Niamh Shackleton
People who have been diagnosed with HIV have shared the first symptoms they experienced that alerted them to the illness.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has recently warned that cases of HIV are expected to reach an additional 3.3 million cases by 2030. Globally, 39.9 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2023.
Elsewhere, the World Health Organziation said we're currently at 'a crossroads'.
It stated, per Business Day: "After decades of progress, the HIV response stands at a crossroads. Life-saving services are being disrupted, and many communities face heightened risks and vulnerabilities. Yet amid these challenges, hope endures in the determination, resilience, and innovation of communities who strive to end AIDS."
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Prior to these remarks being made, those with HIV took to Reddit to share their own experiences of having the incurable illness.
Somebody penned: "How did you find out that you were HIV positive, and how long had you been positive before any symptoms appeared? Would this be considered a late diagnosis? If so, how are you coping with a late diagnosis or even AIDS – is there still hope?"
The post sparked dozens of responses.
One person shared: "I had no symptoms. I woke up one day after a very good night's sleep, and was so exhausted, I couldn't get out of bed. So, off to the doc for tests, and that's when I found out."
They added: "In answer to your question: Yes there is hope after a late diagnosis."
A second said: "A week after a risky encounter, I had common flu symptoms and a bit of small rashes. I believe I have a pretty strong immune system since I don't get sick easily, and that's when it crossed my mind that I might be infected.
"So, I contacted an online hub that offers free self-testing kits, and it took 3 weeks to get the kit. A faint line appeared on the kit after 10 minutes, it feels like my life was over."
They continued to say that they were understandably 'devastated' after being diagnosed, but have recently started taking antiretroviral medications (ARV). While these do not cure the disease, it does 'stop HIV from getting into your cells and reproducing', says the Cleveland Clinic.
They can also stop the disease from spreading to other people.
"Taking a combination of medications, rather than just one, makes the treatment more effective and reduces the risk that it’ll stop working," the website adds.
"If your viral load is low enough, tests won’t be able to detect HIV in your blood (undetectable levels)."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, you can find a list of state hotlines for HIV and AIDs here.