~Ending the HIV Epidemic by Connecting People and Resources~
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What is HIV
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV develops when the virus enters the blood stream and and tattaches itself to the body's fighter T - Cells. Once attached, the HIV virus take over the Fighter T-Cell and then begins replicating itself in mass quantities. There are 3 stages of the HIV virus
1. Acute: This occurs within the first 2 - 4 weeks of transmission. During this time, the virus is taking over the body's Fighter T-Cells at a rapid pace. A person will experience flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes, rashes, or a person may be asymptomatic - meaning they experience no symptoms at all.
2. Chronic: This is the asymptomatic or latency stage in which the virus is still replicating, but at a slow rate, therefore the people living with this stage of HIV may not expetience any symptoms, or may experience very mild symptoms, such as a dry cough or dermatitis (skin rash.)
3. AIDS: See next question
What is AIDS
What is PrEP - Prevention
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis is a prevention strategy by which antiviral medications are taken to prevent the spread of disease in people who have not yet been exposed to a disease-causing agent, usually a virus. Currently, Apretude and Descovy are two of the available medications to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS. Speak with your physician about the best option for you.
What is PEP - Prevention
AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is the final stage of infection with HIV. It happens when the body's immune system is badly damaged because of the virus, and is therefore unable to fight off other opportunistic infections. Not everyone with HIV develops AIDS.
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) means taking medicine to prevent HIV after a possible exposure. If taken within 72 hours of possible exposure, PEP has been proven to be very effective at preventing the development of HIV/AIDS. If you think you may have been exposed due to condom breakage, needle sharing or sexual, make sure to consult your physician, the emergency room, urgent care, or other medical provider immediately.
What is U = U
Undetectable = Untransmittable is achieved when a person living with HIV/AIDS regularly takes anti-retroviral medication to suppress the amount of the HIV virus in their bloodstream (viral load). Once suppression is achieved, the virus cannot be detected on a lab test, and therefore can't be transmitted to an un-infected person.
Biktarvy - Treatment
Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide, sold under the brand name Biktarvy, is a fixed-dose combination antiretroviral medication for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. One tablet, taken orally once daily, contains 50 mg bictegravir, 200 mg emtricitabine, and 25 mg tenofovir alafenamide. There are many other antiretroviral treatments for HIV/AIDS available. Please speak with your doctor about what is the best option for you.
How do you acquire HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS is transmitted through direct contact with a person that is HIV+ and has not reached undetectable levels. It is carried in bodily fluids such as blood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. THE HIV virus can be transmitted during oral sex, anal sex, and traditional heterosexual sex. Noone is immune to the virus. Married couples can acquire HIV too.