HIV Infection

HIV is a virus that attacks immune cells and is managed with ongoing antiretroviral treatment and regular clinical follow-up.

Without treatment, the virus can weaken the immune system over time. With consistent care, clinicians can monitor the virus, support immune health, and help people plan safely for relationships, pregnancy, travel, and other parts of life.

Some people develop a flu-like illness soon after acquiring HIV, while others have no symptoms for some time. Fatigue, night sweats, swollen glands, frequent infections, and unintentional weight loss are common presentations of HIV infection. None of these symptoms can confirm HIV by themselves.

A new rash with fever, persistent fever, severe headache, breathlessness, confusion, or marked weakness should be assessed promptly. Urgency comes from how unwell a person is and the symptom pattern, not from guessing the cause.

HIV can pass through certain body fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk, when they reach another person's bloodstream or mucous membranes. Transmission can occur through sex without effective prevention, sharing injecting equipment, pregnancy or breastfeeding without appropriate care, or exposure to contaminated blood.

It does not spread through hugging, sharing food or cutlery, coughing, toilet seats, or insect bites.

HIV may have an early stage with symptoms, followed by a period with few or no noticeable changes. Ongoing viral activity can gradually reduce immune function if untreated. Monitoring looks at the amount of virus in the blood and the health of immune cells, alongside overall wellbeing.

Testing is sensible after sex where HIV prevention was not used or failed, sharing injecting equipment, a needlestick injury, or a diagnosis of another sexually transmitted infection. Testing can also be considered with a new partner, during pregnancy, or when symptoms and exposure history make it appropriate. A recent exposure may require a repeat test at a time advised by a clinician.

HIV is diagnosed with a blood test or another approved test sample. A reactive screening result is followed by confirmatory testing. The timing of possible exposure matters because tests detect infection at different stages, so a clinician may recommend repeat testing after a recent exposure.

Testing is confidential within the limits of local healthcare practice. A sexual health service can discuss consent, results, partner notification, and support before and after testing.

HIV treatment uses antiretroviral medicines that work by stopping the virus from making copies of itself. Treatment is tailored to the person, including their other medicines, medical conditions, and pregnancy plans. Taking it consistently is central to keeping the virus controlled.

Clinical reviews include blood tests and a conversation about side effects, adherence, mental wellbeing, and practical barriers to taking medicine. Do not change or stop antiretroviral treatment without medical advice.

A diagnosis can bring practical and emotional questions. Specialist teams can help with treatment routines, disclosure decisions, contraception, pregnancy planning, vaccination, and support services. Keeping a current medication list and discussing new prescriptions, supplements, or recreational drugs can help prevent interactions.

When immune function becomes very low, infections and some cancers can occur more easily or be more severe. Tuberculosis is one infection that clinicians may consider in someone with HIV, depending on symptoms and individual exposure. Regular treatment and monitoring aim to protect immune function.

Prevention can include condoms, not sharing injecting equipment, testing with partners, and discussing preventive medicines with a sexual health clinician when appropriate. After a possible exposure, seek urgent clinical advice because time-sensitive preventive treatment may be available. Care during pregnancy and breastfeeding can substantially reduce transmission risk with a specialist plan.

Sexual health services, infectious diseases clinicians, and HIV specialist teams provide testing, treatment, and follow-up. If you are worried about a recent exposure, contact an urgent care or sexual health service promptly and explain when it happened.