HIV is a virus that attacks immune system cells responsible for defending the body against various infections and certain types of cancer, thereby losing its ability to resist infectious germs.
HIV is an infection that attacks the body's immune system AIDS is the most advanced stage of the disease.
HIV targets the body's white blood cells, weakening the immune system. This facilitates diseases such as tuberculosis, infections, and certain cancers. You can be infected with HIV with little or no symptoms for years before the infection turns into AIDS.
How does HIV infection occur?
Infections are transmitted through vaginal or sperm fluids during intercourse without the use of condoms. Infections can be transmitted by sharing syringes contaminated with the virus or by transmitting infected blood or its derivatives. Infections are also transmitted from the infected mother to her child just before, during, and after birth.
Is the infection transmitted from the mother to the fetus?
Yes. Infections can be transmitted from the mother infected with the virus to the fetus found in the uterus through the blood, and the infection may sometimes be transmitted during breastfeeding.
Can infections occur when transfusing blood?
Yes, if the blood is contaminated with the virus.
Can the infection be transmitted by injection or body piercing tools?
Yes, if the tools are contaminated with blood containing the virus.
Can infections be transmitted through the usual contact with the infected person?
HIV infection cannot be transmitted by touch, sharing food and drink tools, using the same toilets, working, or sleeping in the same room as the infected person.
How can HIV infection be diagnosed?
Diagnosis is done by a blood test for the presence of virus antibodies
Symptoms
1- HIV symptoms vary depending on the stage of infection and include:
2- Inflation of lymphatic nodes
3- Weight Loss
4- Muscle pain and joints
5- Rash
6- Sore throat
7- Painful oral sores
People living with HIV, if untreated, may develop severe diseases such as:
- Tuberculosis
- torula meningitis
- Severe bacterial infections
- Some cancers, such as lymphoma
- Worsening cases of hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and monkeypox
Risk factors:
1- People who have homosexual and forbidden sex
2- People with a sexual illness
3- Participation in the use of injections, especially drug users.
4- Exposure to a poke with a needle contaminated with the virus in the case of health workers.
5- Undergoing transfusions or tissue transplants, the first medical procedures involving incision or perforation of the skin without sterilization.
Treatment
There is still no vaccine to prevent HIV infection.
There are many drugs used to treat AIDS-related infections, and these drugs also work to prevent the reproduction of the virus, but they do not heal from AIDS, and these drugs delay the onset of AIDS symptoms and the occurrence of death.
Prevention:
- Avoid abnormal sex practices
- Use condoms if one of the spouses has the disease.
- Non-sharing of shaving, injection, or body piercing tools
- If you are pregnant, get medical care immediately to reduce your child's risk of infection
- The procedure of male circumcision reduces the risk of infection.
- Testing for HIV infection or sexually transmitted diseases
