what are the physical symptoms of testing positive for hiv. and if you test positive do you have aids?

4 Comments

1. al_0412 says:

   March 9, 2010 at 8:21 pm

   No, if you test positive for HIV it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have AIDS. And testing positive doesn’t necessarily give you symptoms.

   The Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks the white blood cells, which normally help the body in fighting off infections. When you’re first exposed to HIV, your body creates an immune response by producing antibodies, in an attempt to fight off the virus. Part of HIV testing involve the detection of these antibodies- a positive result means that you have antibodies, and that you have been exposed to the virus. But it doesn’t mean that the virus has done anything to you. Yet.

   In most cases, when a person first "catch" HIV, they get no symptoms or only mild symptoms that is similar to a cold/flu, occasionally with a skin rash, diarrhea, abdominal pain. But the symptoms are vague and often mild, and you may not have noticed them or have associated them with a HIV infection.

   After this "initial" phase, infected people become completely symptom-free. The HIV virus sits in the body and affects the white cells silently, until such a point that sufficient numbers of these cells are affected, after a period of (many) years, especially if no anti-viral treatments are taken. At this point, when the person’s white blood cell arsenal is decimated, they lose their ability to fight infections, especially some unusual infections that don’t appear in non-HIV-infected people. This is the point when they have AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). AIDS is the term given to cover a particular set of unusual infections that classically appear in people infected by HIV. Some of these include unusual lung infections, uncommon brain/nerve infections and gastro type infections.

   There are now dozens and dozens of "anti-retroviral" therapies that are targeted at the HIV virus. They are usually taken in combination and are highly effective in holding back the HIV virus, slowing their attack on white blood cells and preventing the actual occurrence of AIDS. The infected person should be referred to a specialist infectious diseases physician or immunologist to discuss these options.
2. buttercup says:

   March 9, 2010 at 8:21 pm

   There are often no symptoms of HIV and it is picked up in routine blood checks. Usually it is discovered when people are getting sick a lot, this is because it lowers your immune system. But people often go for many years with no symptoms whatsoever. Hiv is the virus that leads to AIDS. Most people die before they develop full blown AIDS from complications arising from conditions that they get from having a weakened immune system. However it should be noted that people can live a full and healthy life for many years before getting sick at all.
3. hotlips says:

   March 9, 2010 at 8:21 pm

   When 1st infected you feel like you have the flu.Havinh HIV does not mean you have AIDS.HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.They have medications to slow and pretty much stop the virus.I am positive for 8 yrs.Just started meds 9 weeks ago.I know people that have been on meds for 25 yrs and are doing great.
4. solita d says:

   March 9, 2010 at 8:21 pm

   honey if you test positive for hiv that means you have it no turning back and no way to cure it so don’t be stupid go to the doctor and no its not curable good luck