HIV is a virus that causes chronic infection, and can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) with severe and life-threatening failure of the immune system.
At Dr.Dropin we can help you with blood tests to check if you are infected as well as follow-up and treatment if needed.
HIV is a virus that causes chronic infection, and can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) with severe and life-threatening failure of the immune system.
Infection and infection
HIV leads to immune weakening by killing CD4 (the body's defense cells) which weakens our defenses against infections. Without treatment, one can become seriously ill from common infections as the body no longer has anything to defend itself with, and eventually develop AIDS. AIDS is a condition related to severe immune deficiency caused by the HIV virus. The virus is transmitted via body fluid through sexual contact, through blood infection (eg by using unclean needles) or from mother to child.
About half of those infected develop symptoms 2-4 weeks after infection.
Common symptoms are:
The disease can then remain dormant for several years (10-30 years) where you have no symptoms. Then you can eventually develop immune deficiency and get symptoms of more serious illness such as:
Your doctor will take a blood test to see if you are infected with HIV. This can be taken at the earliest 3 weeks after the possible time of infection, and is best if 8-12 weeks have passed (then everyone has developed antibodies to the virus). This test shows if you are infected with the virus. There is no separate test for AIDS as this is a broad condition where you look at the medical history as a whole and make the diagnosis based on this. If the test for HIV is positive, several blood tests are performed to map the status of the immune system.
You can protect yourself against HIV infection by using a condom and avoid using needles that others have used. There are also anti-HIV medicines called PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and it can be given to people at high risk of getting HIV. This is only offered to those where there is a strong indication and who are defined as risk persons. These include men who have sex with men and transgender people who have had unprotected intercourse with several partners in the last 12 months with a high risk of recurrence.
If you are in a situation where there is a high probability that you are infected with HIV (eg after a needle stick from a needle used by someone with HIV, unprotected intercourse with someone with a known infection) then there is also a treatment you can get shortly after possible infection to stop a possible infection. It is important that this is taken 48 hours before the time of infection for it to have an effect.
Today, there is also good treatment if you have been infected with HIV. This is a lifelong treatment consisting of three different antiviral drugs (drugs that remove viruses.)
The doctors at Dr. Dropin can help you get the blood sample you need to check if you are infected with the HIV virus- If you are infected, you will be referred to infectious diseases for treatment and further follow-up.
Book an appointment
You can get tested at a general practitioner, or at a dermatology clinic. At municipal clinics the test is free, but at private clinics you pay for the test.
The best thing you can do yourself is to use a condom during intercourse (both vaginal and anal), and not share needles with others / use used needles.
There are good prognoses today, as there is good treatment against the virus so you avoid long-term and serious illness.
HIV is the virus that can lead to the disease AIDS. It is not a given that you get AIDS even if you have HIV. If you get good treatment started early enough, most people live a good and normal life without it developing into AIDS.
No, the virus is with you for life, but treatment can help so you are not sick (only the carrier of the virus)
Author: GP Martine Hallin Henriksen
Last updated: 12.07.2022
Norsk elektronisk legehåndbok, (2019), Hiv og aids, (online), tilgjengelig fra: https://legehandboka.no/handboken/kliniske-kapitler/infeksjoner/tilstander-og-sykdommer/virusinfeksjoner/hiv-infeksjon-og-aids/, hentet: 30. mai 2020.
eMetodebok, (2020), Hiv-infeksjon, (online), tilgjengelig fra: https://emetodebok.no/kapittel/lnfeksjoner/, hentet 30. mai 2020.