HIV/AIDS can be difficult to diagnose so if you suspect you may have contracted HIV, you should get tested for HIV immediately. Symptoms often can take a long time to develop after the intial exposure to HIV, but common symptoms of AIDS include thrush or chronic yeast infections, skin discoloration, easy bruising, nausea, vommiting, and exhaustion. As your bodies immune system begins to be broken down more advance symptoms are simply more severe opportunistic infections. This can include certain cancers that only occur in people with a weakened immune system, or infections in places where they don't normally occur. HIV tests are used to confirm the presence of anti HIV cells in your blood or saliva and not the actual virus. Advanced opportunistic infections begin to become prevalent as the immune systems CD4 cells drop below 200. HIV spread happens when infected bodily fluids enter your body. Transmission occurs primarily during sex and intervenous drug use when needles are shared. Using condoms is critical as well as other safe sex practices. Condoms are effective at preventing the transmission of HIV as well as other STDs during sex. The only way to practice safe sex is use a condom every time. If you use intervenous drugs, always be sure to use clean needles and never reuse them. It is important to help raise awareness about HIV transmission, it plays a critical role in preventing HIV spread. You should be tested for HIV even if you think you're not infected, and if you are sexually active you should get a routine HIV screening. Free HIV testing is often available, and some clinics perodically offer free HIV testing. HIV tests are simple to get, especially with the advent of rapid result test you can be tested and recieve your results within thirty minutes. The HIV test is done by taking a swab of saliva and does not require the drawing of blood.
