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HIV Infection

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) targets CD4 immune cells, gradually weakening the body’s defences if left untreated. With modern antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV is a manageable chronic condition rather than a fatal one. People on effective treatment achieve undetectable viral loads, stay well, and cannot transmit the virus sexually.

Medicine used to treat HIV Infection

Key points

  • Early infection often causes a brief flu-like illness, after which the virus enters a long silent phase.
  • Left untreated, the immune system weakens progressively until the body becomes vulnerable to infections it would normally fight off.
  • Effective control relies on pairing medicines from several different classes, taken continuously since pausing allows the virus to resurge.

How the virus progresses

After initial infection, many people experience a short flu-like illness (fever, swollen glands, sore throat) that resolves on its own. The virus then enters a long silent phase during which CD4 counts slowly fall. Without treatment, this eventually leads to AIDS, a stage defined by severe immune suppression and opportunistic infections.

Antiretroviral treatment

ART combines medicines from different drug classes to suppress the virus below detectable levels. Common backbone agents include lamivudine, abacavir, and zidovudine, paired with integrase inhibitors such as dolutegravir or raltegravir, or the non-nucleoside agent efavirenz. Treatment is lifelong; stopping allows the virus to rebound. The full range of available regimens is listed in the HIV management category, which sits within the broader antivirals section.

When to seek urgent care

Sudden severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, difficulty breathing, or unexplained rapid weight loss in someone with HIV warrant same-day medical attention, as these can signal opportunistic infections that need prompt treatment.

Further reading

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