HIV and AIDS: symptoms and treatments

AIDS

After a number of years, HIV infection may become increasingly active so that larger numbers of C4 cells are destroyed, and the ability to fight off common infections is reduced. As a result, minor infections that do not trouble healthy individuals can cause serious illnesses (e.g. Pneumocystis and Cryptococcus fungal infections). This stage of the illness is known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

What AIDS symptoms will you notice?

• Recurrent infections (for example, oral thrush, skin fungi, persistent herpes, atypical pneumonia)
• The development of white, hairy-looking plaques on the tongue or inner cheek (hairy leucoplakia)
• An otherwise rare form of cancer (Kaposi's sarcoma) that forms purplish-red patches that may be visible on the skin or in the mouth

AIDS progression is monitored by measuring the number of T-helper cells in the blood (CD4 count) and the number of circulating viral particles (viral load).

How are HIV and AIDS diagnosed?
Normally, production of antibodies would help to wipe out an infection, but because HIV hides away inside T-helper cells, it remains safe from antibody attack and may remain dormant for many years. The presence of anti-HIV antibodies acts as a marker that someone has been exposed to the HIV virus and forms the basis of the HIV test.

An HIV test shows whether or not you have been exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus. It can take up to three months after infection before someone taking an HIV test to become HIV-positive. So if you're worried about a recent risk of exposure, you may be advised to wait for three months from the date of possible exposure to have the test.

Sometimes you will be offered a blood test that will be 'saved', so that if a subsequent test does prove positive, the previous test can also be checked. This might help to show whether or not the possible exposure you were worried about (e.g. an assault) was the one that transmitted the HIV infection.

If the result comes back positive, you will be offered another blood test to recheck the results, as occasionally false-positive results may occur. If the checks confirm that you do have anti-HIV antibodies, you will be informed that you are HIV positive. The results of the test are almost always given to you face to face, so there is someone to talk you through the results and their full implications.

How are HIV and AIDS treated?
Antiviral drugs may be given to help reduce viral replication. Other treatments (e.g. antifungal drugs, anti-diarrhoeal drugs) may be given if other AIDS-related infections develop.