About HIV/AIDS

What is HIV?

Human – The virus can only affect humans.

Immunodeficiency – because the virus creates a deficiency with the body's immune system, causing it to fail to work properly. 

Virus – because the organism is a virus which is incapable of reproducing by itself; it must use a human cell to reproduce.

• HIV is a retrovirus that attacks our immune system and destroys it over a period of time.
• Its presence can only be detected with an HIV antibody test.

What is AIDS?

Acquired – because HIV is not a condition passed on genetically; a person has to become infected with it.
Immune - because the immune system's ability to fight off viruses and bacteria becomes much less effective.
Deficiency – because the immune system fails to work properly.
Syndrome – because there is a wide range of diseases and infections a person may experience.

 

• AIDS is a condition when a person's immune system has been destroyed by HIV so that it is unable to defend the body from opportunistic diseases.
• When HIV disease was first recognized in the early 1980s, it was called AIDS. Today, the term "HIV disease" is a more accurate description of the condition. However, AIDS still used, primarily for the purpose of counting infections and as a description for advanced-stages of HIV disease. AIDS refers to individuals who have particular "AIDS-defining" conditions such as a very low CD4 white blood cell or specific illnesses.

HIV Risk Factors 

HIV is found in the blood, semen or vaginal fluid of someone who is infected with the virus. However, HIV can be spread by :

•  Inject drugs or steroids where needles or syringes are shared 
• Infected mother to the baby (through breastfeeding)
•  Unprotected sexual intercourse with the infected person or multiple partner 
•   Received a blood transfusion with infected blood
•  Infection in health care settings
• Tattoos or piercing

Facts About HIV Transmission

•   HIV cannot survive for very long outside of the body
•  HIV cannot be transmitted through daily routine activities such as sharing food utensils, shaking hands or through kissing or saliva. 
•  The virus can only be transmitted from person to person, not through animals or insect bites.

Symptom of HIV &AIDS

•    Rapid weight loss
•    Frequent fevers and sweats
•    Extreme weakness or fatigue
•    White spot in the mouth or throat
•    Trouble in remembering things
•    Cough and shortness of breath 
•    Swollen lymph glands
•  Minor infections that cause skin rashes, and mouth sores

HIV and AIDS Prevention

•    Reduce the number of sexual partner
•    Know the other person’s sexual history
•   Don’t share needles, instruments or other things that might have blood on them
•   Using latex condom for all types of sexual intercourse
•  Always keep our immune system healthy
• Abstaining from sex
•   Ensure a safe blood transfusion practice
•   HIV positive mother should not breastfeed her infants

Living positively with HIV or AIDS

•  Learn as much as possible about the HIV or AIDS to get the latest information about research and treatment
• Continue working as long as you are physically able to do so
• Monitor your emotional status and always on good thoughts
• Do not feel hesitate to see a doctor when you have infection
• Maintain an active social schedule
• Keeping a healthy body by having a balanced diet

Support and Care About The People Living With AIDS or HIV

•  Spend time with the person living with HIV or  AIDS
• Keep an eye on their health condition regularly
• Touch, hug kiss and pat and hold their hands to show that you are care of them.
•  Provide emotional support to the people with HIV 
•  Make sure the surrounding places are always clean
• Have them help out if they can as everybody likes to feels useful.

Read more »

What is HIV?

Human – The virus can only affect humans.

Immunodeficiency – because the virus creates a deficiency with the body's immune system, causing it to fail to work properly. 

Virus – because the organism is a virus which is incapable of reproducing by itself; it must use a human cell to reproduce.

• HIV is a retrovirus that attacks our immune system and destroys it over a period of time.
• Its presence can only be detected with an HIV antibody test.

What is AIDS?

Acquired – because HIV is not a condition passed on genetically; a person has to become infected with it.
Immune - because the immune system's ability to fight off viruses and bacteria becomes much less effective.
Deficiency – because the immune system fails to work properly.
Syndrome – because there is a wide range of diseases and infections a person may experience.

 

• AIDS is a condition when a person's immune system has been destroyed by HIV so that it is unable to defend the body from opportunistic diseases.
• When HIV disease was first recognized in the early 1980s, it was called AIDS. Today, the term "HIV disease" is a more accurate description of the condition. However, AIDS still used, primarily for the purpose of counting infections and as a description for advanced-stages of HIV disease. AIDS refers to individuals who have particular "AIDS-defining" conditions such as a very low CD4 white blood cell or specific illnesses.

HIV Risk Factors 

HIV is found in the blood, semen or vaginal fluid of someone who is infected with the virus. However, HIV can be spread by :

•  Inject drugs or steroids where needles or syringes are shared 
• Infected mother to the baby (through breastfeeding)
•  Unprotected sexual intercourse with the infected person or multiple partner 
•   Received a blood transfusion with infected blood
•  Infection in health care settings
• Tattoos or piercing

Facts About HIV Transmission

•   HIV cannot survive for very long outside of the body
•  HIV cannot be transmitted through daily routine activities such as sharing food utensils, shaking hands or through kissing or saliva. 
•  The virus can only be transmitted from person to person, not through animals or insect bites.

Symptom of HIV &AIDS

•    Rapid weight loss
•    Frequent fevers and sweats
•    Extreme weakness or fatigue
•    White spot in the mouth or throat
•    Trouble in remembering things
•    Cough and shortness of breath 
•    Swollen lymph glands
•  Minor infections that cause skin rashes, and mouth sores

HIV and AIDS Prevention

•    Reduce the number of sexual partner
•    Know the other person’s sexual history
•   Don’t share needles, instruments or other things that might have blood on them
•   Using latex condom for all types of sexual intercourse
•  Always keep our immune system healthy
• Abstaining from sex
•   Ensure a safe blood transfusion practice
•   HIV positive mother should not breastfeed her infants

Living positively with HIV or AIDS

•  Learn as much as possible about the HIV or AIDS to get the latest information about research and treatment
• Continue working as long as you are physically able to do so
• Monitor your emotional status and always on good thoughts
• Do not feel hesitate to see a doctor when you have infection
• Maintain an active social schedule
• Keeping a healthy body by having a balanced diet

Support and Care About The People Living With AIDS or HIV

•  Spend time with the person living with HIV or  AIDS
• Keep an eye on their health condition regularly
• Touch, hug kiss and pat and hold their hands to show that you are care of them.
•  Provide emotional support to the people with HIV 
•  Make sure the surrounding places are always clean
• Have them help out if they can as everybody likes to feels useful.

Read more »