HIV & AIDS

For some, the symptoms of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) are mild or non-existent, but for others the symptoms are severe. Symptoms are not a reliable way to diagnose HIV, but if you...

Since the first HIV medication came to market in 1987, people are living longer, more productive lives despite their HIV infection. Scientists and researchers have worked hard to develop new and...

HIV is a virus that attacks the human immune system, causing depletion of T-cells and eventual progression to AIDS. The symptoms of HIV are similar to those of many other conditions and cannot be...

The human immunodeficiency virus, commonly referred to as HIV, attacks the immune system and hinders the body's ability to fight infections. Those infected with HIV may not experience symptoms for...

The incubation period can vary from person to person, depending on how fast the body builds up antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Although symptoms of HIV may not appear for years,...

Antiretroviral medications are used in the management of HIV disease. These medications target HIV at several different points as it infects and makes copies of itself (replicates) within the...

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a chronic disease that severely weakens the immune system, which leaves the body vulnerable to infections and other diseases. Although there are a variety of...

Infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) leads to a weakening of the immune system. When the immune system becomes to weak to fight off infections, fourth-stage HIV disease, or AIDS...

The first antiretroviral drug for use in the treatment of HIV (a retrovirus), was azidothymidine, better known by its acronym AZT. Azidothymidine is also known as zidovudine and is sold under...

SIDA is an acronym used in several countries for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Being infected with HIV is a scary prospect. Testing procedures are not dangerous at all, but if you don't know what to expect, the process of being tested can be just as scary as waiting for the...

AIDS is a disease that is caused by a virus called HIV. HIV is transmitted primarily through unprotected sex and by sharing drug needles, although it can be transmitted in other ways as well. ...

Twitching is one of the many possible symptoms of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), and may occur at any stage of infection with HIV or the...

HIV patients are living longer, healthier lives thanks to advances in the treatment of the disease. While HIV patients should abstain from sex as much as possible, practicing safe sex is paramount...

After infection with HIV, the body develops an immune response to help try to control the virus. HIV tests check for the presence of antibodies to the virus. The time it takes for an individual to...

Although physicians are not sure whether it is caused by HIV medications or other factors, the AIDS virus often leads to high blood pressure. Keeping your blood pressure under control if you have...

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome known as AIDS is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus known as HIV. Currently there is no cure for either HIV or AIDS. There are some effective treatments...

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that destroys white blood cells, called T cells, that help the body fight disease. The virus leads to AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome....

HIV is a chronic, life-threatening disease that has no cure. HIV has continued to spread across the United States since 1981--the year it was discovered in the United States. Since then, proper...

The HIV home test has become a mainstream option for those who do not want to go through the embarrassment of having a doctor or nurse take blood and then be given results in an office setting....

Since its outbreak in the 1980s, AIDS, which has no known cure, has grown into a worldwide epidemic. Although it may remain inactive for years, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) destroys a...

Both HIV disease and the antiretroviral drugs used to manage HIV disease can lead to symptoms like nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, all of which make it difficult for people living...

HIV can be a challenging concept to relate to children. It requires addressing some adult behaviors and also addressing how diseases are (and are not) transmitted. When talking to children about...

HIV infection causes the immune system to become increasingly weak over time; this is because HIV targets and infects cells of the immune system. When host cells are infected, they stop performing...

The second stage of HIV-disease is known as asymptomatic HIV; it follows directly after acute infection, during which time some people develop a brief flu-like illness, but no HIV-specific...

A diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) means that you must take extra care of your health, especially while traveling. When traveling locally or abroad, it is important to take...

As HIV disease advances, people often become increasingly incapable of successfully meeting all of their own medical and other daily needs, making them more and more dependent on their loved ones...

Blood-borne pathogens are disease-causing organisms found in blood, medications made from blood (such as immunoglobulin) and other bodily fluids. Interchange of these fluids can transmit disease...

Receiving an HIV test at the health department is both safe and confidential. Local health departments are sometimes the only options available for professional HIV tests, especially in rural...

Children with HIV are most commonly exposed to the virus in the womb, during birth, or while breastfeeding. Routine testing and observation of children born to HIV-positive mothers are used to...

Anemia is a common disorder that is caused by a lower than normal red blood count. According to the Mayo Clinic, red blood cells carry oxygen to tissue, which is necessary for energy and...

A non-reactive HIV test means that HIV was not found in that testing sample. This test result is commonly referred to as "negative," although a person who tests negative for HIV may nevertheless...

Most blood tests only screen for one or a very limited number of factors. A blood test not specifically intended to screen for HIV cannot be used to find or diagnose infection with the virus.

The methods of treatment for HIV/AIDS are numerous, depending on how the virus has progressed in one's body. Different antiretroviral drugs have different side effects on different people, and...

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is transmitted through blood after contact with an infected person or contaminated needle, and it is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome...

As the battle against HIV and AIDS continues to rage, there has emerged an often overlooked demographic that consists of people who are paranoid about contracting the disease. HIV and AIDS panic...

The AIDS epidemic began in the early 1980's when there were no viable treatments for HIV infection. Advances in HIV research have led to the development of a number of drugs that can be used to...

Children can contract HIV from their mothers prenatally, during birth, or during breastfeeding. Because of the early age at which children can begin developing HIV symptoms, they must be treated...

According to the Mayo Clinic's website, approximately 39.5 million individuals worldwide have the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. HIV causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, known as...

HIV infection is managed primarily through the use of anti-retroviral medications. These medications target HIV at different stages as it infects and replicates within host cells. The goal of...

HIV testing is a non-invasive and brief procedure that can be performed on blood, oral fluid (which is not the same as saliva) or urine. HIV tests are very accurate, but only if performed within...

HIV-positive people should take a number of different steps to maintain their immune health as well as their overall health. In addition to managing the effects of HIV by taking antiretroviral...

Most tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screen for the presence of antibodies to the virus, which indicate that the immune system has launched a defense against HIV. HIV testing is...

HIV/AIDS is a major health problem that affects people all around the world. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, while AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. HIV causes AIDS.

Your body uses digestive enzymes to break down the nutrients from your foods. Without adequate digestive enzymes, it becomes difficult for your body to take full advantage of the nutrients and...

A child who has been exposed to HIV faces a long road of chronic and acute illnesses and constant medication. His immune system has been compromised and his body is vulnerable to attack by...

Treatment options were scarce when the AIDS epidemic began in 1984, but several treatment options have been developed since then. The original treatments developed for HIV are still in use, and...

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, also known as HIV, is the precursor of one of the deadly diseases known to man: AIDS. Once infected, HIV attacks the T4 cells in the immune system. The T4 cells are...