The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a fatal virus that attacks the immune system and impairs the body's defenses against disease.
The infection can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) if it is not treated. During this time, the immune system has been severely compromised and can only fight the 'weakest' infection. The body becomes susceptible to opportunistic infections like pneumonia and tuberculosis, which can lead to mortality.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can, however, be used to control HIV. ARVs suppress virus mutation, decrease virus growth, and boost the immune system.
With strict therapy monitoring, the drugs can lower the virus to undetectable levels. During this time period, the HIV virus in the blood is too low to be transmitted from a patient to a healthy person. Despite being infected with the virus, patients are the only ones who cannot spread it at this moment.
The presence of an undetectable viral load does not always signify a negative person. If the person stop talking the medication, the viral load may raise. As a result, the individual must continue the therapy in order to keep the infection at preventable levels.
