Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a disease that weakens the immune system by attacking white blood cells, leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the most advanced stage of the disease. HIV is transmitted through infected body fluids such as blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal fluids. ART is an effective treatment to prevent HIV from progressing to AIDS, and it can also prevent transmission of the virus. However, advanced HIV disease is defined as CD4 cell count less than 200cells/mm3 or WHO stage 3 or 4 in adults and adolescents, and all children with HIV younger than 5 years of age are considered to have advanced HIV disease.
The symptoms of HIV vary depending on the stage of infection. In the early stage, some may experience an influenza-like illness with fever, headache, rash, and sore throat. Other symptoms that appear as the infection progresses include swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, fever, diarrhea, and cough. Without treatment, HIV can also cause severe illnesses such as tuberculosis, cryptococcal meningitis, and cancers.
HIV can be transmitted through the exchange of various body fluids from infected individuals, but it is not transmitted through ordinary day-to-day contact such as hugging or sharing food. People at greater risk of contracting HIV include other sexually transmitted infections, engage in harmful use of alcohol and drugs, share contaminated needles or drug solutions, receive unsafe injections or blood transfusions, or experience accidental needle stick injuries.
HIV can be diagnosed through rapid diagnostic tests that provide same-day results, but confirmatory testing is required to provide a full HIV positive diagnosis. HIV infection can be detected with great accuracy using WHO prequalified tests within a nationally approved testing strategy and algorithm. Antiretroviral drugs, including oral PrEP and long-acting products, dapivirine vaginal rings, and injectable long-acting cabotegravir, can help prevent HIV, and ART can prevent transmission from an infected person to their sexual partners.
While there is no cure for HIV, ART can stop the virus from replicating in the body, strengthen the immune system, and prevent other infections from occurring. It is important to seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent HIV from progressing to AIDS.
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