By Sola Ogundipe

F act!  The most common symptoms of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, include flu-like symptoms, such as fever and swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, weight loss, and hot flashes with fevers and sweating. HIV can also cause rashes and dry, flaky skin and can lead to seemingly unrelated conditions such as recurring yeast infections. But in so many instances, a person with HIV infection appears perfectly normal and healthy. Only through a screen test can HIV status be properly determined.

A screen test is required for HIV status

Fact! You cannot tell if a person is infected with HIV just by looking at that person. The only way to determine HIV status is to get tested. An HIV antibody test is the most common blood screen test for HIV infection. Don’t wait. Get tested today. The sooner you know your status, the sooner you can take back control of your health and peace of mind. Go to http://hivtest.cdc.gov/ to find a testing location near you.

HIV develops into AIDS

Fact! HIV occurs when the body begins to attack its own blood cells, inhibiting the body’s ability to fight off infection. A person moves from HIV into AIDS status when the person’s T cells (called CD4 cells) which are needed to fight off infections, drop below a significant level.

Everyone with HIV has AIDS

Fiction! This is quite untrue. With treatment and medical care, HIV does not always develop into AIDS. Many people with HIV never contract AIDS, but they must take medication and carefully monitor their health to achieve this.

There is a cure for HIV/AIDS

Fiction! There is no cure for either HIV or AIDS, but with good and sustained medication, a person who is HIV positive can prevent the HIV diagnosis from developing into AIDS.

HIV is preventable through safer sex

Fact! HIV can spread through oral and anal sex as well as intercourse. Safer-sex practices such as abstinence, being faithful to one sex partner and correct and consistent use of condoms can help prevent HIV infection. It also helps to get tested for sexually transmitted infections/diseases regularly.

HIV infection means certain death

Fiction! A positive HIV diagnosis is not a death sentence. While HIV can be fatal, the prospects for HIV care and support, medication and treatment routines have improved tremendously. Effective HIV control and prevention initiatives are more available and accessible and people living with HIV can live just as long and as healthily as people who are not infected as long as they maintain a healthy lifestyle and do not come down with any opportunistic infection.