The difference between the two may be small but it is shocking how little people understand them today. What then does HIV do for the body? How does it go from HIV to AIDS, and what can we do to stop the spread? These questions are not special for patients only but for everyone to know as early detection forms a core part of management . In this blog, we will explain what HIV/AIDS is, how it impacts the immune system, and what important measures are necessary for the population diagnosed with this virus.
What is HIV, and How Does It Lead to AIDS?
HIV is an acronym that means Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a disease that affects the body's immune system by invading certain modes of white blood cells, commonly known as the CD4 cells. In contrast to most viruses, HIV is not expunged from the human body so once a person has acquired the virus he or she will have it for a lifetime. When left untreated, HIV gradually impairs the body’s immune system, putting the body at risk of other infections and diseases.
AIDS in the short form of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is the most encompassing type of HIV. This is diagnosed where the person's CD4 cell count dips below 200 per cubic millimeter of blood or where new opportunistic infections are contracted. However, if one gets an early treatment, the human immunodeficiency virus never develops into AIDS.
Symptoms of HIV/AIDS: Recognizing the Signs
HIV symptoms vary depending on the stage of infection:
1. Acute HIV Infection: This is the acute phase which usually occurs between 2-4 weeks after exposure to the offending agents. Common symptoms resemble the flu and can include:
❖ Fever
❖ Swollen lymph nodes
❖ Fatigue
❖ Rash
These signs may only persist for days to weeks and are not evident to everyone making HIV asymptomatic in the initial stage.
2. Chronic HIV Infection: As much as they are related to HIV, they appear and disappear after the acute phase of HIV, and the subsequent latent phase occurs. In this stage, the virus is still alive, multiplying slowly and many a time, there will be no signs of illness in the infected people. This phase can last for several years if untreated though the virus is still attacking the immune system.
3. AIDS: If the disease is left untreated, it will advance to the AIDS stage. At this stage, the immune system is significantly weakened, leading to symptoms such as:
❖ Recurring fever, night sweats
❖ Inflammation of the lymph glands for a long time.
❖ Severe fatigue
❖ Persistent diarrhea
❖ Memory loss or neurological disorders
How HIV is Transmitted: Understanding the Risks
HIV is transmitted through certain body fluids of an HIV-infected person. These fluids include:
❖ Blood
❖ Semen and vaginal fluids
❖ Rectal fluids
❖ Breast milk
The most common transmission methods are through:
❖ Unprotected sexual contact
❖ Sharing needles or syringes
❖ From mother to child during childbirth or breastfeeding
But then again, HIV is not transmittable through contact with affective individuals or hugging, kissing, or sharing food and water. It is important to know these facts to try to decrease the prejudice of HIV and increase understanding and acceptance.
Prevention: Protecting Yourself and Others
There is no cure for HIV, but there are several effective ways to prevent it:
1. Practice Safe Sex: To reduce the risk related to HIV, condoms should be used during every sexual event and used properly. It is also recommended to test with your partner frequently to know the status of the other.
2. Get Tested Regularly: In essence, HIV pass-on is avoidable, and early detection through constant checking is paramount. If you are sexually active particularly if you are on several partners, frequent tests are vital.
3. Use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): PrEP is an anti-HIV medication that individuals most likely to contract the virus take daily. When the drug is taken in the requisite amount and frequency, then it has also been proven to decrease the chances of an infection by more than 90%.
4. Avoid Sharing Needles: For those who would use Injecting drugs, it is crucial to avoid the sharing of needles and syringes. Novations are present in several regions whereby syringes and other equipment can be cleaned and got in a sterile manner.
5. Mother-to-Child Prevention: HIV-positive mothers can still take ART and this reduces the chances of transmission to the baby during delivery or when feeding.
Living with HIV/AIDS: Treatment and Support
It has to be said that people cannot be considered patient zero for HIV anymore as people living with AIDS are no longer expected to die. HIV is a manageable condition and people with this infection can live normal, healthy lives once they are put on the correct treatment. Here’s what living with HIV involves:
1. Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): A.R.T. is an antiretroviral drug with works to halt the multiplication of the virus and enable the immune system of the human body to rebuild. Specifically, whilst being adherent to the regular dosages of ART, a patient’s viral load is kept low and may not be identified and hence cannot be passed on to other persons. This vision of ART has changed HIV to a chronic condition from a death sentence.
2. Regular Monitoring: HIV patients have to take checkups frequently due to CD4 cell count and the viral load. These diseases will not allow the immune system to develop and remain strong thus allowing opportunistic diseases to Set in.
3. Healthy Lifestyle: Medication, healthy dietary habits, appropriate exercises, and other mental health needs are crucial to HIV patients. Consequently, such factors as physical activity and diets boost the immune system and, thus, quality of life.
4. Psychological Support: Living with HIV may also pose emotional demands The time a person receives their HIV diagnosis may be difficult. HIV/AIDS counseling, therapy, and supportive groups – they help a lot, taking stigma, anxiety, and depression away.
5. Community and Family Support: For encouragement and a reassuring word, most people prefer close relatives and friends. Informing people close to you about HIV makes them understand your situation, act sympathetically towards you, and be supportive.
Combating HIV Stigma: Why Education is Crucial
The causes of such stigma in HIV/AIDS sufferers usually stem from ignorance or mere appreciation of the disease. Discrimination may be in workplaces or schools or even in the families that are around them because they are infected by HIV. They are, therefore, informed by public awareness campaigns and education. This implies that once cultures are promoted to comprehend HIV including; ways through which it spreads, and ways through which it can be averted and treated, then the cultures gain more acceptance of the people living with the HIV condition.
To combat stigma:
❖ Talk openly about HIV to normalize conversations around it.
❖ Avoid using discriminatory language, and educate others to do the same.
❖ Support HIV awareness campaigns and encourage others to get tested.
For more related content don't forget to check out our blogs on Treatments.
Conclusion: Empowerment Through Knowledge and Care
HIV/AIDS is still a sickness around the world but with knowledge, protection, and prevention measures as well as proper management, it can be prevented. Prevention and positive practices are important, both to avoid the transmission of HIV as well as to help support anyone who has it. If people would support education and be compassionate towards sufferers of HIV, the world would not be a place where this virus is viewed with scorn and those who need the attention that it demands will be given the attention that they require.
If you or somebody dear to you has AIDS or suffers from HIV, know that the fight has never been as successful as it is today. Once you accept the opportunity that comes with knowledge, be a warrior by making the necessary effort to fight the stigma associated with this illness.