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HIV infections

Description

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a type of virus which infects the human immune system -- the system in the body which is in charge of fighting off illness thus making humans more prone to serious infections and certain cancers. 

HIV may cause AIDS (stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). It is the final stage of infection with HIV. Not everyone with HIV develops AIDS.

Causes
  • Unprotected sex with an infected person
  • Joint use of syringes, needles and other injection systems
  • The use of non-sterile skin piercing and tattooing tattooing instruments.
  • The use of other people’s razors and tooth brush with blood residue
  • Through contact with the blood of an infected person
  • HIV-positive mothers can infect their babies during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding
  • Treatments including surgery, blood transfusions, injections etc
Symptoms

ACUTE HIV:

  • Headache 
  • Fever
  • Muscle aches and pains
  • Sore throat 
  • Painful mouth sores
  • Diarrhea
  • Cough 
  • Weight loss 
  • Night sweats

SYMPTOMATIC HIV INFECTION:

  • Fatigue 
  • Oral yeast infection
  • Shingles 
  • Pneumonia
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Weight loss
  • Diarrhea
Diagnosis

To diagnose HIV infection your doctor will

  • Take a complete medical history and will also inquire about your recent traveling, if there’s any transplant history, sexual relationship with an infected person, unscreened blood transfusions.
  • Blood test to find antibodies that are made against HIV virus by our immune system. Two blood tests are ordered to test for HIV infection:
  1. ELISA ( it shows the antibodies are present in the blood)
  2. Western blot test (Confirmatory test done after ELISA)
Management

 There is no cure, but there are many medicines that fight HIV infection and lower the risk of infecting others. People who get early treatment can live with the disease for a long time.

When to consult a doctor?
  • If you suspect that you may have come in contact with the virus, consult a doctor right away, the earlier the treatment the better.

Available Medicine for HIV infections

Kaletra 133.3mg

Rs.23000

Abbott Laboratories