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There are no symptoms of HIV infection in most people. Some might experience Acute HIV Syndrome 3-6 weeks after exposure. These flu-like symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, tiredness, diarrhea and enlarged lymph nodes.

It takes approximately 6 weeks for production of antibodies for the standard HIV antibody test results to be considered accurate. The ELIZA test is an HIV antibody test that is very sensitive. The Western Blot is a HIV-specific confirmation test done with ELIZA sometimes. Results take 5-10 days. The OraSure test is a combination of the ELIZA and western blotting tests done on oral swab. A Rapid Test/OraQuick is a pinprick test where preliminary results are available in 30 minutes.

Treating HIV can be done with Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART): Entry Inhibitors, Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Nucleoside, Non-Nucleoside, Nucleotide), and Protease Inhibitors.

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is caused by the virus HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). AIDS is characterized by destruction of T-helper cells or CD4 lymphocytes by the virus resulting in increasing suppression of the immune system giving way to various opportunistic infections which might be fatal. An HIV positive person can live up to 8-10 years before developing AIDS.

Modes of transfer:

• Through body fluids: semen, vaginal fluids, blood and breast milk
• Unsafe use of needles
• From infected mother to child (before or during parturition or by breast milk)
• Unsterilized equipment used in hospitals