COMMON SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS: HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV)
HIV infections weaken the body’s ability to fight disease and can cause acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)—the last stage of HIV infection. HIV is the most dangerous sexually transmitted infection, and it affects people of all ages. It is now the leading cause of death for American women and men between 25 and 44 years of age. About 40,000 women and men are infected each year. About 1 million Americans have had HIV since the beginning of the epidemic. Like many other viruses, HIV remains in the body for life.
Common Symptoms
• constant or rapid unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, lack of appetite
• fatigue, persistent fevers, night sweats, dry cough
• light-headedness, headaches, mental disorders
• a thick, whitish coating of yeast on the tongue or mouth— “thrush”
• severe or recurring vaginal yeast infections
• chronic PID
• purplish growths on the skin
There may be no symptoms for 10 years or more. In one study, about 5 percent of men with HIV have not developed symptoms for 20 years.
How HIV Is Spread: In blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk by:
• anal, vaginal, and oral intercourse
• sharing contaminated needles for injecting IV drugs
• transfusion of contaminated blood products
• childbirth
• breast-feeding
Diagnosis: There are blood tests to detect HIV antibodies. Diagnosis of AIDS is based on the presence of one or more of a variety of conditions and “opportunistic” infections related to an HIV infection.
Treatment: No cure or vaccine. Many AIDS-related conditions— such as pneumonia, cancers, and a variety of infections that take advantage of weakened immune systems—can be managed to some extent with a variety of treatments. However, AIDS is fatal, and at this time, no one has recovered.
Protection: Condoms offer very good protection.
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