Question 1

can you tell me facts about herpes and hiv etc.?

Accepted Answer

Herpes and HIV: That is a big question. You may need more reading than we can provide in four hundred characters. Herpes is two viruses. One, the simplex, infects 75% of Americans. The genital herpes, or HSV2, infects 25%. Men who have sex with men and have HSV2 are five times more likely to have HIV then men without HSV2.

Question 2

what cause hiv?

Accepted Answer

Cause of AIDS: Human immunodeficiency virus.  It may be acquired through sex, intravenous drug use or other exposure to body fluids of an infected person.

Question 3

symptoms of hiv?

Accepted Answer

Don't wait!: Don't wait for the symptoms of HIV to show up - get tested if you could be at risk (risk factors: unprotected sex, needle sharing). A few weeks after contracting the virus, HIV causes a flu-like syndrome (fevers, malaise). Then the virus can lie dormant for years before causing life-threatening infections of the lung, brain, and other organs due to the body's damaged and decreased immunity.

Question 4

can hiv be cured?

Accepted Answer

Almost: Today's medical regimen has vastly improved lives of patients with aids to the point where they can lead normal lives - a good example is magic johnson. It is not  a cure but the HIV can be managed. We are still working on a vaccine.

Question 5

how is hiv spread?

Accepted Answer

Several ways...: "hiv is the virus that causes aids. It can be spread through unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, or oral sex) with someone who has hiv; contact with hiv-infected blood by sharing needles (piercing, tattooing, drug equipment, including needles); by hiv-infected pregnant women to their infants during pregnancy or delivery, or by breast feeding."    http://www.Health.Ny.Gov/publications/9678/index.Htm.

Question 6

can i cure my hiv?

Accepted Answer

I wish we knew how: We have learned so much about HIV in the last 20+ years, and treatment for HIV is light years ahead of where we were even 15 years ago. But, once it integrates into cells' dna, we do not know how to dislodge it yet, so we do not know how to cure it. But the medications available today are highly effective, simpler to take, have low side effects, and should provide a near-normal life expectancy.

Question 7

is hiv everywhere ?

Accepted Answer

Define everywhere: The virus is entrenched in the world.  The total number of cases in the usa is relatively stable.  In parts of the developing world, it is still spreading quite a lot.

Question 8

how do you get hiv?

Accepted Answer

See below: Having sex with an infected person, and sharing needles with an infected person are common ways. See this site for more information on the subject.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/transmission.html

Question 9

how is hiv  treated?

Accepted Answer

Medication: There are different virus strains, so depending on this and several other factors, the doctor will prescribe anti-viral medication.

Question 10

what is a hiv carrier?

Accepted Answer

Infected with HIV: "Carrier" is no longer used by experts. It once meant an outwardly healthy person with positive HIV test. Nowadays we just refer to "HIV infection"; even "AIDS" is isn't used much. Some docs or clinics may say "carrier" to soften the blow. But a positive test means infection, a damaged immune system, risk of serious illness at any time, infection risk for sex partners, and need for anti-HIV drugs.

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