We will start with the first stage. During this stage, HIV is like a soul without a body. In order to reproduce, it must hijack another cell to reproduce. HIV’s main target is the T4-lymphocyte or what we call as the white blood cells. HIV then injects its own DNA into the DNA of T4 cell. When T4 cell wants to reproduce, accidentally it also reproduces the DNA of HIV. From then on, replication happens. During this stage, entry inhibitors medications are needed to prevent HIV from entering healthy T4 cells. Entry inhibitors are like a firewall that prevents HIV from gaining access to the DNA of healthy T cells in the body. Certified drugs during this stage are the Enfurvitide (ENF Fuzeon) and Maraviroc (MVC). ENF costs $53.9 per day while MVC costs $29.

The second stage is the reverse transcription. When HIV infects the T cells, it infects RNA into the T cell’s DNA. However, in order to reproduce it must be converted to DNA. To convert to DNA, it needs HIV’s transcriptase enzyme. Medications for this stage are called Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) and Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs). Basically what they do is to prevent the DNA from being built up correctly. In turn, HIV’s RNA can’t be incorporated into the cell’s DNA correctly and preventing them from reproduce. Some of the drugs in the market are Efavirenz (EFV), Zidovudine (AZT) and Didanosine (ddl).

Upon reaching this stage, it is called integration. Upon binding itself to the T cell, a viral enzyme called integrase will try to hide the HIV’s proviral DNA into the healthy cell’s DNA. Integration can be prevented by integrase inhibitors. Medications during this stage are still in the earliest stage of research. One approved drug is the Raltegravir (RGV). The cost of this drug is $27 per day.

In this stage, the virus has invaded the T cell and becomes a new boss of the cell. The viral DNA then separate and messenger RNA (mRNA) are created to send instructions to produce new HIV. Medications for this stage are transcription inhibitor (TIs) that is still in the earliest stage of research. Translation process occurs when mRNA is being transformed into viral proteins that are needed to produce new HIVs.

The last step in producing new HIVs is viral assembly and maturation. Proteins are cut up by protease into smaller proteins which serve a variety of functions. After the new viral particles are assembled, the original T cell which is the host is ignored and a new virus is created, or a soul with a body. The new virus then enters the maturation stage. This stage is required to make the virus infectious by processing viral proteins. This stage can be blocked by Protease Inhibitors and Maturation Inhibitors. Some medications for this stage are Amprenavir (APV), Saquinavir (SQV) and Bevirimat which is still in the experimental stage.

So by now you should have understand and known which drugs are suitable for any particular stages. It is advisable to conduct more research on your own in order to catch with new and more effective medications.

Transmission of HIV occurs mostly through sexual intercourse, although some studies link other sexual activities such as oral sex and anal sex to be a medium of transmission also. However, studies also show that use of condom can greatly reduce the risk of HIV transmission, although it may not prevent totally. Condoms of natural membrane are not encouraged to be used as they have natural pores, letting viruses to pass through. Female condoms should also be considered for more protection, or anytime when male condoms are not available. Condoms however, are only effective in preventing HIV infections when they are used correctly and consistently. Condom breakage is not something to be worried about as they are very seldom, which is less than 2 percent.

HIV transmission also occurs through the shared uses of equipments in using recreational drugs. Most often, people share needles without considering the danger of HIV transmission. Worst still, the same needle may be shared between a few people, greatly increasing the risk of HIV infection to a wider circle of people.

Another unfounded concern is the risk of HIV transmission through kissing. Kissing will not transmit the virus unless there’s a cut or any injury where blood is still existent. So, there is no need to concern whatsoever concerning kissing.

In health care, HIV transmission can occur where babies are infected with HIV through HIV positive mothers. This may occur during childbirth or during breastfeeding as breast milk also contains HIV virus. The only way to prevent HIV transmission from mother to baby is a proper family planning. Couples who have a plan of getting married should go for an HIV check-up first before starting a family. After married, they can start a family by adopting children instead of having a child of their own in order to avoid further complications over having an HIV positive child.

HIV infection also occurs through infected blood transfusions. However, the workers themselves are to be blamed for not scrutinizing the donors beforehand. However, blood transfusions have been made safer through strict screening of donors and also their epidemiological evidence.

Risk of HIV infection is greatly amplified through improper or unsafe handling of equipments in the hospital. Workers are in risk of getting infected if they get stuck with HIV infected needles or having infected blood onto their wounds, nose and eyes. After a few suspected cases concerning improper handling of such equipments, procedures were made to make sure equipments such as needles and surgery equipments be sterilized and even incinerated.

A few other factors may also be suspected, such as tattooing and through insects, such as mosquitoes whereas blood is concerned. Nevertheless, it is still up to us to take care of ourselves instead of hoping and blaming the environment in any case of HIV transmission.

One way of HIV prevention is by using condom during sexual activities. There are numerous studies showing that condoms are actually effective in HIV transmission prevention. Condoms, if used correctly actually prevent the transmission of semen which contains HIV to another person. However, the use of condoms is not so popular in some countries considering that the people have to buy them in hypermarkets and not through vending machine which gives anonymity. Besides that, it is hampered by the poverty that the people face and people who says that sex is more enjoyable without using condoms. Still, the use of condoms which greatly cuts down the risk of HIV transmission should be encouraged.

There are also studies showing that male circumcision actually cuts down the risk of HIV transmission. Biologically, foreskin has a higher density for HIV infection. Foreskin that is cut off in turn reduces the density for HIV transmission. Circumcised men actually have 55% to 76% reduction in risk of HIV infection.

For unmarried people or couples, the best way to prevent HIV infection is still abstinence. Abstinence makes sure that a person reserves his/her first sex until marriage. Morally, abstinence promotes fidelity and loyalty to only one partner and not multiple sex partners which would have increased the risk of HIV transmission. Moreover, abstinence would make sure of no unintended pregnancy, abortion and maintain an excellent sexual health. Abstinence also promotes self discipline and not sex partners as sex objects, merely to satisfy one’s desire but to enjoy sex after marriage as special to one’s life partner.

HIV can also be transmitted through sharing of equipments while injecting recreational drugs. Drug addicts usually share needles which are already infected with HIV. Drug treatment programme usually tries to cut down the use of the drugs altogether while creating awareness on the danger of sharing needles. Right now the prevention methods are still through campaigns to highlight the danger of drugs and also through community groups that take care of the addicts.

Another medium through which HIV is transmitted is by blood transfusion. Donors are sometimes not strictly scrutinized causing them to donate infected blood to the blood bank which after that transfuses them to patients. The most effective prevention method is still to screen the donors strictly and restricting donors to those who have epidemiological evidence. It takes a great effort on the part of the hospital or workers themselves to make sure only clean blood are transfused to patients.

Looking at the above prevention method, it is certain to say that self discipline is crucial in making sure the prevention methods actually work.

There are a few types of HIV tests. The most common HIV test is the antibody test or also called ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test. Antibodies are produced whenever any virus or bacteria enters a person’s body. In this case, when HIV enters a person’s body, an HIV antibody is also produced to combat the virus. So, if a person’s blood is tested to be positive of the antibodies, it means the person is infected with HIV. However, a person who is tested negative 3 months earlier does not mean that the person is not HIV negative. Most people only produce detectable antibodies in 1-3 months after infection. In some cases, it takes up to 6 months until the person is pronounced HIV positive. Because of this, doctors sometimes recommend another check-up after 3-6 months in order to be really accurate in ELISA test. During this period of waiting, that person should abstain from sex and refrain from any activities that may cause HIV transmission such as recreational drugs with shared equipments.

The second test is a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test. PCR test is a direct detection method and has a 95% confidence level after 28 days. Its direct detection method is by looking for the DNA of the HIV virus and not looking for its antibodies etc. Until now, many laboratories guarantee the success of using PCR to detect HIV. Moreover, it’s the fastest as the test result returns usually in one week. However, the only drawback is that it is expensive-more than $250 per person.

The third test is the antigen test. In any kinds of infection, antigen is a foreign body that triggers the response of antibodies. On HIV virus is the protein P24. The antigen test is almost similar to ELISA although antigen test is faster as HIV can be detected earlier.

In any case of HIV positive result, a second test would be conducted. Some of the second test is a second ELISA and Western Blot Assays. A second ELISA would use different methods and a new blood sample to test for HIV. Western Blot Assays is one of the most accurate tests to confirm the existence of HIV antibodies.

So in any case of suspicion of HIV infection, make sure you go for any check-ups listed above. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Here are some HIV symptoms for your reference:

The early HIV symptom is like flu-like symptoms. For example fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes and muscles aches etc. Sometimes it will not be apparent.

HIV can be transmitted in Sexual, through blood or mother to child. These are the 3 main ways that people will infect by HIV.

To help prevent all form of HIV transmission, we can do 3 things:

1.To promote awareness of HIV through media, propaganda or education in schools.
2.Conduct counseling and provide HIV testing.
3.To provide anti-retroviral treatment

However, we still need to do our part to prevent HIV infections. Abstain from sex or be faithful to one partner will also help to reduce the infection. Provide comprehensive sex education for young people to create the awareness and reduce the risk of getting HIV infection.

Recent report found out transfusion of infected blood is the most efficient of all ways to transmit HIV. To reduce the risk is to screening all blood supplies for the virus.

Other than that, you can also prevent medical procedures or activities that involve contact with blood i.e. tattooing or circumcision.

Since HIV can be transmitted from a mother to her child during pregnancy. The most effective way of reducing babies infected is to prevent HIV infection in women. This is much more effective than treatment during pregnancy.

To be successful, besides knowing the HIV symptoms and do some precautious steps on prevention, the most important thing is still education. Education will create awareness and provide the knowledge of the illness. If only people know the risk and consequences, they will then know how to prevent.

Love yourself, cherish your life and give protection to your loved ones. Know the HIV symptoms and do a regular test to find out your health status. You will happy if you do it for your good self and your loved ones.

The main type of AIDS or HIV treatment is antiretroviral treatment. It uses drugs to control the disease. To enhance the treatment, patient sometimes takes more than 2 types of antiretroviral drugs. This is called combination therapy or term as Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART).

Currently there are 5 types of anti-HIV drugs.

1. Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
2. Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
3. Protease Inhibitors
4. Fusion or Entry Inhibitors
5. Integrase Inhibitors

Although HAART has been greatly control the HIV infection and reduce the number of death. There is still possibility transmission of HIV. It means even a patient is taking antiretroviral drugs he/she can still transmit the HIV to others because the drug only slow down the replication of HIV. It doesn’t cure.

Before starting any treatment, you may do some tests – CD4 test and viral load test. CD4 test is a test on your immune system measuring the T-helper cell. The more T-helper cell, the stronger of your immune system and also indicate that your body has better condition to fight for the disease.

If your T-helper cell falls in between 200 to 350 per cubic millimeter of blood, you will need to start the antiretroviral treatment. On the other side, viral load test is checking on the amount of HIV in your blood.

These 2 tests is helping you to determine when to start your anti-HIV treatment. It is advisable to start the treatment as early as possible when your immune system is stronger. It gives you better chance of fighting the disease.

It is important for you to discuss the test results and start the anti-HIV treatment with your doctor. He can also suggest you on choosing any combination of drugs. This is more likely a life time treatment. Therefore your commitment is greatly affect the treatment than the drugs itself. Do it as in when you are ready!

1. Sexual transmission – Through an intimacy sexual contact i.e. vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected sex partner. Besides through direct contact, there is also a chance to get infected by sharing sexual devices.
   
2. Transmission through blood – the most common cases is by sharing syringes and needles or blood transfusion activities.
3. Transmission through pregnancy – from mother to the fetus. Report has shown that over 500 thousands of infants infected HIV during pregnancy or breast feeding.

You will not get HIV though body touching i.e. hugging, shaking hands, sharing cups, sneezing etc. HIV doesn’t spread though air.

Refers to the causes of HIV infections mentioned-above, the risk of getting HIV infection is higher if you are having unprotected sexual intercourse with a HIV positive partners. Homosexual or bisexual whom involved in sexual activities with multiple partners will increase the risk of getting HIV infection. Sharing drugs needles or involve in blood transfusion activities will also get a higher chance of HIV infection.

For a mother who has HIV positive but not getting any treatment is also at a high risk. But if a treatment for HIV carried out during pregnancy will reduce the risk of the infant for HIV infection.

Statistic shows that over 400,000 of HIV transmission case caused by male to male sexual contact, nearly 150,000 through injected drug use and 13,000 through blood transfusion. And the number is still increasing.

The latest report also shown that in globally, more than 10% of the infections are infants who acquire HIV from mothers and 10% from sex between man and drugs injection use.

There is still no cure for HIV infection found at this moment, the best way to reduce the infection of HIV is to is to protect yourself from sexual intercourse i.e. using condoms. Keep yourself away from illegal drug use i.e. sharing needles.