HIV AIDS: the causes, symptoms, effects and treatment

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or better known as its abbreviator

AIDS was first recognized as a disease in the year of 1981. The virus causing
this disease is called Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which now is a
worldwide epidemic. It has now been common in certain populations in parts
of the globe to having HIV which leads to AIDS. Thus, we need to equip
ourselves with the knowledge of AIDS by being aware of the causes and
effects, symptoms and also the treatments of the disease.
Every disease shows several symptoms that are able to be distinguished or
detected, so does AIDS. The symptoms of HIV infection should appear two to
12 weeks after exposure. The symptoms will come and go within these few
weeks. It occurs from time to time until at one point, the virus begins to take
over the immune cells in the body rapidly. It is dangerous as when the virus
takes over the immune system, people with HIV will have the tendency to
develop AIDS faster. The symptoms of HIV are common to other diseases for
example fever, headache, fatigue, diarrhea and joint pains while the worse
symptoms are having night sweats, swollen glands and rapid weight loss.
People with these symptoms are encouraged not to take it for granted in fact
are advised to see a professional. However, the only way to ensure whether a
person is infected with HIV is to be tested.
There are a few ways to detect this virus. Blood test is one of the most
effective ways to check the existence of the virus in the body. Whenever the
result is positive, the blood will be re-tested several times for confirmation
as it is a life changing disease. As a person is confirmed of having this
disease, he has to undergone some other tests to see the progress of the
infections for example the ultra-sensitive HIV sensor. The ultra-sensitive HIV
sensor develops an extremely sensitive sensor that is ten times more
sensitive at detecting viral infections. Thus, it is better for the doctor can see
the results by looking at the colour changes in liquid solution. The infected
people will be fine in years before the immune system weaken and develops
AIDS.
AIDS is a term applied to advanced HIV disease and can lead to various
effects towards the infected people or the carriers. A person who suffers from
HIV might suffer from AIDS which is the worst of HIV infection disease. AIDS is
said to be having HIV and an opportunistic infection which the infection by
microorganism that ordinarily does not cause any disease unless the immune
system is weakened that normally associated with AIDS. These infections can
be fungal, bacteria, viral or parasitic. Furthermore, people with AIDS might
also suffer from cancer. There are two types of the most common cancer
among those who suffer from AIDS which are immune system cancer and
cancer that causes bluish red nodules on the legs and spread to the lymph

system. In addition, women with AIDS are prone to another well-known

cancer among women that is cervix cancer while homosexual men are
predisposed to anal cancer. Besides adults, children are also exposed to
AIDS. Children with AIDS tend to get common infections such as tonsillitis and
conjunctivitis. In addition, people with AIDS also suffer from drastic weight
loss approximately about 20 per cent of the body weight. This is called the
wasting syndrome. It is related to unexplained 10 per cent or more of body
weight and also about 30 days of chronic diarrhea or chronic weakness with
fever. AIDS affected the carriers until most of them die from the disease.
Due to the effects of AIDS has on people, most of us are taking the most
popular precaution which is by avoiding to be in contact with the carriers
physically. Majority of the people thought that HIV AIDS are transmitted
through handshakes, sharing of a cup of coffee, sharing of toilet bowls and
also by a warm hug. The researchers have proven these to be false. HIV AIDS
does not transferred through these gestures or actions. The virus can be
found in the blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk of the infected
people. There are certain explicit ways that the disease can be transmitted.
The most ordinary way is through sex. Unprotected sex is completely
prompted to infections despite the type of sex whether it is heterosexual,
homosexual, anal, vaginal or even oral sex. People are encouraged to
practice safe sex by using protections such as condom and dental dam.
Besides that, HIV AIDS can also be passed on with a single needle. Sharing
and reusing syringe contaminated with HIV infected blood is extremely risky
and dangerous. This is due to HIV AIDS is found in the blood of the infected
people. Therefore, doctors and nurses need to be aware of the people they
are collecting and getting blood from during blood donations or blood
transmission respectively. Since it flows and is transferred through blood and
breast milk, mothers with HIV are at risk of giving the disease to their babies
during childbirth which is called perinatal infection and also through
breastfeeding. These are the ways HIV are transmitted as they are found in
blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. Thus, people should not be afraid
and paranoid of sharing drinks and giving a warm hug to infected people.
Every problem has a solution and every disease has a treatment. Although
HIV can be treated in few ways, it is unquestionably cannot be cured. It is
usually treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with
combination of anti-HIV medications. HAART can reduce the amount of the
virus in the blood but will never cure it. It acts to improve the immune system
and slows down the progression of the infections. Earlier HIV antiretroviral
treatment is crucial as it can improve quality of life, extends life expectancy
and reduces the risk of transmission. It always comes with at least three
medications. People with HIV need to discipline themselves to take
medications exactly as prescribed to avoid any difficulty. Infected people who

undergo this treatment are living a healthy and meaningful life as the virus is
slowed down. On the other hand, if an individual believes that he is exposed
to the virus, he can take an emergency HIV-pills called PEP (post-exposure
prophylaxis) that may stop the infection. However, it may only work for the
very early exposure. Furthermore, it is different for those who suffer the
wasting syndrome. They are usually prescribed with few agents to help
them gaining weight and be healthier. Some of the agents recommended to
these people are growth hormone, steroids and appetite stimulants.
Additionally, there are a great deal of researches on new treatment of HIV
that we need to keep up-dated with our doctors or pharmacists.
Anyone can become infected with HIV despite the age, skin colour, countries
and lifestyle. Fortunately, as the old saying goes prevention is better than
cure, HIV can surely be prevented. There are many ways to prevent HIV
infection. The most common one is to practice safe sex by using condom.
Despite the way people are having sex including vaginal, anal and oral,
condom is a must use item. Likewise, people should also reduce the number
of sex partners. Limit the numbers to only one or two partners in order to
keep clean of the infections. Having many sex partners lead to more
exposure of the disease. Additionally, if a person is having HIV and is
pregnant, do consult a doctor. It is important to have the experts opinion in
order to keep the baby safe. It is said that the risk of infecting an infant
during childbirth can be reduced with medications and caesarean section
which appropriate. Last but not least, do not practice sharing needles with
anyone. A used needle should be thrown into the dustbin right after usage.
Although we are brought up with the tag sharing is caring, sharing needles
is not a caring action. The ways of preventing the virus seem to be easy and
common but these ways are ignored by majority of the people. It is essential
to keep ourselves with knowledge of preventing HIV because it definitely
cannot be cured only controlled.
In the nutshell, HIV is often mistaken as an easily transmitted disease
especially through physical contacts. It is also believed to be spread in many
ways as long as there is a contact with the infected people which is not true
at all. Unfortunately, majority of the people are lack of knowledge of this
disease including the causes, effects, symptoms and the treatments until one
of the f amily members or themselves are infected. HIV awareness
programmes should be held more often with the purpose of raising
awareness in our people so that we are equipped with the knowledge thus
the infected people will get the social treatments they always deserve.