HIV Positive

What does a positive HIV result mean?

A positive HIV result means that the test detected the presence of the virus in your body. However, an HIV-positive status is only confirmed after a follow-up test, which is necessary to reach a conclusive diagnosis and allow the infected person to start immediate treatment.

Understanding a positive HIV result

HIV is a type of virus that attacks body cells and impair the immune system. Once it enters our system, it leaves the body defenseless, and certain complications develop. Only through an HIV test that the virus is detected since symptoms do not necessarily appear when the infection occurs.

If your HIV test result is positive, it means you have HIV. However, a follow-up test is necessary to confirm the infection. If a positive result comes back, then a diagnosis of HIV is given. It means promptly starting treatment to prevent the condition from advancing to a more severe stage – AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

How does someone acquire HIV?

Anyone can get the virus, regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, and age. It is through sexual contact, sharing injectables, and exposure to contaminated bodily fluids that HIV transmits. The following explains how HIV transmission occurs.

• Unprotected sex – Unable to use protective barriers like condoms.
• Anal sex – Compared to vaginal sex, anal sex puts someone at a higher risk of HIV transmission.
• Shared needles and syringes – Sharing injectable equipment like syringes and needles can be another mode of HIV transmission, especially if they are infected or contaminated.
• STDs – Also known as sexually transmitted diseases, having STDs also makes someone susceptible to HIV.

What to do if you have HIV?

Receiving an HIV diagnosis can be very difficult and overwhelming. It calls for lifestyle changes, noting that you need to check on some of your habits and change negative ones into positive ones. An HIV diagnosis can also make you feel many emotions, particularly anger, disappointment, sadness, and stress. Thankfully, there are programs available today that you can take advantage of to cope with this kind of distress.

Aside from receiving emotional support after an HIV diagnosis, the following is the main point of HIV management.

• Take antiretroviral therapy – This therapy involves the use of combination of anti-HIV drugs that help suppress and control the infection. Because of advancements in the medical field, treating HIV is made easier. There are also a lot of medication choices, as long as they fit what your body can tolerate. This treatment is long-term as HIV diagnosis is a lifetime. However, you can become untransmittable and undetected after six months of treatment. Continuous treatment is still necessary to avoid HIV complications.

If you suspect having been exposed to HIV, consider getting yourself tested today. There are hubs and clinics today that offer free testing. Getting tested will help you know your status.