Aids is caused by the HIV virus. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The virus lives in blood, sexual fluids, and breast milk. The virus weakens your immune system to a point where you are no longer able to fight infections.
How HIV is spread
The virus is spread through unprotected vaginal sex, anal sex, oral sex, sharing needles with infected persons for drugs, tattoos and body piercing. Pregnant women can pass HIV to their infants.
Diagnosing HIV
Doctors use blood test, test mouth fluids and urine tests to diagnose HIV infection. Doctors may use blood tests determine which drugs will benefit the infected person. There is no cure for HIV, but early detection and treatment will help fight the virus to undetectable levels and stop spread and prolong the life of the infected person.
There are three stages of HIV infection.
Stage 1-Symtomns may occur 2-6 weeks after infection and then disappear. Symptoms include headache, tiredness, aches, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, ulcers in the mouth, genitals and anus. It is important to see a doctor and get tested.
Stage 2-After the first stage, most infected people feel well but can spread the virus to others.
Stage 3- At this stage, the HIV infection has progressed to AIDS. The immune system is not able to fight bacterial infections, viral infections and fungal infections and the infected person could experience symptoms such as these: Tiredness, swollen lymph nodes, fever that lasts for days, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, purple spots that do not go away, shortness of breath, severe and long-lasting diarrhea, yeast infections in the throat or vagina, memory loss, seizures, vision changes, behavioral changes, bruising and bleeding.
Who should get tested
Early detection and treatment could prevent HIV infection from progressing to AIDS. For men who have sex with men, men or women who have sexual partners who inject drugs, men or women whose sexual partners are bisexual, men or women whose sexual partners have HIV, men or women with multiple sexual partners, men or women receiving treatment for other sexually transmitted diseases, men or women receiving treatment for illnesses such as hepatitis and tuberculosis, HIV testing is important. Talk to your doctor if you have questions on whether you need to test for HIV.
How to reduce risk of HIV infection
Use latex condoms during sex
Use water-based lubricants
Never share needles
Get tested and know your HIV status
Treat all sexually transmitted diseases and get tested for HIV
Talk to your doctor about Pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP ) if your lifestyle puts you at high risk. PrEP is a treatment where daily prescribed medication is given to individuals at risk and has been effective at preventing infection. You are at risk if you have had sex in the past 6 months with a partner with HIV, share needles, or don't always use condoms.
Talk to your doctor about Post Exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP is treatment aimed at preventing infection after exposure to HIV.
Care for yourselves and Protect others
After a positive HIV test, tell your sexual partners so that they can test and prevent the spread of HIV. Get treatment and take your medications as prescribed and use condoms during vaginal and anal sex. Do not share needles and if pregnant, talk to your doctor about medications that can help protect your unborn child.
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