Although it is often a sexually transmitted disease, HIV does not cause genitourinary symptoms. The initial infection often has no symptoms at all for many years. If you believe that you’ve been exposed, you can take HIV PEP within 72 hours of exposure to reduce your chances of becoming infected.
The virus known as HIV is one of the most-feared infections. HIV can be a sexually transmitted disease (STD). However, unlike other STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, HIV doesn’t cause %genitourinary symptoms% like burning with urination or sores on the genitals. In fact, when you’re first infected with HIV, there are usually no symptoms at all. Symptoms will not appear for many years after the virus is acquired. Some people do have a flu-like syndrome when first infected, but genitourinary symptoms are not part of this.
HIV is not always transmitted sexually. It can also be acquired through contact with infected blood. This usually involves being stuck with a contaminated needle, either during injection drug use or in a healthcare setting as a healthcare worker. HIV transmission can also occur when infected blood touches the skin, if the skin has a break (such as a cut or scrape) through which the virus can enter. Healthy, unbroken skin provides a barrier against HIV.
Although HIV will almost always progress to the fatal disease known as AIDS if it’s left untreated, there are medications available that can keep the virus under control. It’s important to take the medications exactly as directed, or the virus may get a chance to progress and cause health problems.
After an HIV exposure, there is a way to reduce the risk of acquiring an HIV infection. This is called post-exposure prophylaxis, or %HIV PEP%. It involves taking HIV medications for a period of about a month after the exposure. HIV PEP is only effective if it’s started within 72 hours (three days) after the exposure, and the sooner the better. The most common situation for people to take HIV PEP is after a needlestick injury in a healthcare setting, but there are also other situations when PEP might be appropriate.
If you believe that you’re a candidate for %HIV PEP in Singapore%, you should visit an STD clinic regardless of the method of exposure. The doctors at an STD clinic are experts in HIV. You will need follow-up HIV testing for a few months afterward, to make sure that PEP was effective and has kept HIV from establishing itself inside of your body.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic. “STD symptoms: Common STDs and their symptoms.” Mayo Clinic. Published 18 Mar 2015. Accessed 03 Jul 2016. http://www.mayoclinic.org/std-symptoms/art-20047081
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 25 Feb 2014. Accessed 03 Jul 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/std/general/default.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Screening Recommendations Referenced in Treatment Guidelines and Original Recommendation Sources.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 4 Jun 2015. Accessed 03 Jul 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/screening-recommendations.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “HIV Basics – Testing.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 5 May 2016. Accessed 03 Jul 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/testing.html
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. “Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).” AIDS.gov. Published 21 Sep 2015. Accessed 03 Jul 2016. https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/prevention/reduce-your-risk/post-exposure-prophylaxis/
References
Genitourinary at Shim Clinic, Singapore