How Is The HIV Infection Transmitted?

Posted on Sat, 23 Jul 2016

Question: Hello: I would like to get some information on HIV transmission and PEP

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
PEP has to be continued for 4 weeks to get a full benefit.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
Transmission of HIV is through the following ways:
1. Sexual: Anal, vaginal and oral
2. Transfusion of infected blood and blood products
3. Sharing of needles and syringes and other sharps.
4. Mother to child
PEP is mainly meant for occupational exposure among the health care workers of various levels.
PEP has to be started as early as possible and after 72 hours of the exposure, it has no value. It has to be continued for 28 days without any interruption with regular follow up with HIV tests from the day 1 on wards up to six months.
Untoward symptoms like tingling sensation or other problem will settle within few day after the initiation of the course. If you have any other problem, report it to your physician who advised the PEP, he will be able to alleviate the untoward symptoms with appropriate alternative drugs. The PEP drugs prescribed for you is ideal one.
Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (17 minutes later)

Thank you Dr. Murugan:

Would you consider this exposure high risk given that there may have been unprotected vaginal exposure. Just for your information, I am a circumcised man with no noticeable wounds to scars.

Also,are HIV strains in Vietnam/SE Asia more infectious and resistant?

And finally, What are the first signs of seroconversion?

Thanks again.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (55 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Sero-conversion illness can manifest as 'FLU' like symptoms.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Protected exposure posed a negligible risk for HIV.
HIV strains from south east Asia has not much resistance than that of HIV infection from other parts of the world.
Earliest sings of sero-conversion can occur only with 50-70% of the infected people and not with all. That too, it will manifest around 4-6 weeks after the infection. Fever, body pain, sore throat, lymph node enlargement are few symptoms which can occur during seroconversion illness.
Dr S.Murugan

Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina