STD Tests
Serology for STDs (HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis)
Urethral and vaginal discharge (gonorrhea, Ureaplasma, Chlamys and Trichomonas)
HIV Testing
Evidence of Human Papillomavirus
HIV infection is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The disease destroys the immune system gradually, which causes the body to fight infections more difficult.
This article provides an overview. For more details, see:
AIDS
Acute HIV infection
Asymptomatic HIV infection
Symptomatic HIV infection and early
Alternative Names
Infection with human immunodeficiency virus
Causes, incidence and risk factors
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be spread by the following:
Intimate sexual contact
Use of contaminated needles and syringes
Blood transfusions and blood products contaminated
The virus also can spread through the placenta from mother to developing baby and rarely spread through breastfeeding.
People who become infected with HIV may have symptoms for up to 10 years but can still transmit the infection to others. After being exposed to the virus, blood tests changing from negative to HIV positive usually within three months.
HIV has spread throughout the U.S. and the highest concentrations of the disease are found in central urban areas.
Symptoms
HIV can cause any symptoms of illness, since infections can occur throughout the body. Among the special symptoms related to HIV infection include:
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Fever
Frequent vaginal yeast infections
Headache
Mouth sores, including candidal infection
Muscle pain or stiffness
Rash of various types, including seborrheic dermatitis
Sore throat
Enlarged lymph nodes
Note: At the time of diagnosis of HIV infection, many people have not experienced any symptoms.
Exams and Tests
The test ELISA / Western blot tests for HIV can yield a positive result for HIV antibodies. If the result is negative and the person has definite risk factors for HIV infection, consideration must be repeated in 3 months.
You can do other blood tests to determine how much HIV is in the bloodstream. A blood differential may show abnormalities.
CD4 count is below normal, a sign that the virus is inihibiendo the immune system.
Treatment
Often, doctors recommend drug therapy for patients who are committed to taking all medications and have a CD4 count below 350 (indicating immunosuppression).
It is extremely important that patients take all doses of their medications, otherwise the virus will quickly become resistant to drugs. Therapy always involves a combination of antiviral drugs.
People with HIV infection need to be educated about the disease and its treatment, so that they can be active in making decisions with their doctor.
Support Groups
View support group for AIDS
Expectations (prognosis)
HIV infection is a chronic condition that is treatable, but still can not be cured. There are effective ways of preventing complications and delaying, but not preventing, progression to AIDS.
Most people infected with HIV will progress to AIDS if not treated. However, there is a small group of people who develop AIDS very slowly or never at all. These patients are called long-term nonprogressors.
Complications
Cancers
Chronic wasting from HIV infection
HIV dementia
HIV lipodystrophy
Opportunistic infections
bacillary angiomatosis
candidiasis
Cytomegalovirus infection
Cryptococcus
Cryptosporidium enterocolitis (or other protozoal infections)
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
Salmonella infection in the bloodstream
toxoplasmosis
tuberculosis
viral infection of the brain (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy)
Calling your health care
Call your doctor if you have had a possible or actual exposure to AIDS or HIV infection.
Prevention
Avoid intravenous drug use, but if used, should not be sharing needles or syringes and always use new needles (Boiling or cleaning them with alcohol does not guarantee total sterility).
Avoid oral, vaginal or anal contact with semen from HIV-infected persons.
Avoid anal sex type without protection, since it causes small tears in the rectal tissues, through which HIV found in semen of infected sex partners may enter directly into the blood of another partner .
Use protection when having sex with intravenous drug users.
Use protection when having sexual contact with many people or with people who have multiple sexual partners.
People with AIDS or who have had positive tests for antibodies to HIV can transmit the disease to others, so it should not donate blood, plasma, body organs or sperm. They should not exchange genital fluids during sexual activity.
Safer sex behaviors may reduce the risk of acquiring HIV, but risk of acquiring it, even if you practice “safe sex” with condoms, because they can break. Therefore, abstinence is the only sure way to prevent sexual transmission of the virus.
Use protection when having sexual contact with persons who are known or suspected to have HIV infection.
Consultation Venereology
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 