What is HIV?
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If left untreated, HIV leads to AIDS.
What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which is the final stage of untreated HIV infection. It is a severely immunocompromised condition caused by HIV that can be life-threatening.
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV is transmitted through the exchange of certain bodily fluids between people, namely infected blood, semen, vaginal and anal secretions, and breast milk. The most common routes of transmission are during unprotected sex, through the exchange of drug needles and from mother to child.
Who is at risk of HIV infection?
HIV can happen to anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, gender or age. Due to certain risk factors, some groups are at higher risk for HIV infection. In Serbia, it is men who have sex with men.
How to protect yourself from HIV and AIDS?
The most effective strategies are: get tested for HIV together with your partner, use a condom with every sexual relationship, and do not share needles for drug use. HIV prevention therapy (PrEP and PEP) is also an option.
What are the symptoms of HIV?
HIV can cause flu-like symptoms during the first 2-4 weeks after infection. Until the appearance of serious and life-threatening diseases in the last stage of HIV infection (AIDS), ten or more years may pass without symptoms.
How is HIV diagnosed?
HIV is most often diagnosed with blood tests. For the test result to be reliable, 45 days have to pass from the potential infection (window period). For rapid tests, this period extends to 90 days. Every positive test result must be confirmed by other laboratory tests.
How is HIV treated?
Treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy (ART) and is recommended for anyone diagnosed. It is a combination of HIV drugs that strongly suppress the virus to an immeasurable level. People with immeasurable viral load can live a quality, unshorten life span and cannot transmit HIV sexually.
Is HIV curable?
Currently, there is no effective way to cure or completely eliminate HIV. Once a person gets HIV, they have it for life.