Facts on AIDS

HIV

What is HIV?

HIV, also known as "human immunodeficiency virus", is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infections, specially the CD4 cells (often called T cells), making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases.

It can be spread by contact with other people's certain body fluids (such as blood), by unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person (most common way), or through sharing injection drug equipment.

Where did HIV come from?

Scientists identified a type of chimpanzee in West Africa as the source of HIV infection in humans. They believe that the chimpanzee version of the immunodeficiency virus (SIV or simian immunodeficiency virus) most likely was transmitted to humans and mutated into HIV when humans hunted chimpanzees for meat and came in contact with their blood. Over the decades the virus started spreading slowly across Africa and later on in other parts of the world.

HIV testing 

HIV testing, also called HIV screening, is the only way to know if you have this virus. Several types of tests check your blood or other body fluids to see whether you're infected, most of them can't spot if you have the virus right away, because it takes time for the body to make antibodies or for the virus to grow inside you.

There are different testing types: 

1. Antibody screening test: This test checks the protein that your body makes within 2 to 8 weeks.
2. Elisa test: If this test results positive, the Western Blot test is usually administered to confirm the diagnosis. If the results are negative, but you think you're infected, you should be tested again in one to three months.
3. Saliva test: Consists of a cotton pad used to contain saliva from the cheek. The results are available in three days.
4. Viral load test: Is used to measure the amount of HIV in your blood.

HIV treatment 

The treatment  when it comes to HIV involves taking HIV

medicines. Antiretroviral therapy Is the use of HIV medicines to treat HIV infections. It doesn't cure HIV but helps people to live longer.

Sadly the ART (antiretroviral therapy) can have side effects such as: 

1. Nausea and vomiting.
2. Diarrhea.
3. Difficulty sleeping.
4. Dry mouth
5. Headache
6. Rash
7. Dizziness
8. Fatigue 
9. Pain.

In conclusion of all the investigations done by different doctors and scientists, is basically to have all kinds of protection when it comes to have sexual intercourse (that is the most common way of getting infected), and lastly if you think you may have HIV or any other kind of virus or AIDS, get tested right away, so you don't infect others and you will get the necessary treatment, as fast as possible.

By Nashla Puerta, Step 9