What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome”. It is
caused by the HIV virus which weakens the immune System (body’s defense
mechanism) and makes a person susceptible to all kinds of infections.
How is HIV Transmitted?
HIV can be contracted by the following ways: During sexual
intercourse with an infected person (vaginal,oral and anal).
• During
transfusion of an infected blood
• By the
use of contaminated and unsterilized sharp instruments such as syringes.
• From
infected mother to child during pregnancy, child birth
• or breast
feeding.
How is HIV not transmitted?
• HIV
cannot be transmitted by
• Mosquito
bites
• Handshake
with an infected person
• Cloths
• Sharing
toilet seats with an infected person
• Hugging
an infected person
• Eating or
playing with an infected person
HIV and mosquitoes
For an infectious agent to be transmitted by a mosquito from
one person to another, it must remain viable inside the mosquito. This is
however not true for the AIDS virus as the mosquitoes treats the virus as food
which is digested along with the blood meal. 70 to 80% of HIV infected persons
have undetectable virus particles in their blood. Calculations have shown that
a mosquito that is interrupted while feeding on a HIV carrier circulating 1000
units of virus has a 1: 10 million probability of injecting a single unit to an
HIV free recipient, that is to say an individual has to be bitten by 10 million
mosquitoes that has begun feeding on a HIV carrier to be infected.
Furthermore, the mechanism utilized by mosquitoes during
feeding
differs greatly from the mechanism employed by the drug
user’s needle. This is because it delivers salivary fluid through one passage
and draw blood up another as such the food canal is not flushed like a used
needle and blood flow is unidirectional. In simple language mosquitoes do not
transmit HIV.
HIV and Kissing
Although the risk of transmission is very low, the presence
of sores or abrasions on the mouth could make that “simple kiss” deadly. This
is because the virus is present in all body fluids although in varying
concentration.
Diagnosis
This is usually carried out using immunochromatographic
strips which determines the presence of the antibodies in the bloodstream
(ELISA).This test is usually confidential and often requires the consent of the
individual after proper counselling.Other methods include western blot and the
use of the PCR machine.
Signs and Symptoms
When an individual is infected with the virus that does not
imply that he or she has AIDS. The individual is simply HIV infected. AIDS
which is the final stage of the infection has the following symptoms.
1. Prolong diarrhea
2. Oral thrush
3. Lymph gland enlargement
4. Persistent fever
5. Persistent cough
6. Skin infections
7. Unexplained weight loss
Phases
There are four phases of the infections,
Window period: This could last for about 3-6 months
after-exposure to the virus. During this period laboratory diagnosis often
appear negative.
Healthy stage: During this period an individual appears
healthy and may remain so for 3-10 years this is however dependent on nutrition
and lifestyle.
Unhealthy stage: During this period the individual fall sick
very often as the virus weakens the immune system.
Full blown AIDS: This is the final stage of the infection.
It has duration of 12-24 months.
Prevention
The best and safest means of preventing HIV infection is
ABSTINENCE from sexual intercourse for unmarried people and FAITHFULNESS among
married couples.
Condom and HIV
Some researchers have argued that condoms do not prevent the
transmission of HIV. Their argument is based on the size of the virus. They
argue that because of the minute size of the virus (0.1 microns or 4 billionth
of an inch) it could easily pass through the pores of the condom which is about
450 microns in size.
On the other hand, most researchers agree that since the
virus is transmitted via a medium which cannot breach the integrity of the
condom then condoms do prevent HIV transmission.
Nevertheless, it is generally agreed that a ruptured or
leaking condom is a health risk that those who belong to the famous “I no fit
hold body” club must face.
Whichever side of the divide you belong, it is advised that
you fully explore the option of abstinence which is the safest means of
prevention before resorting to condoms.
Microbicides
These are substances that will be available as creams, gels,
films, suppositories or vaginal rings, which if applied vaginally have the
ability to reduce the risk of HIV and STIs transmission during sexual
intercourse. Some microbicides under development can also act as spermicide
which kills sperm cells providing a relative contraceptive cover in the
process.
Treatment and Cure
As a cure for AIDS continues to elude Scientists,
Antiretroviral drugs continue to play a very important role in the treatment of
AIDS patients, reducing the viral load and making treatment for opportunistic
infections less complicated.
Despite claims both locally and internationally, a curative
therapy does not appear to be in sight. However, the Pugnacious claim that sex
with virgins can cure AIDS is the greatest deception of the 21stcentury.
http://www.publichealth.com.ng/hivaids-what-is-hiv-symptoms-transmission-phases-diagnosis-treatment/
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