let us know about HIV:
HIV and AIDS: HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. Your immune system’s cells are infected by HIV and destroyed, making it more difficult for you to fight other illnesses. HIV can cause significant immune system deterioration that can result in AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) (AIDS).
HIV is Considered to as a retrovirus because it adds its instructions backward into your Deoxy ribo nucleic acid. HIV affects the immune system over time, making people more vulnerable to accidental infections and some cancers. The virus spreads by body fluids such as blood, sperm, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. Unprotected sexual contact, sharing contaminated needles or syringes, and transmission from an HIV-positive mother to her child during childbirth or breastfeeding are the most common mechanisms of transmission. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a mix of drugs that limit the reproduction of the virus, decrease illness progression, and reduce the risk of transmission.
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A person with HIV is diagnosed with AIDS when their CD4 cell count falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood or when they have particular opportunistic illnesses. AIDS is a chronic and sometimes fatal disease; however, the progression of HIV infection to AIDS can be delayed or prevented with early diagnosis, competent medical care, and access to antiretroviral medication.
Differences between HIV and AIDS:-
The virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome is called the human immune deficiency virus (HIV). HIV damages your T-cells, weakening your immune system and making it difficult for you to fight off even minor diseases. If there are no symptoms it does not mean that you don’t have HIV, it is always present in your body in deactivated form. Receiving a diagnosis and beginning treatment as soon as feasible will increase your chances of living a long life.
How does HIV affect? HIV and AIDS
The idea that HIV exclusively affects some people is untrue. If they are exposed to the virus, anyone can get human immune deficiency virus. The most typical methods for transmitting HIV include sharing needles when injecting drugs or having intercourse without using a condom.
Statistics show that some communities are more impacted by HIV than others. Individuals who identify as gay, bisexual, and males who have sex with men are some of the groups who are disproportionately affected by HIV (MSM). The risk of contracting HIV is significantly increased for those who trade sexual favors for cash or other things. Although they aren’t the only groups afflicted by HIV, it’s crucial to remember that they have particular difficulties accessing screenings, care, and treatment. You can visit on a vast encyclopedia of HIV and AIDS on HIV.gov.
How can I know if I have HIV? HIV and AIDS
HIV infection cannot be identified simply by looking at a person, since some HIV-positive individuals may not show any symptoms. The only way to determine whether you have HIV is to take an HIV test.
How is the virus treated? HIV and AIDS
Daily oral medicine is used to treat HIV (pills). This drug regimen is referred to as anti retroviral therapy. Instead of taking just one type of tablet, it is recommended to take a range of them to prevent HIV from spreading and damaging your cells. In addition, certain drugs are combined into a single pill. Your healthcare provider will carefully choose a blend that is customized for you.
ART aims to reduce the amount of HIV in the blood that cannot be detected by an HIV test and to stop the immune system’s degeneration brought on by HIV (viral load).
HIV and AIDS : Evaluation of AIDS:-
AIDS is diagnosed when a person displays certain signs or symptoms that are listed by the (CDC). The CDC’s definition of AIDS includes the following things:
About 1,000 CD4+ T cells per cubic millimeter of blood, versus fewer than 200 in healthy people. Important elements of the immune system in the body are white blood cells known as CD4+T cells. HIV obliterates them. A person with HIV can still have HIV infection in their CD4+ T cells even though they appear healthy and show no symptoms.
More about HIV and AIDS:-
One of the most significant infectious illnesses in Europe is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is an infection linked to significant mortality, expensive treatment and care expenses, severe morbidity, and shortened life spans.
HIV is an immune system-attacking virus that has a protracted incubation period and causes severe, lifelong illness.
Effective combination therapy, which was developed in the middle of the 1990s and is now widely used in industrialized nations, has had a significant impact on the quality of life for people living with HIV. It has also delayed the onset of AIDS and reduced mortality among patients.
Various Groups Face Distinct HIV Risks? HIV and AIDS
You are at a higher risk of getting HIV from sexual contact with an HIV-positive person or from sharing needles or other injectable supplies with them if you live in an area where many individuals have the disease. The CDC’s HIV, STD, hepatitis, and tuberculosis Atlas Plus, together with other statistics, can be used to find the HIV prevalence (or “prevalence”) in various U.S. counties and states. Within a community, different subpopulations may have varying HIV prevalence rates.
Ways to Defend Yourself: HIV and AIDS
You should take the following actions to safeguard yourself from the virus:
Avoid wearing a condom or engaging in sexual activity.
Never share syringes, needles, or any other injectable supplies.
If you are sexually active, get tested.
Exercise causes soreness. It denotes: Maintain your fitness and wellness.
responsible behavior to safeguard the health and welfare of others.
treating everyone with HIV fairly and sympathetically.
Related Health Issues: HIV and AIDS
When a person acquires an advanced stage of HIV or an acute infection, a variety of health issues can occur. One serious effect is HIV-related brain damage, which causes inflammation in the brain. Although the particular mechanisms underlying this illness are yet unknown. HIV-induced encephalopathy can cause a variety of effects and mental limitations. These may include difficulty concentrating, memory loss, confusion, and behavioral problems. Because inflammation impacts the brain, it can interfere with a variety of vital activities, potentially causing disturbances in motor skills, coordination, and general neurological well-being.
Persons living with advanced HIV or at risk of opportunistic infections should seek regular medical care, follow drug regimens, and maintain open communication with healthcare specialists. Patients can better manage their health and reduce the effect of connected issues by being educated and proactive.
Complications:
The development of HIV illness to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is one of the most serious effects. When rare infections emerge and/or there is a low count of CD4 cells in HIV positive persons, physicians should be cautious and consider the possibility of AIDS. As HIV infection progresses, the immune system weakens, making people more susceptible to accidental infections. These infections, which usually do not cause serious sickness in persons with healthy immune systems, can become severe and even fatal in people with HIV-compromised immune systems.
As HIV infection grows, the immune system weakens, making people more at risk to accidental infections. These infections, which usually do not cause serious sickness in persons with healthy immune systems, can become severe and even fatal in people with HIV-compromised immune systems. When the lymphocyte count falls below a crucial limit (less than 200 cells per micro liter), AIDS develops and is recognized by the presence of one or more of the following symptoms.
Tuberculosis (TB), Cytomegalovirus infection, Candidiasis, Cryptococcal meningitis, Cryptosporidiosis, Toxoplasmosis, Kaposi’s sarcoma, Lymphoma, Neurological problems such as AIDS dementia complex, and Kidney illness are all connected with AIDS.
HIV Can Infect Anyone:
HIV does not discriminate and can infect anyone, regardless of their sexual preference. It is a common mistake that only gay men are at danger of developing HIV, which is wrong. HIV can infect anyone of any gender, age, sexual orientation. It is critical to spread accurate information and eliminate the idea that only some people are at risk of HIV infection. In the United States, homosexual, bisexual, and other males who engage in sexual activities with men (MSM) continue to have the highest risk of HIV infection.
According to 2020 data, MSM was responsible for nearly 71% of new HIV cases. This data recognizes the significance of focusing efforts and strategies to address the unique challenges that this community faces in HIV prevention and care. We can decrease the incidence of HIV among MSM and create a healthier future for everyone by raising awareness, supporting education, and providing access to effective prevention strategies.
While it is true that a significant number of people contract HIV through heterosexual contact, it important to highlight that in 2020, such cases accounted for more than one in every five new HIV infections, accounting for over 22% of the population. This figure shows the ongoing importance of HIV prevention and education among heterosexual communities. Approximately 7% of new HIV infections recorded in 2020 were caused by people who contracted the virus through sharing needles, a practice frequently connected with drug use.
In addition transgender people accounted for about 2% of newly confirmed HIV cases. These data give information on the specific vulnerabilities and dangers that these communities experience in terms of HIV transmission. We can help reduce HIV infections among drug users and the transgender community by introducing harm reduction techniques such as access to clean needles and comprehensive healthcare services.
