What tests are needed for AIDS and syphilis?

Written by Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
Updated on September 20, 2024
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If a general person wants to test for HIV and syphilis, there is a quick and easy method, which is to do a blood test called the "pre-transfusion four tests." This specifically includes four components: HIV antibodies, syphilis antibodies, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Therefore, by going to the hospital for a blood draw and taking the pre-transfusion four tests, you can early screen for both HIV and syphilis. However, if it is the early stage of infection with these diseases, also known as the window period, it may result in a false negative. You mentioned that you might have HIV or syphilis, but the result could temporarily be negative. Therefore, to be certain, it is recommended to retest after 3-6 months.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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AIDS is divided into several stages.

AIDS is clinically divided into four stages: acute infection, asymptomatic infection, pre-AIDS stage, and AIDS stage. The acute infection stage refers to the period starting about half a month after the human body is infected with HIV, during which symptoms similar to the common cold appear, and these symptoms generally disappear after a month. Around two months, HIV antibodies can appear in the human body, at which point these antibodies can be detected through blood testing. Thereafter, the individual enters the asymptomatic infection stage, which typically lasts 7-8 years, though some people may reach 10 years. Afterwards, the pre-AIDS stage begins due to the decline in immune function, with symptoms such as fatigue, night sweats, and weight loss appearing, eventually progressing to the AIDS stage.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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AIDS blood transmission conditions

Actually, the transmission of AIDS requires two conditions to be met simultaneously: first, a sufficient number of active HIV viruses are needed. Second, these sufficient and active HIV viruses must enter fresh blood or a fresh wound. Only when both of these conditions are met, is there a possibility of infection, but it is not a 100% certainty. For example, in the case of needle stick injuries involving needles contaminated with HIV-positive blood, the risk of infecting healthcare workers is about 0.3%.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Can you get AIDS from oral sex?

Generally speaking, it is possible to contract HIV through oral sex. If the skin and mucous membranes of the areas involved are intact and there are no wounds, then the chance of infection is relatively small. However, if the skin and mucous membranes of the contact areas are damaged or have wounds, then the risk of infection significantly increases.

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Written by Yang Chun Guang
Gastroenterology
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Is dizziness and nausea a symptom of AIDS?

Symptoms such as dizziness and nausea are not directly related to AIDS, and AIDS is generally not considered in such cases. Instead, conditions like insufficient blood supply to the neck or brain, which might cause dizziness and nausea, are considered. The diagnosis of AIDS must rely on laboratory tests because AIDS is an autoimmune deficiency disease, and various symptoms may occur. The most common and likely symptoms of AIDS are prolonged fever and diarrhea, but these symptoms cannot be used as the basis for diagnosis; they are only auxiliary. Therefore, to confirm AIDS, one must undergo laboratory testing at an accredited hospital.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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acute phase symptoms of AIDS

The symptoms of the acute phase of AIDS can actually be very non-specific, with many people not showing any obvious symptoms. Some people, about two to three weeks after being infected with the HIV virus, may experience a series of symptoms such as fever, rash, sore throat, swollen and painful lymph nodes, diarrhea, etc. Some might only exhibit one or two of these signs. In reality, the symptoms are often not very typical. The main consideration should be the patient's high-risk behaviors, along with testing for HIV antibodies or HIV nucleic acids, as these can be used to diagnose AIDS.