Understanding HIV: Causes, Symptoms, and Management
This article explores the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for HIV. It explains how HIV affects the immune system, modes of transmission, and available modern therapies to manage the virus effectively. Understanding these key points can help in prevention and early intervention, ultimately improving quality of life for infected individuals.
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is present in bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk from an infected individual. Without treatment, HIV can progress over years into AIDS, severely weakening the immune system. The virus primarily spreads through shared bodily fluids, not casual contact. HIV compromises immunity by reducing CD4 T cells, leading to increased vulnerability to opportunistic infections. The two main HIV strains are HIV-1, the most prevalent worldwide, and HIV-2, mostly found in West Africa. Preventative measures include safe sex practices, screening blood supplies, and avoiding contaminated needles. Symptoms include flu-like illness, persistent fever, fatigue, lymph node swelling, and mouth lesions. Treatment utilizes antiretroviral medications such as protease inhibitors, entry inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and reverse transcriptase blockers to control viral replication and improve immune health.
