Top 6 Important Facts of HIV/AIDS: Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment

 1. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Following initial infection, a person may not notice any symptoms or may experience a brief period of influenza-like illness. Typically, this is followed by a prolonged period with no symptoms. As the infection progresses, it interferes more with the immune system, increasing the risk of common infections like tuberculosis, as well as other opportunistic infections, and tumors that rarely affect people who have working immune systems. These late symptoms of infection are referred to as AIDS. This stage is often also associated with weight loss.

2. Requires a medical diagnosis

Within a few weeks of HIV infection, flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat and fatigue can occur. Then the disease is usually asymptomatic until it progresses to AIDS. AIDS symptoms include weight loss, fever or night sweats, fatigue and recurrent infections.

3. Hiv/aids Symptoms:

• Pain areas: in the abdomen
• Pain circumstances: can occur while swallowing
• Cough: can be dry
• Whole body: fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, malaise, night sweats, or sweating
• Gastrointestinal: nausea, persistent diarrhoea, vomiting, or watery diarrhoea
• Mouth: ulcers or white tongue
• Groin: sores or swelling
• Throat: difficulty swallowing or soreness
• Also common: headache, opportunistic infection, oral thrush, pneumonia, red blotches, severe unintentional weight loss, skin rash, or swollen lymph nodes

4. Treatment of hiv/aids

• Spreads by sexual contact
• Can't be cured, but treatment may help
• Chronic: can last for years or be lifelong
• Requires a medical diagnosis
• Lab tests or imaging always required

5. How HIV/AIDS spreads?

• By blood products (unclean needles or unscreened blood).
• By mother to baby by pregnancy, labor, or nursing.
• By having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

6. How do you prevent hiv/aids?

• Use a new condom every time you have sex.
• Consider the drug Truvada.
• Tell your sexual partners if you have HIV.
• Use a clean needle.
• If you're pregnant, get medical care right away.
• Consider male circumcision.

Sources: Apollo Hospitals, avert.org and others