More than 40 years have passed since AIDS, the disease caused by HIV, was first identified in the United States. While HIV and AIDS remain urgent public health issues, the prevention and treatment landscape has transformed drastically throughout the past four decades. Breakthroughs in treatment have made it possible to stop the progression of HIV and prevent transmission of the virus to others. Read on to learn more about HIV stages, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
What are HIV and AIDS?
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks your immune system, making you more vulnerable to other illnesses. It is transmitted through contact with the blood, semen, or vaginal fluids of someone who has HIV.
If untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), which is also considered the last stage of HIV. When HIV progresses into AIDS, your immune system has been significantly weakened by the virus.
Currently, there is no cure for HIV, but taking HIV medicine called antiretroviral therapy (ART) as prescribed stops the progression of the disease. As a result, most people living with HIV in the U.S. do not develop AIDS. There are also HIV prevention medications, PrEP and PEP, which are effective at preventing the transmission of HIV through sex or intravenous drug use.
Disparities in HIV infection rates
As the HIV epidemic emerged in the U.S. in the 1980s and 90s, gay and bisexual men were disproportionately affected — in part because the virus transmits more easily through anal sex than vaginal sex — and subsequently stigmatized as carriers of the virus. However, the medical community soon discovered that anyone can contract HIV regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, as the virus can be transmitted through anal sex, vaginal sex, or the sharing intravenous drug equipment such as needles or syringes.
In recent years, there has been significant progress toward reducing the annual HIV infection rate, and new cases of HIV among gay and bisexual men ages 13-24 dropped by 33% between 2015-2019. Still, gay and bisexual men accounted for 69% of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. in 2019. And in recent years, Black and Latinx individuals have been disproportionately affected by HIV. Racial and ethnic discrimination and disparities in healthcare access — which can discourage people from seeking HIV prevention services and testing — factor into HIV’s outsized impact on these communities.
HIV stages and symptoms
There are three primary stages of HIV: acute HIV infection, chronic HIV infection, and stage 3 HIV, or AIDS.
Acute HIV infection
Acute HIV infection, the first stage of HIV, may develop within two to four weeks of contracting the virus. During this stage of HIV, the virus multiplies rapidly and there is a high amount of HIV in your bloodstream (also known as your viral load). While the virus replicates and spreads, it destroys your CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell that plays a role in your immune system.
Some people with acute HIV infection quickly experience flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and mouth ulcers. The only way to know your HIV status is by getting tested. If you have any of these symptoms and believe you may have been exposed to HIV, seek prompt medical care and take an HIV test. Find a free and confidential HIV testing site near you..
Experiencing these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have HIV, as they overlap with symptoms of the flu and other illnesses. And some individuals with HIV develop these symptoms later, while others never develop them at all, which is why it’s critical to get tested for HIV on a regular basis — ideally every three months. You can still transmit the virus to others even if you do not have noticeable symptoms of HIV.
Chronic HIV infection
During the chronic HIV infection stage, the virus replicates less rapidly than it did in the acute stage, but it continues to damage your CD4 cells and weaken your immune system.
Many people experience no symptoms or mild symptoms during this latent period, which is also sometimes referred to as asymptomatic HIV infection or clinical latency. However, just like during the acute HIV infection stage, you can still transmit the virus to others even if you are not experiencing symptoms.
Without effective treatment, your viral load will increase and your CD4 cell count will decrease as this stage of HIV progresses. You are more likely to experience symptoms of HIV when your viral load is high and your CD4 cell count is low. Taking HIV medication as prescribed can help you maintain a low or even undetectable viral load and prevent your HIV from progressing into AIDS.
Stage 3 HIV (AIDS)
AIDS is the third and most advanced stage of HIV. In this stage, your immune system is severely weakened, your viral load continues to increase, and your CD4 cell count continues to decrease.
HIV progresses into AIDS when you have a CD4 cell count of less than 200 cells per cubic milliliter or when you develop an opportunistic infection (OI), an illness that occurs more frequently in individuals with HIV because of their weakened immune systems.
Opportunistic infections experienced by individuals with HIV include kaposi’s sarcoma, a type of cancer that develops in your blood and lymph vessels; pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), and mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), tuberculosis-related bacteria. However, OIs continue to occur less frequently as HIV treatment becomes more effective.
HIV treatment
There are many effective HIV treatment options that can keep you healthy and help you maintain a low viral load. The primary treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy (ART), a combination of medications that lower the amount of HIV in your bloodstream.
If you take your HIV medication every day as prescribed, you can maintain an undetectable viral load. This will preserve the strength of your own immune system and prevent you from transmitting the virus to others.
Starting ART as soon as possible after you receive an HIV diagnosis is critical to lowering your risk of developing AIDS and preventing you from transmitting the virus to others. If you have tested positive for HIV, reach out to your healthcare provider right away to begin treatment.
PrEP and PEP for HIV prevention
If you have tested negative for HIV, there are important HIV prevention medications that can help you continue to protect your health: PrEP and PEP.
PrEP
PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, can lower risk of sexual transmission of HIV by 99% when taken daily and reduces the risk of getting HIV from intravenous drug use by about 74%. PrEP may be right for you if you have a partner who is HIV-positive or unsure of their HIV status, or if you have multiple partners. Pharmacists in a growing number of states can now prescribe PrEP.
PEP
PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, is a medication taken within 72 hours of potential exposure to HIV to lower your chances of contracting the virus. It can be prescribed by a healthcare provider at emergency rooms, sexual health clinics, community-based health centers, and, in some states, pharmacies. PEP is only for emergencies and accidental exposures. If you anticipate ongoing risk of exposure to HIV, speak with your doctor about potentially taking PrEP for long-term protection.
We’re here to help you navigate HIV treatment and prevention therapies
Our pharmacists have deep expertise in HIV treatment and prevention and can help you get started with antiretroviral therapy, PrEP, or PEP. We will coordinate with your doctor and your insurance provider to ensure that you’re receiving the best option for your needs at the best price.
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This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in December 2021 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.
