What is HIV and How to Tell If You Have It

HIV, short for human immunodeficiency virus, is the infection that causes AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. If you have HIV this does not mean that you have AIDS itself. HIV works by attacking the body's immune system weakening the body's ability to fight off disease until eventually the body can no longer fight off disease and it's victim has full blown AIDS.

Symptoms of HIV are: mouth sores, tiredness, swollen glands, lung infections, severe weight loss, skin infections, chronic diarrhea, fever and/or night sweats. However, there are usually no symptoms at all in the beginning stages of HIV. Symptoms can take months or even years before appearing in it's victims.

The HIV virus is transmitted through the blood or other body fluids of infected individuals such as semen, vaginal discharge and breast milk. Although, most people contract the disease from sexual intercourse and using dirty needles a mother could pass on the virus to her unborn child or through breastfeeding her baby. Also, there still exists a very small risk of infection through blood transfusions. People who are at a greater risk of contracting HIV are gay or bisexual men, IV drug users as well as anyone (straight or gay) with multiple sex partners.

Early detection is vital in helping stop the spread of HIV as well as slowing down further damage to the immune system caused by the virus. Because there are usually no symptom in the first stages of HIV most people don't even know that they have it. Some continue having sex, spreading the disease to others without even knowing that they are infected. There is no known cure for HIV or AIDS, but there are medicines that doctors can prescribe that will help slow down the virus.

If you think that you have been exposed to HIV or if you are at a greater risk of contracting HIV you should be tested right away. HIV tests are done by obtaining a blood sample. Once the blood sample is taken the blood is examined for antibodies that are given off by patients infected with HIV. These antibodies are produced in the body's attempt to fight off the virus.

A positive test result means that you have HIV but not necessarily full blown AIDS. A negative test result means that you do not have the virus. However, if you have the virus your body can take from two weeks to six months to produce the antibodies. If the first test is negative and you feel that you have been exposed or are at high risk, you should have the test done again in six months. If you test positive for the virus, tell everyone you have had sex with so that they can be tested.

Because there is no known cure for HIV or AIDS it can be a scary topic for some. The disease is not spread through touching, talking or breathing the same air as someone infected by the HIV or AIDS virus. Also, you can not contract the virus from mosquito bites, toilets, sharing dishes or donating blood.