Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a plague that has taken over the world.
Acquired means that people can get infected, immunodeficiency means that it weakens the body's immunity and syndrome means that it causes many health problems once people acquire it.
The virus that causes AIDS is known as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
Once infected, the body attempts to rid the body of this virus and ends up forming antibodies that show in the HIV test.
People with these antibodies are said to be HIV-Positive.
People with the HIV infection are prone to many opportunistic infections that end up wearing out the body's immunity against diseases.
Many people will suffer infections from parasites, viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is spread through body fluids such as semen, blood, breast milk, and vaginal fluids.
Many HIV transmissions are got through sex with an infected person, sharing of needles and through mother to child infections where a child is born with it by an infected mother.
AIDS used to be transmitted earlier on through blood transfusions but nowadays blood is thoroughly screened for AIDS before it is transmitted to another person.
The signs and symptoms that characterize the AIDS disease include sore muscles, fever, headache, stomachache, skin rashes, sore joints, as well as swollen lymph glands.
Other people will not exhibit any symptoms at all.
The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome virus stays in the body and wrecks havoc on the immune system and all tests taken at this time will be negative.
That is why it is advisable to get tested immediately people think they are infected and later after three months to affirm the test.
This duration is enough to allow the immune system to start making antibodies that try to fight off the disease.
People can live healthy lives for up to 10 years with the HIV virus but later their health may deteriorate due to extensive damage to the immune system.
CD4 count is used to determine the extent of HIV infection in the body.
People with a low CD4 count less than 200 cells are said to have the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
People also have opportunistic infections such as the Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) which is a skin cancer, Candida which is a fungal infection affecting the vagina, mouth and throat or a Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) which is a lung infection.
Other diseases that people will suffer from include brain tumors and serious weight loss.
There is no known cure for AIDS and people with this condition may either die after a few months or live for a long time before they succumb.
Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) have been introduced and their aim is to prolong the life of the patient and lower its effects on the infected person.
The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome can be prevented through sexual abstinence as many reported cases are a result of sexual intercourse with infected people.
Being faithful to once partner also helps as well as the use of condoms if people have multiple partners.
Pregnant women with HIV can give birth to HIV-Negative babies if they take medication while pregnant and avoid breastfeeding.
Acquired means that people can get infected, immunodeficiency means that it weakens the body's immunity and syndrome means that it causes many health problems once people acquire it.
The virus that causes AIDS is known as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
Once infected, the body attempts to rid the body of this virus and ends up forming antibodies that show in the HIV test.
People with these antibodies are said to be HIV-Positive.
People with the HIV infection are prone to many opportunistic infections that end up wearing out the body's immunity against diseases.
Many people will suffer infections from parasites, viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is spread through body fluids such as semen, blood, breast milk, and vaginal fluids.
Many HIV transmissions are got through sex with an infected person, sharing of needles and through mother to child infections where a child is born with it by an infected mother.
AIDS used to be transmitted earlier on through blood transfusions but nowadays blood is thoroughly screened for AIDS before it is transmitted to another person.
The signs and symptoms that characterize the AIDS disease include sore muscles, fever, headache, stomachache, skin rashes, sore joints, as well as swollen lymph glands.
Other people will not exhibit any symptoms at all.
The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome virus stays in the body and wrecks havoc on the immune system and all tests taken at this time will be negative.
That is why it is advisable to get tested immediately people think they are infected and later after three months to affirm the test.
This duration is enough to allow the immune system to start making antibodies that try to fight off the disease.
People can live healthy lives for up to 10 years with the HIV virus but later their health may deteriorate due to extensive damage to the immune system.
CD4 count is used to determine the extent of HIV infection in the body.
People with a low CD4 count less than 200 cells are said to have the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
People also have opportunistic infections such as the Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) which is a skin cancer, Candida which is a fungal infection affecting the vagina, mouth and throat or a Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) which is a lung infection.
Other diseases that people will suffer from include brain tumors and serious weight loss.
There is no known cure for AIDS and people with this condition may either die after a few months or live for a long time before they succumb.
Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) have been introduced and their aim is to prolong the life of the patient and lower its effects on the infected person.
The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome can be prevented through sexual abstinence as many reported cases are a result of sexual intercourse with infected people.
Being faithful to once partner also helps as well as the use of condoms if people have multiple partners.
Pregnant women with HIV can give birth to HIV-Negative babies if they take medication while pregnant and avoid breastfeeding.
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