HIV/AIDS isn’t ancient history yet — but there’s better news than ever before | Opinion

Have you ever been tested for HIV? I have served vulnerable populations in the inner city of Kansas City for the past seven years, and I have noticed that although we do not hear about HIV/AIDS as much as we used too, it still affects people in our own backyard.

According to AIDSVu.org, there were 13,103 people living with HIV in 2021 in Missouri alone, and an average increase of 497 newly diagnosed cases per year since 2008. You, or your loved ones, are more likely to contract HIV if you have had, or are having, unprotected sex or have been an intravenous drug user. HIV can lay dormant in your body for 10 to 15 years with no symptoms at all. Once this period is over, you begin to develop acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, also known as AIDS. If left untreated, a person can die within one to two years of their HIV infection turning into AIDS. It is crucial to get tested.

Getting tested is important for you, and for everyone you know. HIV is something I want you to be safe rather than sorry about. The sooner HIV is diagnosed, the better chance of a good outcome. Many people have no symptoms after contracting HIV, while others experience flu-like symptoms. You can get tested as early as 10 days after exposure. If you have had an unprotected sexual experience, or have come into contact with a shared needle recently or a while ago, make the world a safer place and get tested.

So, you get tested, and you are negative, that is amazing news. But don’t just sigh a breath of relief and move on. If you plan to still participate in activities that made you want to test originally, stay tuned: I have the answer to your peace of mind. If you have a high risk of exposure to HIV, you need to ask your doctor about preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. If you take PrEP medication as prescribed, it is 99% effective at reducing the risk of contracting HIV through sex. PrEP is also 74% effective at reducing the risk of contracting HIV from intravenous drug usage.

What if you get tested and you are positive? I am so glad you know and can initiate the protection of those you love. Begin treatment.

Step 1: Do not spiral into a deep depression and get stuck in the what ifs of this next chapter. Many patients diagnosed with HIV today live long and happy lives. Step 2: Get referred and seen by a specialist right away. Do not let fear or shame slow down your treatment process. Step 3: Begin a highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART, medication regimen. This must be taken as prescribed to be effective and suppress HIV replication in your body. HAART helps you fight HIV and reduces the likelihood of you passing it to others (sex partners, needle-sharing partners, or mother to baby).

Have you had unprotected sex with an untested partner, or participated in intravenous drug usage in the last 15 years? Call and talk to your doctor today about getting tested for HIV. Are you going to be having unprotected sex or participating in intravenous drug usage in the future? Call and ask your doctor if you would be a suitable candidate for PrEP, and give yourself some peace of mind. If you can’t bring yourself to talk to your doctor, there are home kits that can also provide HIV results.

Be safe, be smart, be sure — get tested.

This story was originally published January 5, 2024 at 4:33 AM with the headline "HIV/AIDS isn’t ancient history yet — but there’s better news than ever before | Opinion."