If you have a weak immune system, fatigue, fever, or unexplained weight loss, it could be caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). At Infectious Disease Associates & Travel Medicine in Gainesville, Florida, experienced physician Wendy Garlington, MD, and her staff diagnose and help you manage HIV. Call the office to schedule an appointment or use the online booking feature today.

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What is HIV?

HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). When left untreated, it damages your immune system, interfering with your ability to fight disease, illness, and infection. If you’re at risk of HIV and develop unusual symptoms, see your Infectious Disease Associates & Travel Medicine provider right away.

What are the symptoms of HIV?

The symptoms you experience because of HIV depend on the stage of the disease:

Primary infection

Initially, you’ll probably notice flu-like symptoms — a fever, muscle and joint pain, rashes, a sore throat, a cough, and diarrhea. You might have painful mouth sores, swollen lymph glands, headaches, and unexplained weight loss.

Symptomatic infection

As HIV worsens, you’ll likely also experience fatigue, weakness, further weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, and more frequent illnesses and infections.

You might also develop kidney or liver disease, pneumonia, oral thrush (thick white coating in the mouth, esophagus, or vagina), urinary tract infections (UTIs), neurological complications, certain cancers, tuberculosis, or opportunistic infections.

If you don’t get treated for HIV, you have a higher chance of spreading the disease to a sexual partner. Inform all previous sexual partners of your HIV status.

How does HIV spread from person to person?

HIV spreads from person to person through vaginal, oral, or anal sexual intercourse; blood; small mouth sores; sharing needles, or via pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. Ways to lessen your chance of getting HIV include not sharing needles and practicing safe sex.

“Safe sex” means having sex with just one mutually monogamous partner who’s tested negative for HIV, avoiding sex altogether, or always wearing a condom during sexual activity. If you already have an STD, your chance of getting HIV increases.

How does my doctor diagnose HIV?

To determine if you have HIV or AIDS, your Infectious Disease Associates & Travel Medicine provider reviews your symptoms, asks about your lifestyle and medical history, and discusses your medications.

They complete a physical exam, check your vital signs, and often recommend blood tests, saliva tests, or both.

How is HIV treated?

Properly managing HIV can reduce worrisome complications and your risk of spreading HIV to other people. However, there’s no cure for HIV. You can take antiviral medicines to reduce the amount of the virus present in your body and receive treatment for HIV complications. Those complications can include thrush, pneumonia, and diseases that affect your organs.

It’s necessary that you eat nutritious foods, get plenty of sleep, and stay active. Take all medications or receive vaccinations as directed by your Infectious Disease Associates & Travel Medicine specialist to remain as healthy as possible. Your provider might also suggest that you take dietary supplements and see them periodically to properly manage HIV.

Call the Infectious Disease Associates & Travel Medicine office or use the online scheduler to be screened or treated for HIV today.