HIV

More than one million Americans have HIV, an incurable virus that damages the immune system. At I & B Medical Associates, the team of primary care specialists provides complete care for HIV, including diagnosis and treatment. If you’re sexually active with multiple partners and concerned about the risk of HIV, make an appointment at the practice in Miami, Florida, by calling the office or booking online today.

What is HIV?

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an infection that can be spread through sexual contact and/or sharing needles. It’s an incurable disease that attacks the immune system, affecting your body’s ability to fight infection.

Without intervention, HIV is deadly, but routine checkups, prescription medication, and healthy lifestyle changes can help you lead a long and active life.

What are the symptoms of HIV?

The symptoms of HIV include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pain
• Rash
• Sore throat
• Painful mouth sores
• Weight loss
• Cough
• Night sweats
• Swollen lymph nodes

As the condition worsens, you might also experience shingles, pneumonia, or an oral yeast infection.

When should I see a doctor about HIV?

Make an appointment with the team at I & B Medical Associates if you experience symptoms of HIV or think you might be at risk. That’s especially true if you’ve been diagnosed or treated for sexually transmitted infections in the past or you use drugs and administer them intravenously (with needles).

How is HIV diagnosed?

The team at I & B Medical Associates diagnoses HIV during an in-office visit.

Your provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and conducts a physical exam. They also order several types of blood work, including an antibody test and a nucleic acid test (NAT).

An antibody test analyzes your blood for the presence of HIV antibodies –– proteins that your immune system creates to fight the virus. A nucleic acid test analyzes your blood to determine your viral load (the amount of HIV in your body).

How is HIV treated?

There’s no cure for HIV, but there are various drugs designed to prevent the infection from getting worse. After an exam and an analysis of your blood work, I & B Medical Associates might prescribe:

• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) (drugs that prevent HIV from copying itself)
• Nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) (drugs that make damaged copies of HIV building blocks)
• Protease inhibitors (PIs) (drugs that inactivate a specific protein required for the virus to reproduce)
• Integrase inhibitors (drugs that prevent the HIV from inserting itself into CD4 T cells)
• Entry of fusion inhibitors (drugs that prevent HIV from entering CD4 T cells)

Throughout treatment, it’s crucial to visit I & B Medical Associates regularly. Routine checkups and blood work can monitor the course of treatment, allowing the team to make adjustments as necessary.

To receive treatment for HIV, make an appointment at I & B Medical Associates by calling the office or booking online today.