HIV Symptoms – Frequently Asked Questions

What is HIV?

HIV stands for the human immunodeficiency virus which weakens the immune system in humans. It is present in the blood (including menstrual blood), vaginal fluid and semen of the person suffering from HIV.

What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is acquired and not inherited. Immune Deficiency refers to a breakdown of the immune system of the body. A syndrome is a disease which might be related with another disease. Diseases which use the weak immunity of a person’s body are used to indicate the onset of AIDS.

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

HIV leads to AIDS. If someone has HIV, they may not suffer from AIDS. It weakens the body to various cancers and infections. People with HIV experience a slow progression to AIDS. It can take years to develop. If the HIV symptoms are not treated, people might fall ill and develop AIDS within 5 to 10 years. a small number of people do not experience deteriorating health even after a decade.

What are the common symptoms of HIV?

Different symptoms may be the same as those that are seen in many other illnesses. If you suspect a risk of acquiring HIV or demonstrate some specific signs for a month or more, see your doctor. The common HIV symptoms include:

• Flu
• Extreme exhaustion and tiredness
• Chills, night sweats and fevers
• Fast weight loss for no specific reason
• Enlarged lymph glands in the groin, neck or underarm
• Unusual marks or white spots inside the mouth
• Bumps and marks on the skin, flat or raised, usually purplish and painless
• Continuous cough or dry cough
• Reduced appetite
• Diarrhea

What are the stages of HIV infection?

Primary illness and Seroconversion: A few individuals can get infected with HIV without coming to know of it. Some people can experience a seroconversion illness within 2 to 6 weeks of infection. The symptoms of the illness are not too specific and may include fever, diarrhea, rash and exhaustion. These HIV symptoms may be commonly found in other ailments and hence might not seem remarkable or noticeable in the beginning.

Asymptomatic HIV infection: The seroconversion might be followed with years or months of the HIV infection damaging the immune system of the individual without demonstrating any outward symptoms or indications. However, a few individuals can experience constant swelling of their lymph nodes. This is the period of asymptomatic infection. At this time, a constant battle is taking place between the HIV infection and their immune system.

Symptomatic HIV infection: The signs of the symptomatic HIV infection can include fevers, the lack of energy, night sweats, prolonged instances of diarrhea and persistent thrushes in women.

How is HIV diagnosed?

Diagnosis of HIV can be done with the rapid test kit. In the test, a preliminary result is available at the clinic within 30 minutes. However, the results should be confirmed with additional laboratory tests. Before and after counseling should be availed.

http://www.headstarttesting.com/

 

What Type of HIV Test is Used in Australia?

If you think that you may have HIV, it is important to go for a test. However, before conducting the HIV test Australia, you need to have a discussion with your health care provider or doctor. The discussion can include the following:

• Meaning of the test and implications of testing positive or negative
• Your behavior since the last test to estimate how much you have been exposed to the condition
• Understanding of HIV, the way it is transmitted and how you can stay protected
• Support available after the result
• What is the window period of the test and whether retesting is required?

Facts to Know before the Test

• Detection of HIV takes time. HIV can be tested within 6 weeks of exposure, although some people may take around 3 months.

• The window period makes the patient highly infectious. The period between HIV infection and antibody production is a highly likely time of transmission for gay men who are unaware that they are in the window period.

• The results of your test are confidential as they are governed by the privacy law.

Rapid HIV Test Australia

This is the most common type of testing method used in Australia. The specialty of the test is that it is done at the point of care viz. the clinic and you can get to know the results within 30 minutes. A preliminary positive or reactive result does not diagnose infection as rapid tests produce not too many false positive results. Hence, the rapid test should always be seconded by a laboratory test. This test is available in particular locations in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

The rapid HIV test in Australia has been used in developed and developing countries for more than a decade with positive results on the testing rates especially in people who are at high risk of infection and have never been tested before. Being the first point of care test in Australia, there was some initial confusion about appropriate implementation. The Queensland Department of Health has announced free testing as a part of regular clinical practice and wanted to investigate how to use point of care testing in the best possible manner for complimenting the existing procedures of testing HIV.

The rapid tests for HIV have certain operational strengths and advantages. One of the main targets of conducting the rapid HIV tests is the aspect of decentralization followed by counseling. One of the key advantages of such point of care testing is the fact that it reduces the person’s dependability on laboratory services and extends the scope of testing to the point of care or community sites including mobile testing. If the rapid tests for HIV are available in your neighborhood, you should talk to your doctor about whether Medicare benefits are scheduled on these.

Positive test results should be followed up with counseling as patients may experience distress, anger, shock and depression. Counseling should be provided before the test too.