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Early symptomatic HIV infection - Prevention

Alternative Names

AIDS-related complex - ARC; Chronic symptomatic HIV infection

Prevention:

You can reduce your risk of getting the infection by practicing safer sex behaviors. However, abstinence is the only sure way to prevent sexual transmission of the virus.

Avoid using intravenous drugs. If you do use intravenous drugs, do not share needles or syringes.

People with AIDS or who have had positive antibody tests can pass the disease on to others and should not donate blood, plasma, body organs, or sperm. They should not exchange genital fluids during sexual activity.

  • Reviewed last on: 12/1/2009
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Masur H, Healey L, Hadigan C. Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 412.

Sax PE, Walker BD. Immunopathogenesis of human immunodeficiency infection. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 408.

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