What Is AIDS? How Is It Diagnosed?

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, known as AIDS, is a disease that develops as a result of the chronic progression of HIV infection. HIV, which enters the body through various routes, is a retrovirus that destroys white blood cells. Called the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV infects and destroys T lymphocytes, which are immune cells. In the early stages of infection, the infected body may show no symptoms or may develop flu-like symptoms. HIV, which has 2 subtypes, can gradually progress if left untreated and lead to the development of AIDS months or years later.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, for which there is no definitive cure, can be managed by alleviating and controlling HIV infection. There are treatments that prevent transmission and allow a return to normal life. These antiretroviral therapies (ART) can prevent the virus from replicating in the blood and lead to a drop in viral load. People with no measurable amount of HIV in their blood have a low viral load. Reducing the viral load may indicate that HIV treatment is producing positive results and that HIV transmission has been minimized.

What Is AIDS?

AIDS is a health problem that results from a weakened immune system due to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infecting and destroying the body’s white blood cells. HIV, which enters the body through bodily fluids, targets CD4 white blood cells and threatens the immune system. It can enter CD4 cells and alter their DNA structure. It infects white blood cells and can begin to kill them. In this way, more HIV spreads in the blood. The spreading viruses can target new CD4 cells and expand their mechanism of action. The number of white blood cells infected with HIV may increase, while the number of healthy immune cells may decrease. As the number of CD4 cells, the body’s natural defense cells, decreases, the body may become open to new infections. These infections are called “opportunistic infections.” Infections caused by fungi and bacteria, certain types of cancer, and tuberculosis are among opportunistic infections.

CD4 white blood cells can provide general information about the body’s immune system. CD4 cells can be checked to evaluate the progression of HIV. The CD4 level in the blood should be 500-1500 cells/mm3, and untreated HIV can lower these levels. A cell count falling below 200 cells/mm3 may indicate that HIV infection is progressing and the immune system has been damaged. In this case, the body may become vulnerable to infections and a life-threatening situation may arise.

How Is It Diagnosed?

HIV infection can be diagnosed in 3 ways. The presence of HIV can be detected by examining blood and saliva samples in a laboratory. The tests used in diagnosis may include the following.

Antibody Tests: This is the fastest test performed and one that gives its own result. It aims to detect antibodies against HIV that have formed in the body in blood and saliva samples. Antibodies in blood drawn from a vein can be detected more quickly than those in saliva and fingertip samples.

Antigen/Antibody Tests: Usually performed by examining blood samples drawn from a vein. It aims to detect HIV antigen and the antibodies produced against the virus in the blood. Tests that can give quick results from a blood sample taken from a fingertip are also available.

Nucleic Acid Test (NAT): May be applied to individuals who are thought to have recently been exposed to HIV, who show early HIV symptoms, and whose other HIV tests are negative. With the blood sample taken, it can provide information about whether HIV is present in the person’s circulation and, if so, at what level.

Tests performed with self-collected blood samples or blood samples taken from a fingertip may take an average of 20-30 minutes. Results of NAT and antigen/antibody tests may take several days.

How Do We Know Whether Someone Has AIDS?

AIDS can be considered the advanced stage of HIV infection. The development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome may be silent, or mild symptoms may appear in the early stages. However, the only way to know whether HIV infection, which causes AIDS, is present is to get tested. HIV may not always show obvious symptoms. However, different symptoms can occur in different people. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which typically consists of 3 stages, may produce different reactions depending on the stage the person is in.

When an HIV test is positive, antiretroviral therapy must be started. With antiretroviral therapy (ART), the viral load can be reduced and the risk of HIV transmission to other people can be decreased. In addition, ART can make returning to normal life easier and can extend average life expectancy. If the HIV test is negative, there are practices that help prevent transmission and the development of HIV infection. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), medications taken after sexual intercourse with an infected person or after sharing the same injection (PEP), and HIV medications taken after a possible exposure to prevent the virus from establishing itself in the body may be counted among preventive measures.

How Is It Transmitted?

HIV is a retrovirus that is transmitted through various fluids in the body. HIV can be transmitted when body fluids are shared between people. The routes that enable HIV transmission may be the following:

Blood,

Vaginal fluid, seminal fluid and semen,

Rectal fluid,

Breast milk.

Unprotected vaginal or anal sexual intercourse, shared use of drug injection equipment, sharing needles used for tattooing and piercing, a needle used on an HIV-infected person pricking another person, childbirth and breastfeeding may enable the transmission of body fluids between people. Transmission of HIV from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth and through breast milk is known as perinatal HIV transmission. HIV is not transmitted by hugging, shaking hands or touching. Unless there is a cut or wound on the skin, HIV cannot spread through contact. HIV is not transmitted through shared dining plates, forks and spoons, toilets, door handles, or similar items. HIV does not spread through air or water, and it also cannot be spread by mosquito or insect bites.

What Are the Symptoms?

In a new HIV case, flu-like symptoms may begin within the first 2-4 weeks. This period, called the acute infection stage, may last for several weeks. Symptoms that may occur at this stage include:

High fever,

Headache,

Skin rash,

Joint and muscle pain,

Swollen lymph nodes in areas such as the neck and groin.

Testing is always recommended during the acute HIV stage, which is often confused with a cold or flu. After the acute stage, HIV infection may continue to progress silently in the clinical latent stage. During this period, generally no symptoms may be seen. The final stage of HIV may show serious symptoms as a result of the weakening of the immune system:

Unwanted and sudden weight loss,

High persistent fever,

Chronic diarrhea,

Fatigue or exhaustion,

Night sweats,

Thrush in the mouth,

Lung inflammation.

Advanced HIV may lead to memory problems and depression, and may cause sores in various parts of the body. If several or all of these symptoms appear, be sure to consult your doctor.

Is There a Definitive Treatment?

There is no definitive cure for HIV or AIDS. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is recommended for everyone infected with HIV. The aim of ART is to prevent HIV from being copied and multiplying in the blood, to reduce the viral load, and to support the immune system. Reducing the viral load can be achieved by keeping the amount of virus in the blood at levels so low that it cannot be detected. In this way, the risk of the virus spreading to other people can be reduced and the virus can be kept under control. ART cannot definitively cure HIV, but it can improve living conditions.

Antiretroviral therapy includes combinations of medications that must be taken regularly every day. Medications may come in the form of pills or injections. Treatments that combine several drugs into a single capsule or tablet are also available. Each drug group may act on the virus through a different mechanism. Antiretroviral therapy should be started for every person infected with HIV, regardless of which symptoms are present or which stage they are in.

Frequently Asked Questions

AIDS is a health problem that, in addition to being advanced HIV infection, is open to the development of opportunistic infections. In this case, the immune system may become weak and pose a life-threatening risk. You can read the rest of the article to see the questions most frequently asked about HIV infection and AIDS. The risk of HIV transmission may be high primarily among young people aged 13-24. Especially with shared drug injection use, HIV transmission rates may be higher among transgender, gay, or bisexual men. However, individuals of any age group who engage in unprotected sexual intercourse or who are injured by a cutting or piercing instrument contaminated with an infected person’s blood may become exposed to HIV. In advanced HIV cases, the risk of serious infection may increase. It may result in the development of certain types of cancer and may be life-threatening. In this case, hospitalization may generally be necessary. The health problems brought on by AIDS can negatively affect quality of life and may shorten average life expectancy. For this reason, the underlying cause may need to be treated. The human immunodeficiency virus may be present at high levels in the blood of infected people. Other body fluids such as saliva, tears, genital fluids, and breast milk may contain HIV. Transmission occurs most easily through blood. In addition, genital secretions and breast milk can be rapid routes of transmission. The increase in transmission risk may depend on the amount of virus in the body, the duration of contact, and the antigen structure of the person in contact. During pregnancy, during childbirth, or while breastfeeding, HIV may be transmitted from mother to baby. For this reason, prospective mothers must definitely take antiretroviral therapy. In mothers who take antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy, when the viral load becomes undetectable, the risk of HIV transmission to the baby through breastfeeding may fall below 1%. However, this risk always exists, though it can be reduced with treatment. People who carry HIV cannot clear the virus from their body and must take ART regularly every day. For this reason, it is important to take certain measures to protect against HIV/AIDS.

Using a condom during anal or vaginal intercourse,

Limiting the number of sexual partners,

Not sharing drug injection equipment,

Getting tested in risky situations,

Ensuring treatment of other existing sexually transmitted diseases

may be among the ways of prevention.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a risky condition that destroys the body’s defense system. Do not neglect your checks against the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission. HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment are carried out at Hisar Hospital.