Although people are more enlightened about thehuman immunodeficiency computer virus ( HIV)today , there are still misconception about the computer virus . False assumptions can increase the hazard of infection and the betting odds of transmitting the computer virus to someone else . Here are some myth - busting result to the most commonly need questions about HIV .
1. Are HIV and AIDS the Same Thing?
HIV and assistance are not the same thing . HIV is a computer virus , while AIDS is a stage of advanced transmission . Specifically , HIV , or the human immunodeficiency virus , is an infectious virus that gradually breaks down a someone ’s resistant organisation , leaving the body less able-bodied to defend itself against viruses , bacteria , fungi , and sponge . These infections , which are called “ opportunistic , ” tend to be soft in the early stages and can become progressively worse as they deplete your immune system .
AIDS , or assume immunodeficiency syndrome , is the stage of the disease when the resistant system of rules is weakened by the loss of CD4 T cell ( also called helper deoxythymidine monophosphate cells ) . These are white blood cells that aid fend off harmful pathogens in the soundbox . Without these defenses , a soul will be at high endangerment for serious illnesses that a healthy person would be able to fight down off .
AIDS is diagnose when a mortal has a CD4 count of less than 200 ( meaning less than 200 cells per cubic millimeter of line of descent ) or has at least one of 27 AIDS - delimitate conditions delineate by theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , such as recurrentpneumoniaand somelymphomas .
2. Can HIV Live Outside the Body?
HIV does not hold up outside the body for very long . Compared with other type of viruses , such asfluorchickenpox , HIV is comparatively slight : It does not fly high at way temperature ( 68 degrees F ) , when exposed to ultraviolet ( UV ) radiation from the sun , or at pH level that are unlike to that of blood .
Even if a small amount of virus does manage to outlive for a short period of time , the betting odds that it will infect you are next to zero . There have been no confirmed case of HIV have by a blood - tainted needle in a public place to engagement . Even in a health care mount , the risk of infection from a needlestick injury is less than 1 percent , per the CDC .
3. Which Activities Are Most Likely to Transmit HIV?
The three main routes of HIV infection in the United States are anal sex , vaginal sex , and apportion needles . Of these , unprotected anal retentive sex poses the highest peril . Here is the estimated probability of acquire HIV from an septic beginning , throughdrug useand differentsex routine , according to the CDC :
The more you engage in these natural process , the more likely you are to contract the computer virus , although it is still possible to get infect after a single exposure .
If you ’re worried about your endangerment of contracting HIV , verbalise to your healthcare supplier aboutPrEP ( pre - exposure prophylaxis ) , a highly good unwritten or injectable medication for HIV bar . According to theCDC , it can cut the endangerment of HIV transmission through sex by 99 per centum when taken right .
4. Can You Get HIV From Oral Sex?
While there is a possiblerisk of getting HIVfrom oral sexuality , the document risk of exposure remains extremely depressed . The CDC say that the hazard is backbreaking to measure , because a lot of the great unwashed who have unwritten sex have anal retentive or vaginal sex , too .
Still , there are certain factor that may increase the electric potential for infection . These admit coexisting sexually transmitted diseases ( STDs ) and phlebotomise gums . Even then , it ’s improbable that a person will be infect by having oral sex . Using a condom or dental dam can further reduce the already downhearted risk of infection , as can taking medicine to prevent ortreat HIV .
5. How Common Are False Negatives and False Positives?
Thanks to the use of next - generation technologies , the accuracy ofHIV testingin health care configurations has never been better . Still , fictive positives and sour negative have been known to occur , albeit infrequently .
Today , the fictive negative rate for antibody - only test is only around 0.3 percent ( or roughly 3 out of every 1,000 test ) , according toi - BASE . untrue prescribed rates are even lower — between 0.0004 percent and 0.0007 percentage , according toStatPearls — due in big part to the practice of confirm a positive result with a secondary trial .
If a sham negative does go on , it is often the solution of premature testing during the so - called windowpane period . This is the point of time following infection when the body has not yet produced enough protective protein ( call antibodies ) to show an accurate result . If this happens , a person may believe that they have n’t been infect .
Newer antigen / antibody research laboratory tests have importantly boil down this window geological period , harmonize to theCDC . However , you still need to await about three to five weeks after being exposed to the virus to get a reliable outcome .
That said , if you think you ’ve been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours , theCDCsays to contact a health provider , infirmary , or urgent care center right aside about bugger off post - exposure prophylaxis ( PEP ) .
6. How Accurate Are In-Home HIV Tests?
Currently there is only one in - home HIV test available in the United States , OraQuick , promoted as a means to ensure privacy for those who might otherwise avoid getting try . It is well-heeled to use , requiring only a uncomplicated saliva mop , and can return a solvent in as little as 20 bit .
Because antibody levels in spit are lower than they are in rake , this mental test can fall little in its ability to detect infection . According to theU.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) , 1 in 12 OraQuick tests will redeem a sour negative , meaning that approximately 1 out of every 12 test will deport an incorrect all - decipherable signal .
7. Can a Pap Smear Detect HIV?
A Pap cytologic smear is worthful for many things , but HIV detection is n’t one of them . The aim of a Pap smear is to identify cell changes that may indicatecervical cancer , not to check for the presence of HIV , which can be identified only with a blood- or spit - based HIV test .
That enounce , Pap smears are especially authoritative for women who have HIV ; these women are at least 5 time more probable to develop invasive cervical cancer than women who do n’t have HIV . The mental testing can also be used to screen for anal genus Cancer and thehuman papillomavirus ( HPV ) .
8. How Long Does It Take for HIV Symptoms to Appear?
Up to 80 per centum of newly infected people go through symptoms during the early ( acute ) stage of HIV infection . These generally develop within two to four weeks of exposure and resemble symptoms of the flu , such as fever , raw pharynx , body rash , headache , and muscle and joint annoyance , according to theNational Health Service ( NHS ) .
One of the more telltale sign of acute contagion is lymphadenopathy , the sometimes sore bulge of the lymph node , specifically on the neck , behind the ears , under the armpits , and in the upper groin . While flu - like symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several workweek , lymphadenopathy can persist for month and even years and may better only after the start of HIV handling .
After the acute stage of HIV transmission , symptoms may not re-emerge for several years , but the virus is still fighting and causing damage if left untreated , per the NHS . That is why it ’s important to see a healthcare supplier as soon as possible if you distrust you have HIV .
9. Do HIV Symptoms Differ in Women and Men?
The HIV symptoms in man and women do n’t disagree very much . However , women with HIV can be susceptible to other infections that may cause symptoms in the venereal pamphlet , includingbacterial vaginosisand candidiasis , a common fungal contagion that can manifest as a vaginalyeast transmission . ( Oral thrush , a fungous transmission , can seem in both women and men . )
Women with HIV also have an increase risk for perennial and hard - to - care for pelvic incitive disease ( PID ) and can experienceirregular period , cramping , and unusual discharge .
In the later stages of HIV , women who also have HPV are more likely to have an increase jeopardy of cervical cancer ; gay and bisexual military man with HPV are more potential to develop anal genus Cancer .
But beyond these differences , the disease vary more by the individual than by sex . Other factors , like genetic science , age , intervention history , and life-style habit such as smoke , diet , and physical exertion also play a role .
10. How Long Can I Wait Before Starting Treatment?
Ideally , you should n’t await to set off discourse . In the yesteryear , doctors would delay treatment until a person ’s CD4 enumeration shine below 500 — for the most part because of concern about the recollective - terminus event of HIV handling and the previous exploitation of a drug - resistant virus — but that ’s no longer the causa .
“ Today , thing are different , ” saysLinda - Gail Bekker , PhD , an infective disease specialist and deputy director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the University of Cape Town in South Africa . “ new - propagation drug have overcome many of these concerns . Moreover , if [ process ] properly , a person with HIV can now expect to enjoy cheeseparing - normal life anticipation . ”
The centering , therefore , is no longer just on life extension ; it ’s on keep up quality of life . Researchfunded by the National Institutes of Health confirmed that early HIV treatment ( started at CD4 count above 500 ) lose weight the risk of exposure of serious illness by 53 percentage compared with delayed discourse .
That is why theU.S. Department of Health and Human Servicesnow recommends that HIV treatment begin at the meter of diagnosis .
The Takeaway
Jane Yoon Scott , MD , is an infective disease physician and an assistant professor of medicament atEmory Universityin Atlanta . Dr. Scott savour connecting with her patients , empowering them to understand and take ownership of their health , and encouraging them to ask question so that they can make informed and heedful decisions .
She graduated with the eminent honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology , then received her MD from the Medical College of Georgia . She completed her internal medicine residency training and chief abidance at Temple University Hospital , as well as a fellowship in infective diseases at Emory University . She is control board - endorse in both internal medicine and infective diseases .
When she is not seeing patients , Dr. Scott works with neighboring health department to promote public wellness , particularly to community that have been historically underserved . She also teaches medical trainee and lectures medical students at the Emory University School of Medicine .
In her free time , Dr. Scott apprize a good coffee berry workshop , weekend hikes , playing guitar , strolling through cities , sampling eating house , and move to unexampled place .
James Myhre is an laurels - winning health writer and HIV pedagog who has knead with biotic community - based HIV organizations since 1989 , include Terrence Higgins Trust in London , San Francisco AIDS Foundation , AIDS Project Los Angeles , and the southerly African HIV Clinician Society . He has written for CNNfn , Departures , POZ , Advocate , Gay Pages , Exit , OUT , South African Journal of Infectious Diseases , South African Medical Journal , andSouth African Journal of HIV Medicine .
Myhre previously held a faculty position with the USAID - fund Foundation for Professional Development , take part in South Africa ’s historic antiretroviral gyre - out as a nurses ’ training facilitator and lector . As the broadcast coordinator for LifeSense Disease Management , Myhre allow for clinical and case direction support for over 15,000 people live with HIV in South Africa . He has co - authored and presented enquiry at multiple International AIDS Conferences , the World Bank , and the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV / AIDS ( UNAIDS ) , among others .
After 17 days in South Africa , Myhre reelect to his rest home state of Texas where he lives with his married man Dennis Sifris , an HIV specialist and beginner of South Africa ’s first HIV clinic at Johannesburg General Hospital .
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