Nowadays, there are many disease and virus that spread to the people without their knowledge. Sexually transmitted diseases that are also referred to as sexually transmitted infections are an example of these diseases. STD is spread through sexual encounters including vaginal intercourse, anal or oral sex. Some of the STDs have no symptoms that may lead to the infected person to pass it to others.
What is the condition?
HIV is an example of STD. this virus leads to AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome but there are cases that the infected do not develop AIDS. In order to know about this, continue reading below.
HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus that infects the living cells that leads to being deficient of failing of the immune system. The virus attacks and destroy the vital cells of the immune system like the helper T cells or the CD4 cells. After the virus attacks these cells, the cells will become virus factories that will produce viruses that will attack the other CD4 cells. This cycle will lead to major loss of CD4 cells that makes the immune system weak and may lead to the body to be vulnerable and that can to development of the other infections called AIDS.
There are two types of this virus and below the difference of the two:
| HIV-1 | HIV-2 |
| Common and found worldwide | Found mostly in West Africa |
| The assume origin is the Common Chimpanzee | The assume origin is the Sooty Mangabey |
| Immune system’s activation level is higher | Immune system’s activation level is higher |
| The number of CD4 is higher during progression | The number of CD4 is higher during progression |
| More infectious on earlier stages | More infectious on later stages |
| The ability to damage the body is high | The ability to damage the body is low |
| The capability to establish an infection is high | The ability to establish an infection is low |
| Most likely to progress to AIDS | Less likely to progress to AIDS |
All people are vulnerable to this whatever their age, sexuality, race may be. Below is what the CDC says about the general demographic trait that is mostly affected by this.
The way of spreading
The cause of the diseased is most likely is the exchanged of body fluids like the blood, semen, breast milk, vaginal and rectal fluids. The term HIV transmission is referred to as passing the HIV from one person to another.
Mother-to-child HIV transmission is the most popular and common because the mother passed the virus to the child during her pregnancy or childbirth because the child will have the breastmilk of the mother. There is a medicine that is given to both mother and child to lessen the mother-to-child risk of this virus.
Sharing the injection of the drugs and through sex are other are also the other way of transmitting the virus. Never share a drug equipment with others and have a safe sex in order to reduce the risk of having this STD virus.
There are also myths and misconceptions about this. Below is the list of the said myths and misconceptions:
- Hugging
- Kissing
- Shaking hands
- Using the same towel
- Using the same eating utensils
- CPR or Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Insect bites (mosquito, tick etc.)
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of the HIV may not develop for months or even years but there are cases that some early symptoms may be seen. The symptoms are below:
- Fever
- A sore throat
- Muscle pains
- Joint pains
- Weakness
- Tiredness
- Enlarged hands
Below are the late-stage symptoms:
- Fever that is above 37 degrees
- A dry cough
- Diarrhoea
- Blurred vision
- Sweating mostly at nights
- Dyspnea
- Always tired
- Weight loss that is unintentional
The late-stage is where is the risk of having life-threatening diseases are great. But this can be avoided or controlled through proper medications.
Treatments for HIV
there are treatments in regard to this virus. But reducing and preventing this is better right? So here are some tips to protect yourself:
- Know both you and your partner’s HIV status. Before having a sex, ask your partner about the idea of both of you to have HIV test.
- Minimize risky sex. Oral, vaginal, or anal sex without using properly the condom or not taking medicines that prevent this virus can increase the risk of having it.
- Don’t share drug injections. You have to use sterile drug injection equipment only and never ever share it with others to avoid the risk of having the virus.
If you think and fear that you or your partner might be infected, here are some treatment that you need to know:
- HIV testing. The test is a big help if you want to know you and your partner’s status because it will help you to know how to keep you and others safe. These are some of the tests:
- Antibody Test – check the blood and fluids of the mouth in order to know if these body fluids contain HIV antibodies.
- Combination Test – it is the combinations of antibody and antigen test that is beneficial in detecting the antibodies and antigen of the HIV in the blood.
- NATs – is used to see if there is the virus in the blood.
- Sea health care provider. If the test is positive, look and work closely with a health care provider in order for you to know the when to start and what type of medicine to take.
- Antiretroviral therapy or ART. The term ART means the use of medicine to treat infections. A person who has this virus is recommended to start the ART because it gives a person a healthier and longer life. The following are the conditions that should start the ART:
- Pregnancy
- AIDS
- People who just got diagnosis
Conclusion
There are diseased that can be prevented only if you have enough knowledge about it. HIV is a disease or virus that the people needed to know and also to give them right knowledge. Prevention is the key and earlier diagnosis is a better way to make everyone else safe.
