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You are here : Home  AIDS FactsheetAIDS FactSheet
AIDS is caused by a virus called HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. If you get infected with HIV, your body will try to fight the infection. It will make "antibodies," special molecules to fight HIV Go Top
What is AIDS?
A description and definition of AIDS HIV Testing HIV antibody testing, timing of the tests, what test results mean. Acute HIV Infection A description of acute HIV infection (soon after infection): symptoms and treatment options How HIV Drugs Get Approved The phases of research on new medications before they are approved by the FDA, and ways to use unapproved drugs. HIV Life Cycle A diagram of the steps in the HIV life cycle. 
Normal Laboratory Values, Complete Blood Count (CBC), Chemistry Panel, Blood Sugar and Fats, CD4 (T-cell) Tests, Viral Load Tests, HIV Resistance Testing, Monitoring Drug Levels Go Top
Normal Laboratory Values
A listing of normal values for commonly used laboratory tests. Complete Blood Count (CBC) A description of the laboratory tests included in a complete blood count (CBC). Chemistry Panel A description of the laboratory tests normally included in a chemistry panel, plus electrolytes and kidney and liver function tests. Blood Sugar and Fats A description of the laboratory tests for blood levels of fats (triglycerides and cholesterol) and sugar (glucose). CD4 (T-cell) Tests A description of CD4 cell tests, how they are done, and what the results mean. Which diseases appear at various CD4 cell levels. Viral Load Tests A description of viral load tests, how they are done, and what the results mean. HIV Resistance Testing A description of genotypic and phenotypic tests for viral resistance, how they are used, and what the results mean. Monitoring Drug Levels Therapeutic drug monitoring means testing blood to measure how much of a drug is present. Unusual drug levels might explain high levels of side effects, or treatment failure. 
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not spread easily. You can only get HIV if you get infected blood or sexual fluids into your system. You can't get it from mosquito bites, coughing or sneezing, sharing household items, or swimming in the same pool as someone with HIV. Go Top
Stopping the Spread of HIV
How HIV infection is transmitted and how you can protect yourself and others from HIV infection. How Risky Is It? A discussion of the risk of transmitting HIV through various types of sexual activity. Condoms Discussion of the use of condoms for HIV prevention, including the female condom and the spermicide nonoxynol-9. Condom myths and realities. Drug Use and HIV Drug use and transmission of HIV through unsafe sex and shared equipment. Drug interactions and needle exchange. Harm Reduction and HIV Harm reduction focuses on improving individual and public health more than on elimination of harmful behaviors. Harm reduction can be applied to reducing HIV-related risks of drug use or of unsafe sexual activity. Treatment After Microbicides Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is treatment after exposure to HIV. It is intended to prevent HIV infection. PEP is available for workplace exposure to HIV and is being studied for non-occupational exposures. Microbicides A discussion of efforts to develop a woman-controlled HIV prevention tool using microbicides. 
Treating HIV disease is very complicated. There are choices to consider at every stage of the disease. It's best if you and your health care provider work together as a team. That makes it easier to choose and stick to your treatment plan Go Top
Choosing an HIV Care Provider
It is important to find an HIV care provider who works with HIV/AIDS patients and stays up to date. Your relationship with your care provider will be better if you are comfortable with each other and your manner of dealing with health issues. Medical Appointments Tips on how to get the most from your health care office visits. Telling Others You are HIV Positive It can be difficult to know who to tell that you are HIV-positive, and when to tell them. There are some general guidelines, and some special situations. Participating in a Clinical Trial You can participate in scientific studies (clinical trials) of new drugs. There are benefits and risks to consider. Laws protect participants, and they can drop out of a clinical trial at any time. How to Spot HIV/AIDS Fraud There is no cure for HIV. Some treatments have not been tested and might be harmful. If it sounds too good to be true, it might be a fraud. Check out any product or treatment carefully; look for warning signs of fraud. Vaccinations and HIV A discussion of the risks and benefits of various vaccinations for people with HIV. 
Antireteroviral Theraphy (ARV) means treating viral infections like HIV with drugs. The drugs do not kill the virus. However, they slow down the growth of the virus. When the virus is slowed down, so is HIV disease Go Top
HIV Life Cycle
A diagram of the steps in the HIV life cycle. Taking Current Antiretroviral Drugs A chart showing currently approved antiretroviral drugs and standard dosages. There are notes on how to take and store each drug, and on the most common side effects. What Is Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)? An overview of antiretroviral drug therapy (ART) to treat HIV. Adherence Adherence means taking all your pills every day, on time. This fact sheet discusses why this is so important, and gives some advice on how to make it easier to do. Treatment Interruptions Many people with HIV would like to stop taking their medications, at least for a while. This might help some people, but it can have some serious risks. Drug Interactions Some drugs affect how quickly other drugs are removed from the body. This can cause an overdose or drug levels that are too low to be effective. Food and herbal products can also change drug levels. 
Gene Therapies, Immune Stimulators, Cytokines, Vaccine-like Treatment, Immune Modulators, more.. Go Top
Immune Therapies in Development
A description of immune stimulators in development against HIV. Immune Restoration A discussion of ways to restore the immune function of people with HIV. Interleukin-2 A description of interleukin-2, an immune stimulator that increases the number of T-cells, its dosage and side effects, and its use in treating HIV. Immune Restoration Syndrome A description of the inflammatory syndrome sometimes experienced by people starting antiviral treatment 
In our bodies, we carry many germs - bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. When our immune system is working, it controls these germs. But when the immune system is weakened by HIV disease or by some medications, these germs can get out of control and cause health problems Go Top 
Side effects are what a drug does to you that you don't want it to do. Medications are prescribed for a specific purpose, such as to control HIV. Anything else the drug does is a side effect. Go Top
Side Effects
A discussion of the most common side effects of antiviral treatment, with links to other fact sheets for more information. Includes fatigue, anemia, digestive problems, lipodystrophy, peripheral neuropathy, mitochondrial toxicity, and osteoporosis. Fatigue A description of fatigue among people with HIV, its causes and treatment. Anemia A description of anemia among people with HIV, its causes and treatment. Body Shape Changes (Lipodystrophy) A description of lipodystrophy (changes in metabolism and body shape) in people with HIV, its risks, suspected causes and treatment. Diarrhea A description of diarrhea in people with HIV, its causes and treatment. Peripheral Neuropathy A description of peripheral neuropathy in people with HIV, its causes and treatment. Mitochondrial Toxicity A description of mitochondrial toxicity in people with HIV, its causes and treatment. Bone Problems A discussion of loss of bone mineral density associated with HIV and its treatment, including osteoporosis and avascular necrosis. Depression and HIV A description of depression in people with HIV and AIDS, its causes, symptoms, and treatment. 
Its about HIV spreads in terms of different popualtion criteria that women children, pregnant and even older people. Go Top
Women and HIV
A description of special considerations for women with HIV, including transmission, symptoms, side effects, and treatment. Pregnancy and HIV aids A discussion of special considerations for women with HIV during pregnancy. How to protect the health of the mother and reduce the risk of infecting their newborn baby. Children and HIV A discussion of how children with HIV are different in terms of HIV disease and treatment. Older People and HIV An informational fact sheet on older people (over age 50) and HIV. 
A health treatment that does not fit into standard western medical practice is called "alternative" or "complementary". Go Top
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
A discussion of the use of alternative and complementary therapies by people with HIV, and a discussion of the challenges in researching these approaches. Ayurvedic Medicine A discussion of the use of Ayurvedic medicine for people with HIV. Chinese Acupuncture A discussion of the use of Chinese acupuncture for people with HIV. Chinese Herbalism A discussion of Chinese herbalism and how it is used by people with HIV. Cat's Claw A discussion of the herb cat's claw in relation to HIV infection. DHEA A discussion of the use of the hormone DHEA in relation to HIV infection. DNCB (Dinitrochlorobenzene) A description of the use of the chemical DNCB (dinitrochlorobenzene) by people with HIV. Echinacea A discussion of the use of the herb echinacea by people with HIV. Essiac A discussion of the use of the herbal tea Essiac by people with HIV. Marijuana A description of the use of marijuana by people with HIV to alleviate side effects and increase appetite. Silymarin (Milk Thistle) A discussion of the use of the herb milk thistle (silymarin) by people with HIV. 
Good nutrition means getting enough macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients contain calories (energy): proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. They help you maintain your body weight. Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals. They keep your cells working properly. Go Top
Nutrition
A discussion of the role of good nutrition for people with HIV. Vitamins and Minerals A discussion of the role of vitamin and mineral supplementation for people with HIV. Exercise and HIV A discussion of the role of physical exercise for people with HIV. Smoking and HIV A discussion of the impact of smoking on HIV disease and antiretroviral treatment side effects. courtesy:aids info net You are here : Home AIDS Factsheet |
Related pages Background Information Laboratory Tests Side Effects and Their Treatments How HIV drugs get approved Strengthening The Immune System |
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