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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How can I tell if I have HIV and what do I do if I think I have it?

    Related Topics
    HIV/AIDS Sexual Health Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
    I was recently backpacking around the world and had a few one night stands and am paranoid i could have HIV. What are symptoms i should look out for? Is there a treatments for HIV?
    • 2 answers
    • Jennie Rogers nee Studdert
    • Dr Stuart Aitken
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    Agree

    Jennie Rogers nee Studdert

    Registered Nurse

    I have been a paediatric registered nurse for over twenty years. I am trained asthma educator, early childhood nurse and currently work in the area … View Profile

    You can seek help at your local GP or sexual health service or women's health service and request a HIV test, it is a blood test, you will recievec counselling about the test and any results you maybe given.    The symptoms for HIV are varied and can often occur many years after transmission of the virus. I hope this helps. 

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    Thanks

    Dr Stuart Aitken

    Sexual Health Specialist

    Dr Aitken's areas of interest include HIV medicine, sexually transmissible infections, skin conditions affecting the genitals, and gender medicine. He offers discrete, specialist consultations in … View Profile

    HIV can be diagnosed by a blood test. There are rapid tests available too, if the waiting time for the results is stressful for you, but these tests are not quite as accurate. People with HIV may not have any symptoms for many years, so testing is the best way to find out your HIV status. Treatment for HIV these days is very effective, safe and well-tolerated. For people with HIV who take effective therapy, life expectancy is now normal and HIV is no longer considered a fatal infection. 

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