Who Paediatric Clinical Staging For Hiv
In a child with diagnosed or highly suspected HIV infection, the clinical staging system helps to assess the degree of damage to the immune system, and to plan treatment and care options. The stages determine the likely prognosis of HIV and are a guide when to start, stop, or switch ARV therapy.
The clinical stages identify a progression sequence from least to most severe the higher clinical stage, the poorer the prognosis. For classification purposes, once a stage 3 clinical condition has occurred, the child’s prognosis will likely remain in stage 3 and will not improve to stage 2, even once the original condition is resolved, or a new stage 2 clinical condition appears. Antiretroviral treatment with good adherence dramatically improves prognosis.
The clinical staging events can also be used to identify the response to ARV treatment if there is no easy or affordable access to viral load or CD4 testing.
How Are Hiv And Aids Treated
Medicines can help people with HIV stay healthy. They can also prevent HIV from progressing to AIDS.
Health care providers prescribe a combination of different medicines for people with HIV and AIDS. They must be taken exactly as prescribed or they won’t work. These medicines:
- help keep the number of CD4 cells high
- reduce the viral load of HIV
Regular blood tests will check the number of CD4 cells in the body and the viral load.
If an HIV-positive person’s CD4 count gets low, doctors prescribe daily antibiotics. This prevents pneumocystis pneumonia, which happens in people with weakened immune systems.
When Should I Start Hiv Treatment
The World Health Organization recommends that a person living with HIV begin ART as soon as possible after diagnosis. Starting ART slows the progression of HIV and can keep you healthy for many years. Your health care provider will talk to you about what it means to be on treatment and help you to assess if you are ready to start.
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How Long Does Hiv Take To Test Positive
In the event that PEP has been taken for a period of time, most modern HIV tests can detect HIV within four weeks of exposure. It depends on the type of test you are offered and when your risk was, as well as the type of test you were offered, whether you will be asked to return for more tests and a follow-up.
How To Tell If Symptoms Are Hiv
There are three types of HIV tests:
- An NAT involves drawing blood from a vein. It can tell if you have HIV or how much virus is present in your blood. While an NAT can detect HIV sooner than other types of tests, this test is very expensive and not routinely used for screening individuals unless they recently had a high-risk exposure, or a possible exposure and have early symptoms of HIV infection. This test takes several days for results to come back.
- An antigen/antibody test is recommended for testing done in labs and is now common in the United States. It involves drawing blood from a vein, and results take several days to come back. There is also a rapid antigen/antibody test available that is done with a finger prick and takes 30 minutes or less to get results.
- HIV antibody tests only look for antibodies to HIV in your blood or oral fluid. In general, antibody tests that use blood from a vein can detect HIV sooner after infection than tests done with blood from a finger prick or with oral fluid. Antibody tests can detect an HIV infection 23 to 90 days after exposure. Most rapid tests and the only currently approved HIV self-test are antibody tests. They take 20 minutes or less to provide results.
Keep in mind, any positive result would necessitate a second test to confirm it. The only test that would not require a second confirmatory test is the NAT.
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Can You Be Hiv Positive For Years And Not Know
HIV can be contracted for years before a person realizes they have it. HIV is a cause of death. The symptoms of HIV may not appear for more than a decade. The fact that HIV does not have symptoms does not mean that it is less serious. In addition, people who do not experience symptoms may still transmit HIV to others if they do not have symptoms.
Where Can I Get An Hiv Test
You can get an HIV test at any health centre, hospital, private lab or doctors office.
- UWI / Mona / University of the West Indies
- The University Of The West Indies Gibraltar Camp Rd, Kingston, Tel: 970-0017
- Kingston / St Andrew / Half-Way-Tree
- Comprehensive Health Centre 55 Slipe Pen Road, Kingston 5 Tel: 922-2095 924-9473 924-9012
- Health Office Marescaux Road, Kingston 5 Tel: 926-1550-5
- Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, 3 Hendon Drive Kgn 20, 876-925-0021
- CHARES, UWI Hospital, 876-977-6921
- Teen Hub, Half Way Tree Transport Centre
- St Thomas / Bull Bay
- Princess Margaret Hospital, Lyssons Road Tel: 982-2304 & 6
- Morant Bay Health Centre Tel: 982-2304 & 6
- Portland
- Health Centre, Smatt Road, Port Antonio Tel 993-2557/993-2873
- Portland Health Department Smatt Road, Port Antonio Tel: 993-2557/993-2873
- St Mary
- Annotto Bay Hospital Tel: 996-2222
- Health Office, Port Maria Tel: 994-2358
- St Ann
- Health Centre, St Anns Bay Tel: 972-2190 1 Church Crescent, Ocho Rios Tel: 974-2691
- Health Office, St Anns Bay 4 Windsor Road Tel: 972-2215 972-2227
- Jamaica AIDS Support for Life
- Trelawny
- Trelawny Health Department Falmouth Tel: 954-3689 954-3563
- Health Office, Trelawny Health Department, Falmouth Tel: 954-3689 954-3563
- St James / Montego-Bay / Mobay
- Cornwall Regional Hospital Mt. Salem Tel: 952-5100-9 Exts 450/451952-3678
- Jamaica AIDS Support for Life.
- Health Office, St James, Health Department, Cornwall Regional Hospital Tel: 952-5100-9 Exts 450/451, 952-3678 979-7823
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Can A Blood Test Detect Hiv After 3 Weeks
In HIV antibodies tests, these antibodies are found in your blood or oral fluid to indicate HIV infection. An antibodies test can detect infection within three weeks of being developed. The majority of people will develop detectable antibodies within 3 to 12 weeks of infection, but not all will develop detectable antibodies.
Can I Get Hiv From A Tattoo Or Body Piercing Needle
The risk of getting HIV from tattoo or body piercing needles exists if the needles are not properly sterilized or disinfected. Instruments that are intended to pierce the skin should only be used once and then disposed of or thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. If you are considering getting a tattoo or piercing done, ask the staff at the establishment what precautions they take to prevent the spread of HIV.
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When To Get Tested For Hiv
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If you think youve been exposed to HIV, its important to seek medical advice as soon as possible.
Exposure usually happens through unprotected vaginal or anal sex e.g. sex without a condom, or sex where the condom has broken. It can also happen during oral sex. You might also be exposed to HIV by sharing needles or other injecting equipment.
Within the first 72 hours of exposure, its possible to prevent infection by taking post-exposure prophylaxis . This is available from sexual health and GUM clinics, as well as hospital A& E departments, although its normally only prescribed to people who are considered high risk.
If more than 72 hours have passed since you were exposed, its still important to get medical advice. Youll need to get an HIV test and, if it comes back positive, start treatment as soon as possible.
HIV tests are available from a number of different services, including:
- Sexual health and GUM clinics
- LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor
Even if you dont think youve been exposed to HIV, its still a good idea to get a test for HIV and other STIs once a year, or whenever you start having sex with a new partner. For men who have sex with men, getting tested every three to six months is recommended.
Stage : Acute Hiv Infection
After a person comes into contact with HIV, the virus replicates quickly, and the blood contains high levels of the virus. At this time, it can easily transmit to others through blood, semen and preseminal fluids, rectal fluid, vaginal fluid, and breast milk.
Within 24 weeks of exposure to the virus, some people develop a nonspecific syndrome with a fever and other flu-like symptoms. This may last for several days or weeks.
Not everyone experiences these symptoms, however. If a person does not undergo testing, it is possible for HIV to progress without any indication that it is in the body.
The flu-like symptoms of a stage 1 HIV infection may include:
- swollen glands
- nausea or vomiting
These symptoms are collectively known as a seroconversion illness. They represent the bodys natural response to an infection as it attempts to kill off the virus. However, the human body cannot completely remove this virus once it is present.
At this stage, the virus replicates using the bodys CD4 T cells and spreads throughout the body. In doing so, it destroys CD4 T cells.
Eventually, this process stabilizes. The immune system reduces the number of viral particles, and levels of CD4 T cells may rise. However, the number of these cells may not return to its original level.
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Causes And Stages Of Acute Hiv Infection
HIV is caused by a retrovirus which attacks the bodyâs immune system, specifically CD4 blood cells which are responsible for fighting infections. During acute HIV infection, the HIV retrovirus destroys a lot of CD4 cells as it replicates. This can cause some people to fall ill with flu-like symptoms.
Acute HIV infection is the first stage of HIV infection. It is followed by two further stages:
Clinical latency, also known as asymptomatic HIV infection or chronic HIV infection. The HIV retrovirus continues to replicate within the body, but at low levels. The infected person may not experience any HIV-related symptoms, but can still transmit the virus to other people. Without treatment, this stage can last around 10 years. Towards the end of this phase, the personâs CD4 count starts to decrease and they may start to show symptoms.
AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. Without treatment, a person can expect to develop AIDS after approximately 10 years. During this stage, a personâs immune system is badly damaged and they are susceptible to severe illnesses such as chronic cryptosporidiosis, lymphoma and pneumonia. Without treatment, a person with AIDS will typically only live around three years.
Treatment can slow the progression of HIV infection, often by decades.
Early Symptoms In Primary Hiv
The first noticeable stage is primary HIV infection. This stage is also called acute retroviral syndrome , or acute HIV infection. Because HIV infection at this stage usually causes flu-like symptoms, its possible for someone in this stage to think their symptoms are due to a severe flu rather than HIV. Fever is the most common symptom.
Other symptoms include:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , primary HIV symptoms may show up two to four weeks after initial exposure. Symptoms can continue for up to several weeks. However, some people may exhibit the symptoms only for a few days.
People with early HIV sometimes dont show any symptoms, yet they can still transmit the virus to others. This is attributed to the fast, unrestrained viral replication that occurs in the early weeks after contracting the virus.
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Can I Get Hiv From Having Oral Sex Performed On Me
Yes, if your partner has HIV, blood from a cut or sore in their mouth can enter the urethra or the vagina and you may become infected. However, using a latex condom or dental dam during oral sex reduces the risk of transmission. You can make a dental dam by cutting open a condom and using it as a barrier.
Acute Hiv Infection Faqs
Q: When does acute HIV infection occur?A: Acute HIV infection is the first stage of HIV infection. Some people may feel ill with flu-like symptoms two to four weeks after being infected with HIV, while other people who have contracted HIV develop no symptoms at all.
Q: How long do acute HIV infection symptoms last?A: The symptoms of acute HIV infection, which can include flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph glands and mouth ulcers, generally last a few weeks. See the section on Symptoms of acute HIV infection.
Q: How is acute HIV infection treated?A: Acute HIV infection should be treated with antiretroviral drugs as soon as possible after diagnosis. Antiretroviral therapy can help slow the progression of HIV by decades.
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How Much Do Hiv Tests Cost
Unlike rapid tests, blood tests for HIV are covered by Medicare, which means your doctor can order the test free of charge for you.
If you are not eligible for Medicare, you may also be able to claim some of the testing costs through private health insurance. Check with your provider to see if youre eligible.
Can You Test Negative For Hiv And Still Have The Virus
HIV can still be detected in a negative result, even if you dont have the virus. There is a window during which this occurs. In this case, the HIV test results will be negative if you test again after the window period, have no exposure to HIV during the window period, and the test results come back negative.
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Who Is At Risk Of Acute Hiv Infection
HIV can affect people of any age, sexual orientation or race, in any part of the world. However, certain groups of people are more at risk of contracting HIV than others. These can include people who:
- Have unprotected sex, particularly anal sex, with multiple partners
- when injecting substances
HIV can be spread in the following ways:
- Contact with infected blood
- Contact with infected vaginal and/or rectal fluids
- From mother to child during pregnancy or birth if the pregnant woman has HIV
- Less commonly, during breastfeeding if the breastfeeding woman has HIV and is not on antiretroviral treatment
- Sharing needles, syringes or drug preparation equipment with someone who has HIV
Other physical contact, such as hand-holding, kissing or hugging, does not transfer HIV..
How Long Do Side Effects Last
People have different experiences with side effects. For some it is mild and does not last for more than a few days while others may experience side effects for a few weeks. In general side effects from taking ARVs should not last more than 2-3 weeks. Talk to your doctor or Adherence Counsellor about managing side effects.
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Prevention Of Acute Hiv Infection
There are ways to minimize the risk of contracting HIV, or passing the infection on to other people:
- Practice safe sex: use condoms during all types of sexual contact and limit the number of partners
- Practice safe needle use: use only sterile needles and equipment if injecting substances. Safe needle use should also be observed by healthcare workers and tattooists
- Get diagnosed early, which can inform choices such as treatment and behavior toward other people
Anyone who is sexually active is recommended to get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases at least once a year. Any positive results should be disclosed to sexual partners so precautions can be taken. More frequent testing is recommended for anyone in a high risk group, such as someone who:
- Is in a relationship with a person who is HIV-positive
- Has multiple sexual partners
What Are The Symptoms Of Later Hiv
As HIV weakens someones immune system, they may experience signs of other illnesses:
- weight loss
- an increase in herpes or cold sore outbreaks
- swollen glands in the groin, neck or armpit
- long-lasting diarrhoea
- tiredness.
But remember: people who dont have HIV can also get any of these they can be the signs of other illnesses.
A weakened immune system may leave someone more open to serious infections such as:
- tuberculosis
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Aids Is The Final Stage
Controlling HIV with medications is crucial to both maintaining quality of life and helping prevent progression of the disease. Stage 3 HIV, also known as AIDS, develops when HIV has significantly weakened the immune system.
According to the CDC National Prevention Information Network, CD4 levels give one indication that HIV has progressed to its final stage. CD4 levels decreasing below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood is considered a sign of AIDS. A normal range is considered 500 to 1,600 cells/mm3.
AIDS can be diagnosed with a blood test to measure CD4. Sometimes its also determined simply by a persons overall health. In particular, an infection thats rare in people who dont have HIV may indicate AIDS. Symptoms of AIDS include:
- persistent high fevers of over 100°F
- pneumonia
AIDS is the final stage of HIV. According to AIDSinfo, it takes at least 10 years without treatment for most people with HIV to develop AIDS.
At that point, the body is susceptible to a wide range of infections and cant effectively fight them off. Medical intervention is necessary to treat AIDS-related illnesses or complications that can otherwise be fatal. Without treatments, the CDC estimates the average survival rate to be three years once AIDS is diagnosed. Depending on the severity of their condition, a persons outlook may be significantly shorter.