History and management of HIV and AIDS
Sexually transmitted diseases and infections are not a joke. A lot of the struggle that doctors face when trying to combat and care for people experiencing these STDs/STIs is early detection (that means getting tested) and stigma. In the early 1980s, when rare types of pneumonia, cancer, and other illnesses were being reported to doctors, the world became aware of HIV (Human immunodeficiency viruses) and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
History and Understanding AIDS
The disease was initially called Gay-Related Immune Deficiency (GRID) because it is thought it only affects gay men. Doctors struggled to combat the disease and it was soon discovered that women can be infected with AIDS through heterosexual sex or the exchange of blood and that HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids that include, blood, semen, vaginal and rectal fluids, and breast milk. In 1987 The U.S. The Food & Drug Administration approved the first antiretroviral drug, AZT.
HIV inserts itself into the DNA of cells, it’s a lifelong condition and although there is currently no drug that eliminates HIV from the body, with medical care, it's possible to manage HIV and live with the virus for many years. Without treatment, a person with HIV is likely to develop AIDS and the immune system becomes too weak to fight off diseases, infections, and conditions.
Safety, Protections, Early Detection
It is estimated that approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV. About 13 percent of them don’t know it and need testing. According to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 34,800 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2019. If HIV is found and treated early with antiretroviral therapy, a person will usually not develop AIDS. People living with HIV can develop AIDS sooner without proper and consistent treatment. Healthline states that the symptoms of AIDS can include:
recurrent fever
chronic swollen lymph glands, especially of the armpits, neck, and groin
chronic fatigue
night sweats
dark splotches under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids
sores, spots, or lesions of the mouth and tongue, genitals, or anus
bumps, lesions, or rashes of the skin
recurrent or chronic diarrhea
rapid weight loss
neurologic problems such as trouble concentrating, memory loss, and confusion
anxiety and depression
infections and complications of AIDS can also be treated. That treatment must be tailored to the individual needs of the person. Without proper and consistent treatment, people living with HIV can develop AIDS sooner. HIV testing is for EVERYONE who is sexually active.
If you find that both you and your partner have HIV, you should still wear condoms. “Since there are different strains (types) of HIV, you can be infected a second time with a different type than what you already have. Some forms of HIV are also more virulent, meaning they progress to AIDS faster. You could become infected with a drug-resistant strain of HIV. This can make it very hard for treatment to work.” [1]
What’s Next?
So you got tested and found out that you are HIV positive. What do you do now? The first step is making an appointment with your doctor. They will test to see how well your immune system is working and how healthy your body is overall. During this visit, be sure to ask them any questions you may have. Your doctor is there for you.
Being sure to receive HIV medication as soon as possible is integral to making sure you can live the rest of your life as healthily as possible.
[1] - https://www.womenshealth.gov/hiv-and-aids/hiv-and-aids-basics/facts-about-hiv-and-aids