Could my friend really have aids?!
Question: Could my friend really have aids!?
I know this is a weird question, but I have this friend!. SHe is 25 and she has unprotected sex fairly often with random guys!. I've told her time and time again to use protection, but I know she doesnt!. About last year, she started getting a sting of STI's (sexually transmitted infections)!. She went to get STD tests and everything!. They treated her STI but it comes back a lot!. THe past year she has also lost weight (about 25 lbs) without trying!. She also had a horrendous staph infection on her face that so far has come back twice!. I didnt think it could be HIV/AIDS until she told me she never called to get the results of her HIV test!. She thought that they would call her if there was an issue!. I havent told her yet that I dont think this is true (am i right!? dont YOU have to call for that info!?) I'm afraid for her, am I right to be concerned!? SHould I tell her!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
she really should get her results for HIV, and she should got back and get retested if it comes back negative now, its been a whils since she had it!. and your right to be concerned for her, you sound like a very caring friend as well!.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an infection!. It's passed from person to person via unprotected sex, from needles contaminated with infected blood, through blood transfusion or organ donation from people with the virus, and from mother to baby!.
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is diagnosed when the immune system has been weakened so much by HIV that it can't fight certain life-threatening infections and illnesses!.
Worldwide figures estimate that over 40 million people are living with HIV and around three million people die each year from AIDS-related illnesses!.
The number of people living with HIV in the UK has increased steadily since the 1980s when the virus was discovered!. Official figures for 2005 put this at nearly 63,500 people!.
Most HIV infections in the UK occur in homosexual men!. Transmission of the virus through heterosexual contact has significantly increased in recent years!. However, the majority of these infections are in people who have come to live in the UK from countries where HIV is widespread and have been diagnosed since living in the UK!.
HIV and the immune system
The immune system protects your body against infection!. A key part is white blood cells!. These cells find and destroy invading germs, such as bacteria and viruses, preventing the development of serious diseases and damage to your body!. HIV avoids being destroyed by the immune system by repeatedly changing its outer "coat"!. It multiplies (replicates) within the special type of white blood cells called CD4 cells!. These cells are normally involved in helping other types of immune cell to attack and destroy disease-causing germs!.
As HIV multiplies, it destroys CD4 cells, so there are less of them!. The reduction in CD4 cells means that the body's ability to fight infection is weakened!.
Causes
HIV can only be passed to someone else when the levels of the virus are high enough in the blood or other body fluids and are passed to another person!.
HIV infection can be passed via blood, semen, breast milk and vaginal fluids!. Therefore, you can pass or have HIV passed to you during unprotected anal or vaginal sex!.
There is a small chance of infection through unprotected oral sex!. It's estimated around three in every 100 homosexual men with HIV get it through unprotected oral sex with a man who has HIV!. The risk of oral transmission from women is extremely low!.
The virus can be passed from mother to baby if she has HIV during pregnancy, childbirth or when breastfeeding!. HIV can also be passed on if you use infected needles for injections, piercings or tattoos!.
HIV is not found in high enough levels in other body fluids such as saliva, sweat, urine or on the skin to cause an infection from contact with these fluids!.
HIV can't be passed on through normal day-to-day activities, such as sharing cutlery, sitting on toilet seats or by shaking hands!.
HIV and blood or organ donation
In the past, people have become infected with HIV through blood or organ donations!. All donations in the UK are now screened for HIV, so the chances of this happening are extremely low!.
Symptoms
The period immediately after a person becomes infected with HIV is called primary HIV infection!. At this point you are very infectious because the level of the virus will be high in the blood!. You will have symptoms of HIV infection but you may miss them because they are like other infections such as flu!. Early symptoms usually start about two to six weeks after the infection and last approximately five to 10 days!. Some symptoms may last longer!.
Signs of primary HIV include:
fever
swollen glands
sore throat
rash on the body or face
painful muscles or joints
headache
feeling sick and vomiting
ulcers on the mouth, genitals and oesophagus (tube that goes to the stomach)
More serious symptoms include heavy bleeding if you are injured!. Rarely, brain infections such as meningitis can affect people with HIV infection!.
After the early symptoms, HIV may remain undetected for a number of years until your body's ability to fight infections is reduced!. When this happens the number of cells which fight infections has decreased so much that your immune system can't function properly!. This leaves the body vulnerable to infections!. If a person develops certain life-threatening illnesses it is known as AIDS or advanced HIV disease!.
AIDS
Once the immune system has been damaged, infections appear!. Common infections include a type of pneumonia called pneumocystis, and tuberculosis!.
Other AIDS-related illnesses can include:
various cancers
fungal, bacterial or viral infections
sight problems
dementia
Diagnosis
It's important to have an HIV test if you think you have been at risk of HIV infection!. There are powerful and effective treatments that slow the virus!. Early diagnosis can help ensure you get the best treatment so you can live a full and active life!.
To test for HIV, blood is taken!. HIV testing in the laboratory involves looking at a blood sample for HIV antibodies, the body's defence chemicals produced in response to infection!. Testing can be done four to six weeks after infection but the virus may not be detected in the blood for up to three months in some people!.
Testing is usually carried out at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, where sexually transmitted infections are diagnosed and treated!. Sometimes results are available after a week, some clinics offer same day HIV testing!.
Before you have a blood test for HIV you may be able to see a counsellor!. The test can be explained and the implications of a possible positive diagnosis discussed!. You can also talk about the test results with your GP or a counsellor!.
Treatment
There is no cure for HIV infection, but treatment with anti-HIV medicines dramatically slows the progress of the disease and has significantly reduced the number of deaths caused by AIDS-related illnesses!. When used appropriately and taken properly, anti-HIV medicines can mean a person with HIV has a near normal life expectancy!.
HIV treatment is managed by specialist out-patient clinics, staffed by doctors, nurses and other health professionals!. The status of your immune system and your general health is reviewed on a regular basis!.
Usually, once the number of CD4 white blood cells has fallen to a low level, or if the amount of virus in your blood is very high, your specialist will recommend starting drug treatment!. Treatment may be started if you develop a serious infectionWww@Answer-Health@Com
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an infection!. It's passed from person to person via unprotected sex, from needles contaminated with infected blood, through blood transfusion or organ donation from people with the virus, and from mother to baby!.
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is diagnosed when the immune system has been weakened so much by HIV that it can't fight certain life-threatening infections and illnesses!.
Worldwide figures estimate that over 40 million people are living with HIV and around three million people die each year from AIDS-related illnesses!.
The number of people living with HIV in the UK has increased steadily since the 1980s when the virus was discovered!. Official figures for 2005 put this at nearly 63,500 people!.
Most HIV infections in the UK occur in homosexual men!. Transmission of the virus through heterosexual contact has significantly increased in recent years!. However, the majority of these infections are in people who have come to live in the UK from countries where HIV is widespread and have been diagnosed since living in the UK!.
HIV and the immune system
The immune system protects your body against infection!. A key part is white blood cells!. These cells find and destroy invading germs, such as bacteria and viruses, preventing the development of serious diseases and damage to your body!. HIV avoids being destroyed by the immune system by repeatedly changing its outer "coat"!. It multiplies (replicates) within the special type of white blood cells called CD4 cells!. These cells are normally involved in helping other types of immune cell to attack and destroy disease-causing germs!.
As HIV multiplies, it destroys CD4 cells, so there are less of them!. The reduction in CD4 cells means that the body's ability to fight infection is weakened!.
Causes
HIV can only be passed to someone else when the levels of the virus are high enough in the blood or other body fluids and are passed to another person!.
HIV infection can be passed via blood, semen, breast milk and vaginal fluids!. Therefore, you can pass or have HIV passed to you during unprotected anal or vaginal sex!.
There is a small chance of infection through unprotected oral sex!. It's estimated around three in every 100 homosexual men with HIV get it through unprotected oral sex with a man who has HIV!. The risk of oral transmission from women is extremely low!.
The virus can be passed from mother to baby if she has HIV during pregnancy, childbirth or when breastfeeding!. HIV can also be passed on if you use infected needles for injections, piercings or tattoos!.
HIV is not found in high enough levels in other body fluids such as saliva, sweat, urine or on the skin to cause an infection from contact with these fluids!.
HIV can't be passed on through normal day-to-day activities, such as sharing cutlery, sitting on toilet seats or by shaking hands!.
HIV and blood or organ donation
In the past, people have become infected with HIV through blood or organ donations!. All donations in the UK are now screened for HIV, so the chances of this happening are extremely low!.
Symptoms
The period immediately after a person becomes infected with HIV is called primary HIV infection!. At this point you are very infectious because the level of the virus will be high in the blood!. You will have symptoms of HIV infection but you may miss them because they are like other infections such as flu!. Early symptoms usually start about two to six weeks after the infection and last approximately five to 10 days!. Some symptoms may last longer!.
Signs of primary HIV include:
fever
swollen glands
sore throat
rash on the body or face
painful muscles or joints
headache
feeling sick and vomiting
ulcers on the mouth, genitals and oesophagus (tube that goes to the stomach)
More serious symptoms include heavy bleeding if you are injured!. Rarely, brain infections such as meningitis can affect people with HIV infection!.
After the early symptoms, HIV may remain undetected for a number of years until your body's ability to fight infections is reduced!. When this happens the number of cells which fight infections has decreased so much that your immune system can't function properly!. This leaves the body vulnerable to infections!. If a person develops certain life-threatening illnesses it is known as AIDS or advanced HIV disease!.
AIDS
Once the immune system has been damaged, infections appear!. Common infections include a type of pneumonia called pneumocystis, and tuberculosis!.
Other AIDS-related illnesses can include:
various cancers
fungal, bacterial or viral infections
sight problems
dementia
Diagnosis
It's important to have an HIV test if you think you have been at risk of HIV infection!. There are powerful and effective treatments that slow the virus!. Early diagnosis can help ensure you get the best treatment so you can live a full and active life!.
To test for HIV, blood is taken!. HIV testing in the laboratory involves looking at a blood sample for HIV antibodies, the body's defence chemicals produced in response to infection!. Testing can be done four to six weeks after infection but the virus may not be detected in the blood for up to three months in some people!.
Testing is usually carried out at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, where sexually transmitted infections are diagnosed and treated!. Sometimes results are available after a week, some clinics offer same day HIV testing!.
Before you have a blood test for HIV you may be able to see a counsellor!. The test can be explained and the implications of a possible positive diagnosis discussed!. You can also talk about the test results with your GP or a counsellor!.
Treatment
There is no cure for HIV infection, but treatment with anti-HIV medicines dramatically slows the progress of the disease and has significantly reduced the number of deaths caused by AIDS-related illnesses!. When used appropriately and taken properly, anti-HIV medicines can mean a person with HIV has a near normal life expectancy!.
HIV treatment is managed by specialist out-patient clinics, staffed by doctors, nurses and other health professionals!. The status of your immune system and your general health is reviewed on a regular basis!.
Usually, once the number of CD4 white blood cells has fallen to a low level, or if the amount of virus in your blood is very high, your specialist will recommend starting drug treatment!. Treatment may be started if you develop a serious infectionWww@Answer-Health@Com
Your friend is an idiot!. It doesnt sound like Aids but it is possible but she has something else!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
This reminds me of an ancient proverb:
"He who fishes in other man's well often catch crab!."
So, yes!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
"He who fishes in other man's well often catch crab!."
So, yes!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Yes she really could have aidsWww@Answer-Health@Com