Kane County Health Department

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, specifically the cells that help fight infections. If left untreated, HIV can weaken the immune system over time and progress to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is the most advanced stage (Stage 3) of HIV. At this stage, the immune system becomes severely damaged, making the body more vulnerable to opportunistic infections and certain cancers.


HIV is most commonly transmitted through anal or vaginal sex with a person who has the virus, or by sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment. The virus is present in certain body fluids, including blood, semen, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and pre-seminal fluid. Transmission occurs when these fluids enter the body through mucous membranes, damaged tissue, or are directly injected into the bloodstream, such as through a contaminated needle.


Early testing, prevention, and treatment are essential in managing HIV and reducing the risk of transmission.
 

Symptoms

Initial HIV symptoms are similar to those of many other illnesses. Some people have no symptoms at all. Most people have flu-like symptoms within 2 to 4 weeks after infection. They may last from a few days to several weeks. Symptoms include:

  • Sore throat
  • Fever  
  • Chills
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Rash
  • Muscle aches
  • Night sweats
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Fatigue

 

Diagnosis

The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. There are many options for quick, free, and painless HIV testing. If your test result is positive, you can take medicine to treat HIV to help you live a long, healthy life and protect others. If your test result is negative, you can take actions to prevent HIV. Everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 should get tested for HIV at least once. People with certain risk factors should get tested more often.

Call the HIV/STD Hotline 800-243-2437 or contact a Kane County sexual healthcare provider​ to find an HIV testing location near you.

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Treatment

There is currently no effective cure for the disease. Once people get HIV, they have it for life. But proper medical care can control the virus. People with HIV who get on and stay on effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners.

HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy or ART) involves taking medicine as prescribed by a health care provider. You should start HIV treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis. HIV treatment reduces the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load). HIV treatment can make the viral load so low that a test can't detect it (undetectable viral load). If you have an undetectable viral load, you will not transmit HIV to others through sex. Having an undetectable viral load also reduces the risk of HIV transmission through sharing drug injection equipment, and during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

If you are a person living with HIV and need medical care and/or supportive services, there are programs available to help meet these needs. If you are a pregnant woman living with HIV, specialized care and support services are available to assure a healthy outcome for you and your infant. See resource below.


Preventing HIV

Abstinence, along with proper use of condoms and sterile drug use equipment are part of HIV prevention strategies. In addition to this, there are two interventions that are highly effective in preventing HIV infection:

  • ​Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): this approach is intended for people who do not have HIV, but who are at substantial risk of getting it, to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day.
  • Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): this approach is intended to prevent HIV after a possible exposure; the appropriate medicine must be taken within 72 hours (3 days) after the HIV exposure.

HIV and Pregnancy

HIV can be passed from mother to child anytime during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding (perinatal transmission). For a woman with HIV, the risk of transmitting it to the baby can be 1% or less if she takes HIV medicine as prescribed throughout pregnancy until childbirth, gives HIV medicine to her baby for 4-6 weeks after giving birth, and does not breastfeed or pre-chew her baby's food.

Pregnant women, or women planning to become pregnant, should be tested for HIV as soon as possible. If diagnosed with HIV, they should be linked to care and start receiving HIV treatment as soon as possible for the safety of their babies.


Resources

HIV Care Connect

Illinois Perinatal HIV Hotline: 1-800-439-4079

National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors

IDPH: HIV/AIDS

IDPH: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)

CDC: HIV

CDC: Preventing HIV

CDC: Treating HIV

CDC: How to Prevent STIs

CDC: Condom Use

American Sexual Health Association​

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