Experts have revealed the common red flags that could be a sign of HIV infection. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus weakens the body’s ability to fight everyday disease and infections, and if left untreated it can develop into the potentially fatal AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
Dr Stephanie Ooi, a GP at private healthcare provider MyHealthcare Clinic, said: “Thanks to advances in research and treatment, HIV is not the feared and potentially fatal disease it was in recent years. However, it is still a serious condition that requires effective, long-term care and should not be underestimated.
“Early warning signs of HIV can present in a similar way to illnesses such as the common flu so it’s important to be aware of what to look out for and what to do if you think you may have been exposed to the virus. Most people diagnosed with HIV in the UK acquire the virus through unprotected sex.
“Symptoms of HIV often include a fever that lasts for a week or two, headaches, muscle pain, sore throat and a rash. While other red flags can include swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the neck and groin, diarrhoea and sudden, unexplained weight loss.
“The good news is that HIV can be treated effectively if detected early enough, patients can live long, healthy and normal lives.”
HIV is found in the bodily fluids of an infected person and is transmitted through sexual contact or sharing needles. It cannot survive outside the body and is not transmitted through saliva, sweat or urine.
There are various ways to avoid contracting the HIV virus, including wearing a condom during sex and not sharing needles with other people. There are also medications that can help prevent infection - pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
The most recent Government figures show there were 106,890 people living with HIV in the UK in 2020, including an estimated 5,150 people who weren’t aware they were infected. Once a patient receives a HIV diagnosis, they start a course of antiretroviral medicines that stop the virus replicating itself in the body, allowing the immune system to repair itself.
If patients adhere to taking their medication each day, which can be one or more tablets, they can achieve the goal of having an undetectable viral load, which means they can’t pass it on to other people. Without treatment, patients’ immune systems become severely weaker and they can be susceptible to serious illnesses such as cancer.
However, a combination of effective treatment, regular exercise and a healthy diet can mean patients live a normal life-span. MyHealthcare Clinic is a doctor-led healthcare business providing personalised private medical, dental and specialist medical care all under one roof.
