HIV

HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight
infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. It is spread by
contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected
sex or sharing injection drug equipment.
Once HIV is contracted and left untreated, it can lead to AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency
Syndrome. There is no way of getting HIV out of the human body and there are no effective
cures. However, by consuming ART or Antiretroviral Therapy, people with HIV can live long
and healthy lives and can prevent transmitting HIV to their sexual partners. Another way to
avoid transmission of HIV is through pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure
prophylaxis.
The key to catching the disease fast is to get tested as soon as the patient thinks they have
been exposed to the virus. Early diagnosis allows them a better chance of getting their viral
load down to an undetectable level, meaning they have a very low risk of transmitting the
virus to their partners.
The three stages of HIV are:
1. HIV Infection- Within 2 to 4 weeks after infection with HIV, about two-thirds of
people will have flu-like illness. This is the body’s natural response to HIV infection
while producing antibodies to fight the virus. The following symptoms can last from a
few days to several weeks. However, some people do not have any symptoms in the
early stages.
 Fever
 Chills
 Rash
 Night sweats
 Muscle aches
 Swollen lymph nodes
 Sore throat
 Fatigue
 Mouth ulcers
2. Asymptomatic- During this stage, the infected person would not display any outward
signs or symptoms. They may continue at this stage for years, and without a test
they wouldn’t even know they were infected.
3. Symptomatic- Over time, the immune system becomes damaged and weakened by
HIV and the symptoms start developing. Initially, they would be mild and worsening
over time. Symptoms are generally caused by the emergence of opportunistic
infections. These are infections that take advantage of a person’s weakened immune
system, eg. PCP, toxoplasmosis, TB, and Kaposi sarcoma.
4. AIDS- Eventually, if a person is left untreated, their infection will enter the AIDS stage
within 8 to 10. By this stage, they would be more likely to develop opportunistic
 infections or cancers. However, with the prevalence of antiviral treatments, people
with HIV don’t develop AIDS.
AIDS
AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is the last stage of HIV infection. This occurs
when the body’s immune system is badly damaged due to the virus. A person is considered
to have progressed to AIDS when their number of CD4 cells have fallen before 200 cells per
cubic millimeter of blood, and they develop one or more opportunistic infections regardless
of their CD4 count.
Without HIV medicine or ART, people with AIDS typically survive about 3 years. However,
for someone with a dangerous opportunistic illness, life expectancy without treatment falls
to about 1 year.
Biopsychosocial Model
A biopsychosocial approach enables persons with AIDS to develop strategies for coping, to
improve adherence, and to prevent transmission and suicide. Persons with AIDS are
confronted with severe illnesses, neuropsychiatric disorders, discrimination, and death.
People living with HIV and AIDS are at a higher risk of mental disorders. The stress
associated with living with a serious illness or condition can impact both the patient and the
caregiver’s mental health. They are at a higher risk of developing mood, anxiety, and
cognitive disorders. HIV and related infections can also affect the brain and the rest of the
nervous system. This my change how a person thinks and behaves. Some medications may
also have side effects that impact mental health. Various forms of central nervous system
diseases are associated with HIV such as dementia, brain atrophy, and encephalitis.
The social impacts of having HIV or AIDS, are vast, largely due to the taboos surrounding the
disease at the time of discovery. As the disease was largely prevalent in the LGBT
community in the 80s, the anti-gay stigma has not faded. The disease is still perceived as to
thrive within the LGBT community, and the prejudice against it also flourishes. Despite the
HIV pandemic being over, the perceived HIV stigma, isolation, and discrimination persist,
and are associated with loneliness and depression among people living with HIV and AIDS.
The disease is also related to taboo topics such as sexual intercourse, artificial insemination,
injection drug use, and pregnancy.