Tribal Health provides HIV testing
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FLATHEAD INDIAN RESERVATION — Tribal Health provides HIV testing. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. No effective cure exists for HIV. But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled.
— The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested.
— Some groups of people are more likely to get HIV than others because of many factors, including their sex partners and their risk behaviors.
— HIV is a virus spread through certain body fluids that attacks the body’s immune system so that the body can’t fight off infections and disease. This damage to the immune system makes it harder and harder for the body to fight off infections and some other diseases. Opportunistic infections or cancers take advantage of a very weak immune system and signal that the person has AIDS.
— Knowing your status is important because it helps you make healthy decisions to prevent getting or transmitting HIV.
— Some people may experience a flu-like illness within two to four weeks after infection (Stage 1 HIV infection). But some people may not feel sick during this stage.
— Flu-like symptoms include fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, or mouth ulcers. These symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
— During this time, HIV infection may not show up on an HIV test, but people who have it are highly infectious and can spread the infection to others.
— If you have these symptoms, that doesn’t mean you have HIV. Each of these symptoms can be caused by other illnesses. But if you have these symptoms after a potential exposure to HIV, see a health care provider and tell them about your risk.
— At Tribal Health, providers can order an HIV test (in addition to other STD testing) for anyone who requests, and providers will also help recipients determine risk factors that might make them more vulnerable to HIV infection, and other STDs, such as IV drug use, multiple partners and unprotected sex.
— Tribal Health providers do not give HIV test results over the phone, a provider meets with all recipients to talk about the results.
— If a recipient is concerned about any type of sexually transmitted disease, including HIV, they are encouraged to make an appointment today to get tested.
Please call Tribal Health at 406-745-3525 to make an appointment today.
