HIV COMPRHENSIVE DIAGNOSIS

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HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)

• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
• There is no complete cure. Once a person gets HIV, he will be HIV positive for life.
• With proper medical care, HIV infection can be managed. HIV infected people may survive for long period with proper medication, altered life style and healthy practices.
• There are two major HIV viruses i.e. HIV1 and HIV2 with many subtypes among each.
• HIV1 is present in majority of HIV infected persons across the world

Symptoms

• Fever, Sore throat, Night sweats, Mouth ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, Chills, Fatigue, Rash, Muscle aches etc.
• HIV infection is manifested by drastic decrease in T helper cells (CD4 cells) in immune system and increased number of HIV RNA copies in blood and body fluids.
• Due to immunosuppression, the HIV infected are often susceptible to other viral or bacterial infections easily.

Stages of HIV

• Window period – Time between exposure to HIV virus and manifestation of immune response by way producing HIV antibodies (sero conversion)
• Acute Infection – Large amount of HIV in their blood and are very contagious.
• Chronic Infection – Body contains active HIV virus but symptoms are not conspicuous. The affected persons can transmit the virus to others
• AIDS – Aquired Immunodeficiency Disease – If infected person left untreated, leads to critical stage of infection with drastic down fall of immune system. They can easily get other infections (immunocompromised)

Diagnosis of HIV

• HIV can be diagnosed at different stages of infection like window period, acute state, chronic stage, post infection monitoring etc.
• Rarely some HIV patients during treatment may develop resistance to certain drugs. The mutations responsible for drug resistance can be detected and alternative drugs can be advised.

WHO Guidelines

• Check the guidelines laid down by World Health Organization on HIV prevention, testing, treatment, service delivery and monitoring: recommendations for a public health approach.