HIV

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, HIV weakens the body's ability to fight infection and can progress to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). With early diagnosis and modern antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV is a manageable long-term condition — people with well-controlled HIV can live long, healthy lives and won't transmit the virus to sexual partners (U=U: undetectable equals untransmittable).

India has the third-largest HIV epidemic in the world by number of cases, though overall prevalence has declined. Free testing, counselling, and treatment are available at government centres across India.

How HIV spreads

• Unprotected sexual contact (vaginal, anal, or oral) with an infected person
• Sharing needles or syringes (injecting drug use)
• From mother to baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding (preventable with treatment)
• Blood transfusion or organ transplant with infected blood or organs (extremely rare now due to screening)
• Occupational exposure — needle-stick injuries in healthcare

HIV does NOT spread through: casual contact, hugging, sharing food or drinks, toilets, swimming pools, insect bites, saliva, sweat, or tears.

Symptoms

Many people have no symptoms for years.

• Acute HIV (2-4 weeks after infection) — flu-like illness: fever, headache, sore throat, rash, swollen glands, body aches. Often mistaken for a viral illness.
• Chronic (asymptomatic) stage — can last years. The virus is active but the person feels well. HIV can only be detected through testing.
• Advanced HIV / AIDS — unexplained weight loss, chronic diarrhoea, fever, night sweats, persistent cough, oral thrush, opportunistic infections (TB, pneumonia), shingles in young people, unusual skin conditions.

Testing

HIV testing is confidential and free at Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) and government hospitals, and also available at private labs. Modern tests can detect HIV within weeks of infection. Rapid tests give results in minutes.

Get tested if you have had unprotected sex, shared needles, had a needle-stick injury, been sexually assaulted, or if your regular partner is HIV-positive. Routine HIV testing is also part of antenatal care.

Treatment

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a combination of medicines taken daily for life. ART:

• Stops HIV from multiplying
• Allows the immune system to recover
• Prevents progression to AIDS
• Reduces viral load to undetectable levels — at which point HIV cannot be transmitted sexually (U=U)
• Allows people with HIV to live near-normal lifespans

In India, free ART is available at ART centres across the country. Starting treatment early and taking medicines consistently is the most important step.

Prevention

• Use condoms consistently during sex
• Limit number of sexual partners; mutual monogamy with a known-negative partner
• Don't share needles or syringes
• HIV testing for you and your partner before unprotected sex
• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) — daily medicine to prevent infection, for people at ongoing high risk; available in India
• Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) — a 28-day course of medicines started within 72 hours of exposure
• Testing and treatment during pregnancy — effectively prevents transmission to the baby
• Safe blood practices; avoid unregulated tattoos and piercings