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The information presented here is intended
as a guide. Please consult your doctor or health professional for
assistance.
AIDS
What is HIV?
HIV is a virus that affects the natural functioning
of the body's immune system. It attacks the 'T-cells' effectively
crimpling the body's ability to fight off disease. There have been
two major types of HIV identified as of this writing: HIV-1 and
HIV-2.
What is AIDS?
AIDS refers to the Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome, a condition linked to HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency
Virus. A person is said to have contracted AIDS when he/she is infected
with the HIV virus and his/her doctor determines that he/she has
contracted one of several diseases indicating a significant breakdown
in the immune system. These diseases include but are not limited
to Tuberculosis, involuntary weight loss, Candidiasis, and PCP.
More than 60 million people have been infected
with HIV since the epidemic began 2 decades ago. In 2001, it claimed
an estimated 3 million lives. (Joint United Nations Programme on
HIV/AIDS Report)
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV is the infection which can lead to AIDS.
People infected with HIV do not necessarily have AIDS, nor will
they absolutely develop it. This discrepancy is because of HIV's
incubation period, which varies from person to person. The incubation
period is from the time of infection with HIV to the onset of AIDS.
AIDS occurs because the immune system weakens trying to fight HIV,
and other organisms can more freely infect the body with less resistance.
What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS?
HIV infection may initially cause symptoms
similar to mononucleosis such as high fever, night sweats and swollen
glands. It should be said however that symptoms vary greatly from
person to person. Some individuals infected with HIV may indeed
experience no symptoms at all. The only reliable way to determine
whether or not you are infected with HIV is to visit a clinic and
have the appropriate tests done.
AIDS symptoms are characterized by profound
and persistent fatigue; dyspnea (labored breathing); low grade persistent
fever; night sweats; unexplained weight loss of more than ten pounds
within less than sixty days; dry cough unrelated to smoking or flu;
persistent diarrhea and/or bloody stools; ecchymoses, particularly
upon limbs; anorexia; opportunistic infections; headaches; a burning
sensation upon the posterior tongue and nausea and/or vomiting.
How is HIV contracted?
HIV is a virus which needs to be transferred
from one body to another through direct contact, needles or transfusions
of blood. The microbe can exist in semen or blood, and potentially
saliva as well. The common means of infection are anal or vaginal
intercourse, the sharing of needles (such as for drug use), and
transmission from mother to fetus. Less common means are oral sex,
sharing of sex toys and blood transfusions. Tests for HIV exist,
but the virus may not show itself for 20-60 days after infection.
Thus it is impossible to ever truly know if a partner is not infected.
How do I protect myself?
Fortunately, it is easy to protect yourself
against HIV/AIDS. A person cannot be infected by HIV through the
use of a shared toilet seat or towel, nor from shaking hands or
hugging an infected person. Unsafe sex is the single largest means
of infection, and is the only way contact between people (besides
through needles or transfusions) can be considered risky. While
this is true, millions of sexually active men and women continue
to engage in unsafe sexual practices.
Abstaining from sex altogether is the single
best way to protect against HIV/AIDS. For many, celibacy by choice
is not an option, and therefore place themselves at some degree
of risk. While not 100% effective, a latex condom is the best protection
against HIV/AIDS and many other STDs when engaging in vaginal or
anal sex. Protection from a latex condom can be enhanced when it
is well lubricated, either with pretreated condoms or water-based
lubricants.
The use of the 'pill', spermicides and other
birth control methods do not offer protection from HIV infection.
If you are sharing needles, you can protect
yourself against HIV/AIDS by cleaning the needles after every use
with warm water and bleach. Popular wisdom recommends you flush
the bleach-water mixture as far as the plunger will extend 3-4 times,
then as many as 5 times with fresh water. However, it is strongly
recommended that you do not share needles, as this is a highly infectious
means of transmission of HIV.
What is the treatment for HIV/AIDS?
Currently there is no medically recognized
cure for HIV/AIDS. The main strategy for treatment has been to attempt
to strengthen the immune system so that it may better fight the
disease. Please consult your physician about which treatments options
would be best for you.
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