Hiv: Effects, Risks And Prevention

Most people around the world will have hear about a condition called HIV at some point in their lives

. Many schools educate their learners about the virus and there are advertisements warning people about the virus and its effects on television. The virus has been classed as one of the most deadly and serious diseases seen in mankinds history by many medical authorities.

What is HIV?

HIV is the virus that causes a conditions known colloquially as AIDS, or in more professional and medical terms, acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It causes this condition through targeting cells that make up the human immune system. In particular, HIV targets the CD4 helper lymphocyte cells. As the population of these cells is decimated by the virus the infected individuals immune system becomes weakened as it is not able to reproduce the cells in sufficient quantities to replace those that are destroyed by the virus.

How is it contracted?

The virus is transmitted through certain bodily fluids. These include fluids secreted by the reproductive organs as well as through blood and breast milk. This last is one of the ways that mothers who are infected with the virus risk passing it on to their young baby.

Most people are infected through taking part in high risk behaviours such as unprotected sex and the sharing of needles when using drugs intravenously or sharing needles when doing tattoos. It is also possible for an infected mother to pass the virus on to her unborn or breastfeeding child either through the passage of the virus through the placenta or through the breast milk.

How is it prevented?

The prevention of infection is simple in theory however can be much more difficult in practice given the pressures that are placed on individuals in todays society. The most effective prevention is compete abstinence from all activities which put you at risk. It is also possible to decrease the risk of contracting HIV by ensuring that a condom is always used during intercourse and ensuring that needles are never shared regardless of the reason for making use of the needle.

How does it affect your body?

The virus attacks the CD4 cells of your immune system to the point where your immune system becomes compromised. As a result the individual who has been infected with the virus becomes unable to battle other viruses and bacteria which a health immune system would battle with no difficulty. This leads to the development of otherwise rare conditions that affect the lungs and the brain for the most part. It may also permit the development of otherwise rare cancers which are stimulated by certain viral infections.

A person can begin to suspect an HIV infection only once the symptoms begin to show. Things to look out for would include:

Fatigue or weakness

Rapid weight loss that cannot be explained by any other medical condition

Signs of infection including fever and swollen lymph glands

Minor rashes around the mouth and genitals

Stomach troubles

Persistent coughing

Memory problems

Persistent yeast infections that do not respond to conventional treatment.

If you suspect that you may have HIV it is important to get tested and to start treatment if the result is positive as soon as possible.

For more information about hiv aids quotes, go to our website, http://www.aidslifecover.co.za

by: Pedro Banbury

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