Do you think you or someone you care about may have been exposed to the HIV virus? With any illness, the primary way to find out the cause for symptoms definitively is through professional medical testing. With HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, there are many side effects the disease can cause which can mimic other ailments. Some people can have HIV and go for many years without any symptoms!

In a nutshell, HIV is virus that kills white blood cells called CD4, or T cells. The CD4 cells serve as the body guards of the immune system. Without these cells, the immune system is left without a defense and too weak to battle infections or cancers.

Trying to understand how HIV affects the immune system is a little challenging, but this is how I explain it (to myself!). In the movie, The Matrix Reloaded, evil Agent Smith found a way to replicate himself. There was a scene in which Agent Smith confronted Neo after he had spoken to The Oracle in the courtyard. When Smith jammed his hand dead center into Neo’s chest in an attempt to transform Neo into himself, the conversion started, but couldn’t finish. However, in other scenes in the movie, Smith was able to duplicate himself by taking out others in the same way-injecting “himself” into their bodies. When they proved to be too weak to stop the transformation, they were then turned into another Agent Smith. The more Agent Smiths produced, the more power he possessed to achieve his hostile take over.

This is what HIV attempts to do the CD4 cells. Those cells have a receptor on the outside of them allowing the HIV to connect and insert its genetic code. HIV then has a way of “overtaking” CD4 cells to duplicate itself.

When someone is infected with the virus, they can present many, few or no symptoms. Some of the side effects of an HIV infection may include a dry cough, prolonged fevers, diarrhea that lasts for several days, quick weight loss not from dieting or exercise, joint pain, white spots in the mouth, tongue or throat, blotches under the skin that are purple, red, pink or brown in color, memory loss, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, groin or armpits, and respiratory tract infections, like bronchitis.

In women, some symptoms of HIV may include recurring vaginal infections, genital warts or ulcers, inflammation of the pelvis, abnormal pap smears, and flu-like symptoms upon the initial exposure. In men, genital sores can be developed.

Getting an HIV test is the best way to find out for sure. The earlier you know, the greater your chances are in fighting the disease. If you test positive, you can prevent further transmission of the disease.

Early detection gives a person a chance to get early treatment. This can help preserve the immune system thereby closing the door on potentially more infections than can develop. In pregnant women or women planning to have a baby, early detection can give their child a better chance of not getting HIV, too. Overall, as stated previously, testing is the one sure way to find out your status! Don't fear the facts, know for sure!