Getting HIV Test in New York
Getting screening test for HIV is recommended for all individuals within the age groups of 15-65, especially the people in the high-risk group, pregnant women and individuals who are diagnosed with any other sexually transmitted disease.
Initial HIV testing is performed with ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). This test will detect the presence of antibodies against HIV in the blood. If the antibodies are not detected, this means the blood sample is HIV negative; however, in case of positive HIV test, it is confirmed with more sensitive and accurate tests as western blot or IFA (immunofluorescence assay). The samples that are repeatedly positive with ELISA and IFA or western blot are considered HIV infected. Some nucleic acid tests like viral RNA or proviral DNA amplification is also available; however, they are less commonly executed.
In the United States currently, two states i.e. New York and Nebraska have law that mandates HIV testing. Being tested for HIV in New York is pretty convenient. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene The New York City, gives a list of free of cost, confidential and private clinics that have facilities to test for HIV and other related sexually transmitted disease. These clinics are available throughout the New York City and situated at convenient locations. Some of these clinics in New York City are Manhattan STD Clinics located in Central Harlem and Manhattanville, Bronx STD Clinics in Morrisania and Brooklyn STD Clinics in Crown Heights and Ft. Greene. Further details about clinics and their addresses can be found on the website of New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
What is HIV?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a pathogenic virus that causes AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in humans. As it could be understood from the word immunodeficiency that once an individual is infected with HIV, it produces a significant weakness in the body’s defense system known as immune system to protect the body against different diseases causing agents. HIV directly affects the immune system by infecting the T-cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. These cells are responsible for defending the human body against disease producing bacteria, viruses and other pathogens.
HIV is a subtype of Retroviridae family and belongs to genus Lentivirus. HIV was first discovered in chimpanzees in West African countries like Cameroon and Senegal. It has RNA as its genome. Once HIV infects an immune cell, it coverts its RNA to DNA and this DNA then becomes the part of the host cell DNA. This is called the latent phase. In this phase, the HIV virus remains inactive and cannot be detected. After some time, the virus becomes active and starts producing its own RNA and proteins that get packed into new viral cells and are released out of the host cell after destroying it and these newly produced viruses start infecting other cells, hence killing host each and every immune cell they infect. There are two subtypes of HIV termed as HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 was discovered first and it is the more aggressive of the two in infecting immune cells and believed to be cause of majority of HIV infections throughout the world.
Transmission of HIV into the human body is through unprotected sexual contact with an already infected partner, mother to child during pregnancy and exposure to body fluids of infected individual. The most frequent mode of transmission is through unprotected sexual intercourse both vaginal and anal, as well as oral sex. Individuals involved in high-risk sexual activities like having sex with different partners and not using protection are most at risk. IV (intravenous) drug users are also at high risk of being infected with HIV. The most unfortunate route of transmission is an infected mother giving birth to a child, who will get the HIV infection from the mother.
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Signs and Symptoms of HIV
As discussed above, the disease caused by HIV infection is known as AIDS. Very few people develop symptoms when they initially get infected with HIV. The latent or silent period usually lasts around 10 years before developing AIDS. The initial symptoms of HIV infection usually include swollen glands located in armpits, groin and throat, fatigue, headache, fever and mild flu-like symptoms.
By the progress of infection and increasing number of infected immune cells, the immune system gets considerably weak. Infected individual starts getting infections from such pathogens that fail to produce any disease in a normal individual with potent immune system. These infections are known as opportunistic infections.
The common symptoms of advanced HIV/AIDS include extreme tiredness, lightheadedness, headache, dizziness, weight loss, skin bruising, frequent diarrheas, swelling of glands, persistent dry cough, a whit coating of the tongue and mouth called thrush, unexplained growths on the skin with bleeding, bleeding from mouth, anus, vagina or mouth, loss of sensation in the arms and legs, confusion and decreased mental ability.
Treatment of HIV
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine or curative treatment available for HIV until date. Currently, HIV/AIDS treatment is done with HAART (high active antiretroviral therapy) also called cocktails. The most commonly used cocktail include two drugs AZT (zidovudine) or TDF (tenofovir) and 3TC (lamivudine) or FTC (emitricitabine). Sometimes, a protease inhibitor is also used with make the above combination more effective. According to WHO criteria, starting the treatment early can decrease the risk of death from HIV/AIDS.
Significant emphasis is placed on adapting different strategies to control the opportunistic infections; that is a very common problem with HIV infected individuals because of weakened immune system. It is highly recommended for people who are in the high-risk group that they should be vaccinated for hepatitis A and B before they get infected, but even after they get infected, these vaccinations can be administered to reduce the chances of hepatitis occurrence. Prophylactic therapies for toxoplasmosis and meningitis are also highly recommended in these immunocompromised individuals.
Additional Information
According to WHO, close to 35 million people have HIV throughout the world and 2.3 million people get infected every year. In 2008, 1.2 million people in United States were living with HIV and 17,500 deaths occurred due to HIV.
Many HIV/AIDS infected individuals also use alternative medicine treatments; however, the effectiveness of these therapies is yet to be established at a scientific or research level. There is some evidence that dietary supplements with micronutrients and multivitamin prove to be effective to strengthen the immune system and overall wellbeing of an HIV/AIDS individual; however, WHO also recommends that use of vitamin A, zinc and iron can be detrimental in HIV positive adults. As far as herbal medications are concerned, there is not enough scientific data available to support their use.