritonavir is a combination antiviral medicine used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficie...learn more »
AbacavirAbacavir is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
EfavirenzEfavirenz is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
Lamivudine And ZidovudineLamivudine and zidovudine are antiviral medications that prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
NelfinavirNelfinavir is an antiviral medicine that is used to treat HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Nel...
learn more »
NevirapineNevirapine is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
CidofovirCidofovir is an antiviral medicine that is used to treat an eye infection called cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMV) in people who have AIDS (acquired immunodefi...learn more »
IndinavirIndinavir is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
RitonavirRitonavir is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
SaquinavirSaquinavir is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
LamivudineLamivudine is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B virus from multiplying in your body...learn more »
StavudineStavudine is an antiviral medicine that is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AID...learn more »
DidanosineDidanosine is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
FoscarnetFoscarnet is an antiviral medicine that prevents certain viruses from multiplying in your body...learn more »
Zidovudine (oral)Zidovudine is an antiviral medicine used to treat HIV, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Zidovudine is also given during p...learn more »
DelavirdineDelavirdine is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body...learn more »
HIV and AIDS Topic Guide – Related Topics
Related Topics:
When Is HIV Most Contagious?
If HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is not treated, it progresses through three stages. Stage 1 is acute or primary HIV Infection, Stage 2 is chronic HIV Infe...learn more »
Which Is Curable, HIV or AIDS
There is no cure for either HIV or AIDS; however, if HIV is caught early the infection can be controlled.learn more »
Is HIV Curable if Caught Early
There is no cure for HIV, but most people with HIV in the U.S. do not develop AIDS if they receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications that can stop the pr...learn more »
Does All HIV Become AIDS
Stage 3 of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is when HIV turns into AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Without treatment HIV can progress to become AID...learn more »
What Are Common Symptoms of HIV
Common early symptoms of HIV include fever, swollen lymph nodes, flu-like symptoms, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, joint pain, skin rash, nausea, vomiting,...learn more »
What Are the 3 Stages of HIV
The three stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) include acute HIV infection, chronic HIV infection, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Witho...learn more »
What Is the First Sign of HIV?
Early symptoms of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are referred to as primary or acute HIV infection. These symptoms usually occur two to four weeks after...learn more »
How Does Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Work
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) refers to combination drug therapy used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Antiretroviral drug therapy frequently combine...learn more »
What Are Early Symptoms and Signs of HIV
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is an insidious infection in that early signs and symptoms of the disease mimic less serious illnesses like the flu. It may e...learn more »
Hepatitis C Kills More People Than HIV Infection
Hepatitis C kills more people each year than...learn more »