What is HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)?

HIV or the human immunodeficiency virus can cause disease that can be serious if untreated or the person does not seek medical cure. When I first evaluate someone who has positive results from the ELISA and the Western Blot, I also note the condition of their immune system by measuring a type of white blood cell, called a T Cell or CD4 cell. I also measure the amount of virus in their blood or a viral load. This helps me determine the need for medication. Some people have a genetic makeup that they are slow progressors and do not need medications or antiretrovirals. Persons who are positive and have a low CD4 count and high viral load are prescribed antiretrovirals. I have seen many persons turn around and live quality lives once the virus is treated. HIV should be considered a  chronic disease where you take medications to control the symptoms just like hypertension or diabetes. So yes it can be serious if untreated, uncontrolled or there is lack of medical care, otherwise, there is no reason why someone who is positive cannot live with the disease and have good quality of life.

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a life-threatening virus that is spread by sexual contact, mother to infant transmission or infected blood contact. There is no cure, but medications are available that help slow the progression of the disease.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that potentially causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). HIV primarily attacks the immune defense system, making the patient extremely vulnerable to opportunistic infections, which are infections that occur in people who have weakened immune systems.

HIV is transmitted from person to person via bodily fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. Therefore, it can be transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person, by sharing needles/syringes with someone who is infected, through breastfeeding, during vaginal birth, or, less commonly, through transfusions with infected blood. However, in countries where blood is screened for HIV antibodies, HIV infection is rarely transmitted through blood transfusions. Very low amounts of HIV have been found in saliva and tears in some AIDS patients. However, contact with saliva, tears, or sweat has not been shown to result in HIV transmission.

Currently, there is no cure for HIV/AIDS. However, treatment with anti-HIV drugs, called antiretrovirals, may suppress the virus, which subsequently helps boost the immune system. Although these drugs may help patients live longer lives, they do not reduce the risk of transmitting the disease to someone else.

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HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that destroys the body's ability to fight off infection. HIV causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). It can take up to 10 years or more between HIV infection and the diagnosis of AIDS. People infected with HIV may or may not have symptoms. Some common symptoms are unexplained weight loss, a white coating on the tongue, sore and enlarged glands in the neck, armpits or other parts of the body, persistent fever or cough.

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HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system, the body's natural defense system. Without a strong immune system, the body has trouble fighting off disease.

HIV is treated with medicines that slow or stop the damage to the immune system. If it's not treated, in time HIV will cause AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).