HIV
HIV stands for human immune deficiency virus. It harms your immune system by destroying a type of white blood cell that helps your body fight infections. This put you at risk for serious infection and certain cancer
AIDS
AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It happens when the body immune system is badly damaged. It is the final stage of HIV when the virus had damaged the immune system. Note: not all person with HIV infections has AIDS.
HOW HIV SPREAD
The HIV virus is spread through many ways but mainly blood fusion. Some of the ways one can get HIV includes;
1. Having unprotected sex with patients with HIV. This is the major way the HIV virus get spread.
2. By sharing shape objects with HIV patients e.g injection needles, blades etc
3. Deep kissing resulting in gum bleeding can affect one with the HIV virus.
4. Mother's can infect their children with HIV through birth, breastfeeding and even during pregnancy.
SYMPTOMS OF HIV
When one is exposed to HIV, you will begin to feel the following symptom or signs;
1. Severe fever. Having a constant fever. Get tested.
2. Chills
3. Rashes
4. Night sweats
5. Fatigue etc
Note: The symptoms can be off and on within 2-4 weeks. At this stage, it is called Chronic HIV. Often, they are no symptoms during this stage. It eventually weakens your immune system. When not properly treated, you then get AIDS. AIDS is when your immune system is totally destroyed or damaged. The immune system cannot fight against diseases when you get AIDS. Note: AIDS had no cure.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE HIV/AIDS
Most people do not show signs in the early stage of HIV. The only sure way to know whether you have HIV or not is to get tested.
One can also use a home testing kit or use the CDC testing locator to find the free testing website.
HOW TO TREAT HIV/AIDS INFECTION
There is no cure for AIDS infection but HIV can be managed with medicine. The process involved in treating HIV is called Antiretroviral therapy (ART).
ART reduces the risk of spreading the virus. The ART also manages the HIV virus in chronic conditions. HIV patients on ART live healthy and longer.
HOW TO PREVENT HIV/AIDS
One can reduce the risk of getting and spreading the HIV virus through the following ways. E.g
1. Getting tested for HIV regularly
2. Avoiding sharing shape objects like blades, injection syringe, etc
3. Avoid unprotected sex with sexual partners.
4. Choosing less risky sexual behaviour e.g limiting sexual partners and using of condoms during sex
5. Avoid deep kissing which could result in gum bleeding.
6. Getting partners testing before marriage and regularly after marriage.
7. Total absence from sex and its related activity until you test your partner to confirm negative.
HIV TRANSMISSION FACTS
Anyone on earth is at risk of contracting HIV. The virus speeds through bodily fluids which include; blood, semen, vagina and rectal fluids, breast milk etc
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIV AND AIDS
1. HIV patients can be treated to live long and healthy but AIDS had no cure.
2. HIV virus attacks and fight against your immune system whiles AIDS is when your immune system is totally damaged.
TERMINOLOGIES
ART- Antiretroviral therapy. A medicine used to treat patients with HIV.
OIs- Opportunistic infection. It is when your immune system gets damaged paving way for more severe infections.
PrEP- Pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is a daily medicine given to people who don't have HIV but are at high risk of contracting the HIV virus.
PEP- Post-exposure prophylaxis. It is an emergency drug given to people who have been exposed to HIV. It is normally advised to use PEP within 72 hours.
STDs- Sexually transmitted diseases e.g gonorrhoea, syphilis etc.
Source: ligidigang.blogspot.com