Nonmalignant Dermatologic Diseases of the Male Genitalia

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Signs And Symptoms - Health

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can move through stages: acute HIV (stage 1), clinical latency (stage 2), and AIDS (stage 3). The symptoms of each stage can look different. Those in an early stage of HIV can have flu-like symptoms, while those in an advanced stage can have severe infections.   

HIV affects the immune system's ability to fight infections. You can get HIV or pass HIV to someone through blood, semen and pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluid, vaginal fluid, and breast milk that contains the virus. The virus is transmitted from person to person when these body fluids come into contact with your body's tissue, blood, or broken skin (e.G., open wounds).

The method of transmission of HIV can vary. You may get or pass HIV through:

Perinatal transmission from birth parent to child (i.E., through pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding)

Sharing needles, syringes, and other drug injection equipment

Unprotected vaginal or anal sex

Acute (sudden) HIV starts two to four weeks after you get the virus. Acute HIV is also known as primary HIV. The virus multiplies very quickly in the immune system during this stage. Two-thirds of people in this stage experience flu-like symptoms, while some people don't have symptoms at all. Symptoms in the acute stage can last a few days to several weeks and may include: Chills Fatigue Fever Mouth ulcers Muscle aches Night sweats Rash Sore throat Swollen lymph nodes Symptoms can last a few days to several weeks. Acute-stage HIV symptoms can mimic other conditions, like the flu or common cold. It's important to not assume that you have HIV. You may consider getting tested for the virus if you think you may have been exposed to HIV. The clinical latency stage, or chronic HIV, is the second stage of HIV. The virus continues to multiply but much more slowly than in the acute stage during this stage. You might not experience any symptoms as a result. You can still transmit the virus to someone else even if you have no symptoms if you are not taking any treatment for HIV. People can stay in the clinical latency stage for an average of 10 years without treatment. Symptoms and disease progression vary from person to person. You can move through this stage more quickly or slowly than the average time. You can decrease your viral load (the amount of HIV that you have that you can transmit to someone else) to an undetectable level if you are taking treatments. This stage can last for several decades while you're on treatment. HIV can continue to slowly multiply and weaken your immune system over time and without treatment. This can result in the third and final stage of HIV: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), also known as late-stage HIV. AIDS symptoms include: Colored blotches or patches on or under the skin and inside the mouth, nose, and eyelids Depression Diarrhea that lasts for more than seven days Feeling extremely tired  Memory loss  Pneumonia Rapid weight loss (sometimes called wasting) Recurring fever Sores on the mouth, buttocks, and genitals Swollen lymph nodes in the armpits, neck, and groin that last a long time You may receive an AIDS stage diagnosis if: The number of CD4 cells in your blood falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood (200 cells/mm3). You develop one or more opportunistic infections regardless of how many CD4 cells you have. AIDS symptoms are often related to opportunistic infections (OIs) or an AIDS-defining illness. Certain illnesses occur more frequently and severely in people with AIDS. OIs occur when HIV has caused too much damage to the body's immune system and can no longer fight off infections. Some OIs include:  Taking HIV medications as prescribed can slow disease progression and prevent AIDS. You can live with AIDS for about three years without treatment. Your life expectancy can shorten to one year if you develop an OI and are not taking treatment.  Deciding whether to take treatment or not isn't always a choice. Not everyone has access to necessary healthcare services. This can be due to poverty, lack of insurance, racial disparities in the healthcare system, cultural stigma about HIV, and other factors. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. Knowing your HIV status is a powerful way to help take care of yourself and your partners.  Keep in mind: Don't rely only on symptoms as a way to tell if you are living with HIV. HIV symptoms can mimic other conditions. You might not have any symptoms at all. Reach out to a healthcare provider or local clinic to learn more about testing if you think you may have been exposed to HIV. You can get a test for HIV at a healthcare provider's office, local health department, and family planning clinics, among others. You can also test for HIV at home. Testing is available for free if you have health insurance. Some testing sites still offer tests for free or on a sliding scale based on your income if you do not have insurance. Please visit HIV.Gov's testing overview here for more information about testing. Use the CDC resource here to find an HIV testing site near you.  HIV is a serious and chronic (long-lasting) condition that attacks and destroys CD4 cells in your immune system. HIV can progress through three stages: the acute stage, the clinical latency stage, and the AIDS stage. Your symptoms may change depending on your HIV's current stage.  It's good practice to get tested if you think you may have been exposed to HIV. Testing is the only way you can confirm a diagnosis and rule out other conditions. Thanks for your feedback!

National HIV Testing Day Celebrates 30 Years Of Advocacy

LOS ANGELES - APRIL 28: A motorhome converted into a mobile HIV screening lab by the AIDS ... More Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is parked on a busy street on its first day of operations on April 28, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. The test reports a client's HIV status in only 20 minutes with accuracy reportedly greater than 99 percent using a single drop of blood drawn from the finger. AHF gives same-day counseling and support to walk-in clients who test positive to HIV. Rapid testing solves the problem of large numbers of people not returning for their test results from older methods that take as long as two week to return results. California's multi-billion dollar pornography industry is currently in a voluntary 60-day moratorium following the recent HIV infection of two porn stars who had been in sexual contact with dozens of people in the adult entertainment industry. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

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Since June 27th, 1995, National HIV Testing Day has provided a platform to raise awareness and confront stereotypes about HIV. The theme for 2025's Testing Day is "Level up your self-love: check your status."

What is HIV?

HIV is the acronym for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV can only spread through bodily fluids like breast milk, blood, semen, pre-cum, rectal fluids, and vaginal fluids.

The initial symptoms of HIV resemble many other illnesses: chills, fatigue, fever, swollen lymph nodes, etc. Some people may not know that they are positive for HIV because they may not have noticed any unusual health symptoms. According to 2022 stats published by HIV.Gov, around half the amount of polled young people, ages 13-24, did not know if they were positive for HIV. Around 30% of adults, ages 25-34, from the same poll reported that they also did not know their HIV health status.

If you have contracted HIV but haven't been diagnosed, you may not know that you have the virus, and you may unknowingly transmit the virus to others.

Many medical professionals recommend routine HIV tests, especially for patients who already opt for STI screening. HIV testing can help diagnose an infection as early as possible. This prompt detection can ensure that an HIV-positive person can receive medical treatments to prevent HIV from advancing into AIDS.

A common misconception conflates HIV and AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. While AIDS can have dangerous health complications, an HIV diagnosis is not a death sentence. With medical treatment, people can live for years with HIV without developing AIDS or transmitting the virus to their partners.

There is no current cure for HIV, but the CDC emphasizes that "people with HIV who get on and stay on effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners." Early detection and antiretroviral (ARV) treatment can save lives.

For decades, LGBTQ+ men and transgender individuals have struggled with the stigma of HIV and AIDS. LGBTQ+ men have historically been identified as experiencing a higher risk of potentially coming into contact with HIV. According to the National Institute of Health and the CDC, "adult and adolescent gay, bisexual and other men who reported male-to-male sexual contact accounted for 71% of the new HIV diagnoses" in the U.S. In 2021. The CDC recommends that sexually active gay and bisexual men get tested for HIV at least once a year. With these statistics in mind, readers should note that sexual orientation and gender identity are not inherent risk factors for HIV.

Anyone who experiences anal fissures or vaginal dryness may occasionally notice some minor tearing or bleeding during sex. Friction and pressure can irritate the delicate skin around your genital area. These damaged tissues can increase the risk of transmitting HIV during unprotected sex because bodily fluids may come into contact with your mucus membrane.

While HIV is often transmitted through sexual contact, there are other ways that the virus can spread. Contaminated needles can expose people to HIV. Mothers with HIV may transmit the virus to their children through breastfeeding.

What Are Prevention and Testing Options?

You can lower your risk for HIV and other illnesses by taking the following actions:- Use condoms and dental dams- Use medical-grade, sterile needles- Never share needles with other people, and never inject yourself with a needle someone else has already used- Dispose of medical equipment safely to avoid accidental needle pricks- Get routinely tested for HIV

Condoms are an effective tool for preventing the transmission of HIV because condoms limit your exposure to bodily fluids. According to a study published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, condoms are between 70%-80% effective at preventing the spread of HIV. People who engage in casual unprotected sex or who have multiple sexual partners may consider getting tested every three or six months, depending on their doctors' advice.

If you worry that you may be at risk, you might consider a preventative treatment like Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP. For over ten years, PrEP has helped prevent patients from developing HIV.

If you are interested in testing options, consult with your doctor or your local health department. On National HIV Testing Day, many pharmacies (including participating Walgreens locations across America) offer free rapid HIV tests and other resources.

HIV: Know Its Signs And Symptoms - Onlymyhealth

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a sexually transmitted virus that spreads via contact with bodily fluids such as vaginal secretions or blood. During pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, HIV can be passed from mother to kid. If HIV is not treated, it assaults and damages the immune cells of the human body, weakening the immune system and eventually leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS can be fatal, especially if HIV treatment is not started right away, which is why HIV testing is critical for preserving your health. HIV infection progresses through an earlier stage before developing AIDS: acute HIV, the period immediately following infection. If left untreated, HIV infection evolves into chronic HIV infection.

Some people experience flu-like symptoms during the outset of an HIV infection. Early HIV symptoms typically appear within two to four weeks of infection and can persist anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Acute HIV infection refers to this early stage of the viral infection.

Also read: World AIDS Day 2019: Learn About HIV And The Recent Updates In It

Early Indications Of HIV Infection May Include:

Fever

Headache

Muscular and joint aches and pains

Rashes on the skin

Throat discomfort

Sores in the mouth that are painful

Swollen lymph nodes or glands, especially in the neck region

Diarrhoea

Weight reduction

CoughsSweating at night

Ulcers of the mouth

It's important to remember that such early symptoms might be caused by not only HIV but other health issues too.  If you experience these symptoms, it does not always mean you have HIV—which is why STI testing and meeting with your healthcare physician is important. Healthcare providers can guide you to take the next course of action. 

Fever

If we talk about the initial indication of HIV in an HIV-positive person then fever is at the top of the list since it is one of the most common early indicators of HIV infection. Other early HIV infection symptoms may include fatigue, enlarged lymph glands (or lymph nodes), and a sore throat.

Fatigue

Those who experience fatigue early in their HIV infection may become winded or out of breath when walking or evenw while doing regular chores.

Also read: Are Rashes And Skin Conditions Associated With HIV/AIDS? Explains Dermatologist

Swollen Lymph 

When your body fights infections, swollen lymph nodes form. Lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin might enlarge, causing aches and pains.

Skin Rashes

Skin rashes can arise as both early and later symptoms of HIV. A rash caused by HIV can be itchy, crimson, and unpleasant. In rare situations, the skin rashes resemble itchy boils with pink eruptions. The HIV rash can also manifest as a flat red area on the skin with little pimples.

Coughing And Sore Throat

A painful throat and a strong, dry cough are also possible. If you experience an HIV-related sore throat or other HIV-related symptoms, see a healthcare provider to find out what steps to take next.

Image credit- FreePik

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