| back to previous page |

HIV (more information)

Overview

Often times HIV and AIDS are confused to be the same thing. HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system. When your immune system is attacked and weakened you are less able to fight off other infections and cancers. AIDS occurs when the immune system is weakened enough for opportunistic infections, other infections and cancers, to attack the immune system. The HIV virus attacks the white blood cells such as T-cells, which are responsible for fighting diseases. The most common type of HIV in the US is HIV-1. Since HIV-1 is common in the US more often than not only testing for HIV-1 is done. There is a 60-90% chance that HIV-2 will be detected if present when testing for HIV-1. HIV-1 is also found in Europe. HIV-2 is found mostly in West African Nations.

The lower the T-cell count becomes the weaker the immune system. A normal T-cell count is anywhere from 500-1500 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. The T-cell blood count in the presence of HIV can be as low as zero. Once the count goes down to 200 there is an increased risk of opportunistic infections occurring.

The viral load count measures the amount of HIV in a drop of blood. If only a small amount is present, less than 50-200 copies of the HIV virus, the test cannot detect the HIV virus. The test will be negative even though the person has the virus. The viral load test is still used despite the fact that the test has not been approved by the FDA. The viral load tests can yield a false positive and you will have to undergo ELISA or the Western Blot test. The HIV virus spreads by attacking cells and replicating within that one cell. Once the virus kills that cell it moves on to other cells and repeats the same process.

Causes of HIV

HIV is the leading killer among African American men ages 25 to 44, and the third among men of Hispanic decent in the same age group. There are many misconceptions about how someone becomes HIV+. Some of the more common ones are that you can contract the disease from a bug bite, or touching, hugging or kissing someone that is HIV+. Some other myths about HIV are that you can catch HIV from simply being in the same public place as someone that is HIV+, or by sharing public restrooms, telephones, clothing, utensils and drinking glasses. It's been proven in studies that you cannot contract the disease through saliva. There is, however, a small amount of the virus present in tears. You also cannot contract the disease by eating food that was prepared or served by and HIV+ individual. You can contract the disease from unprotected sex. The leading cause of contracting HIV among African American men is sexual intercourse with other men. Because of this fact the rate of women contracting HIV is increasing because the leading cause for women catching the virus is heterosexual intercourse. Men also contract the disease by having sex with women. The second most common way to become HIV+ is drug use, or sharing needles. Procedures that we feel are quite safe, like getting a tattoo, can prove to be life altering in more than one way if not performed with sterile equipment and supplies. If a tattoo artist uses the same needle on you that had been used on another customer it is possible that HIV can be transferred to you if the other person was HIV+.

Prevention

There are various ways to protect yourself to ensure that you will not contract HIV. Since the most common way of catching the disease is through sexual intercourse, not having sex is the only 100% safe method of preventing the transmission of the disease. Always use a condom or some other barrier to stop from exchanging bodily fluids during sexual intercourse is mandatory if you are having sex. It is a good idea to discuss your partner's sexual history to insure that you aren't at risk to becoming HIV+. If you are unsure about their sexual history it is a good idea to be tested. Remember a negative test result does not mean that they or you have never been infected. Shared and or reused needles and syringes to inject drugs, steroids, body piercing, tattooing, or for any other reason is also a way to become HIV+. Another way to avoid the possibility of becoming HIV+ is to avoid coming in contact with the blood or secretions of an HIV+ individual.

Symptoms

There are no immediate symptoms of the HIV virus. After approximately two to four weeks you may start to see flu like symptoms. The flu like symptoms include but are not limited to: fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, diarrhea, and fatigue or rash. In some rare instances these symptoms will appear after a few days. The symptoms will normally go away after a week or two so they are often written off as nothing but the flu and are not checked out by a doctor.

Diagnosis

As a rule of thumb you should get tested for HIV every three months if you are sexually active, especially if you've had three or more partners in the past twelve months. To determine your HIV status there are a number of tests used. One test used is the ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This test was the first test developed and is used most frequently for the initial detection of HIV. The test is done by drawing blood from a vein, normally in the arm. If the test results come back positive the ELISA is repeated to ensure that the test didn't give a false positive. If the test comes back positive a second time then a Western blot test is administered. If the two ELISA and the Western Blot are positive then the diagnosis of HIV is confirmed and the results are sent back to the health care professional who ordered the tests. The doctor or nurse that ordered the testing for you will go over the results with you and provide you with more information about counseling opportunities. It takes one to two weeks for the results to come in.

It is advised that you wait at least three months, thirteen weeks, after your last possible exposure to the virus before being tested. Getting tested before the thirteen week period may result in unclear results from the test or a false negative. To get test results quicker there is the option of Rapid testing, from which the results are available in ten to sixty minutes. The blood is drawn from a prick of the finger and the ELISA method is used. If the results are positive the blood is then sent to a lab to undergo the Western Blot test, to assure that it wasn't a false positive. For even quicker results the Reveal Rapid HIV-1 Antibody test results are available in three minutes. The Oraquick Rapid HIV-1 Antibody test is also a fast method of obtaining results. The results of this test are available after twenty minutes. This test was approved by the FDA in November of 2002 and provides the results with 99.6% accuracy.

The Health and Wellness Center offers periodic HIV testing. For information about the test dates you should visit the health and wellness center. The testing done at the Wellness Center is anonymous and confidential. They use oral testing. When you go for a test you are called back into a room with just you and the person administering the test. The person explains the procedure and takes a sample of your saliva. They then hand you a card that has your identification number on it and they explain what the number is for and tell you when the results should be available to you. On the day that you go to pick up your results you must have the card with your number on it to make sure that you receive the proper results. The Wellness Center staff takes you into a room to privately discuss the results with you. If your results are positive they will inform you of your options and give you information about counseling and support.

For those that would prefer to undergo testing in the privacy of their own homes there are kits available with instructions. The only kit approved by the FDA is The Home Access HIV-1 Test System. These kits can be found at most pharmacies or the manufacturer can be contacted, via phone or via the internet, at 1-800-448-8378 and www.homeaccess.com. When the test has been administered you mail the card into a lab and the results can be obtained after seven business days, not including Sundays and holidays. You may also choose to undergo urine testing instead of giving blood. These tests take one to two weeks. In the US the average time between becoming infected with HIV and the development of AIDS is ten years. Frequent HIV testing followed by timely evaluation, counseling, and treatment if your test is positive, may prolong or delay the onset or development of AIDS. Don't Delay!

Complications

As with any illness or disease there are some complications or side effects. One of the most drastic changes that occur physically is lipodystrophy. Lipodystrophy is defined to be abnormal fat changes. There can be an increase in the amount of fat around the gut and/or the back of the neck and shoulders. The abdomen will look bloated or descended and often feels hard. Men are more likely to see a decrease in the amount of fat in their legs, arms, buttocks, and face. It is unknown which one of the anti-HIV drugs is most likely to cause the problem. Some researchers believe that protease inhibitors can impair the ability of certain enzymes responsible for mopping up excess fat and keeping fat cells functional. Some nucleoside reverse transciptase inhibitors can impair the mitochondria, which may explain some of the side effects of the drug, peripheral neuropathy, pancreatitis, and leucopenia.

Treatment

There are three different types of drugs that are used to treat HIV. The first are Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors. Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors prevent healthy cells from being infected with the virus. The next type of drugs are Protease Inhibitors, which are responsible for prohibiting T-cells that have been infected by the virus from producing new copies of the virus. The third and final type of drugs is labeled as Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors. These drugs also prevent healthy cells from being infected. The drugs are used in different combinations until a combination that best fits the needs of the patient is found.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Am I really at risk for catching HIV?

A: You are at risk for HIV if you participate in risky behaviors. There is information readily available on HIV with the latest and most up to date information about HIV and how it is transmitted (see causes of HIV). HIV is a big health problem especially among minorities and the rates of contracting the disease are rising and will continue to do so if the same behaviors continue.

Q: Can I catch HIV from oral sex?

A: Yes it is possible to catch HIV from unprotected oral sex but there is a higher risk of being infected with HIV through anal or vaginal sex. Oral sex accounted for 8% of the transmission of HIV from men to men in a study done by the National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention.

Q: If I have been infected with the HIV virus, should I begin treatment "early", before T-cell count drops below 350?

A: Some experts believe that you should start early, before the T-cell count shows signs of immune system damage. Others argue that starting therapy early isn't any better than starting later. These same experts, which feel starting early isn't beneficial, say that you should wait until the T-call count has fallen below 350.

| back to previous page | top of page |