English Spanish PortugueseFrench
Request A Call Back

HIV in detail (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Infection

blog

The deadly HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) targets the immune system and impairs the body's ability to fight off diseases. AIDS is brought on by the lentivirus known as HIV.

HIV in detail (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Infection

The deadly HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) targets the immune system and impairs the body's ability to fight off diseases. AIDS is brought on by the lentivirus known as HIV.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus: What Is It?

Numerous viruses, including those that cause the "flu" or the common cold, can enter the human body. Most viruses can be removed from the body by the immune system with time and other treatments. However, the human immune system is compromised in HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) patients. This is because HIV targets T-cells, also known as CD4 cells, an essential component of the immune system. These cells are essential to the body because they protect it from illnesses and infections. Invading these cells, however, is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

HIV prevention is not safe or effective, but according to experts and medical professionals, the disease can be managed with the right treatment and safeguards.

HIV symptoms:

According to medical professionals, early phases of HIV infection don't always manifest as symptoms. 1. In the United States, one in five HIV-positive individuals are unaware of their condition. Therefore, if you have engaged in unprotected intercourse with multiple partners or have used intravenous drugs, it is advised that you get tested. Additionally, individuals with acute retroviral syndrome experience early HIV symptoms.

The signs consist of:

• Fever

 • Diarrhea

• Headache

 • Stomach cramps, nausea, or vomiting

• Skin rash

• Sore throat

• Muscle pains and joint pain

 • Weight loss

• Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groyne

The highlighted HIV symptoms can be moderate to severe and often go away within two to three weeks. The infected person might not experience these symptoms again for many years after the initial wave of symptoms passes. However, symptoms persist in the body and return after a while. Moreover, untreated HIV infection advances gradually and can cause AIDS. Diarrhea, weariness, fever, changes in the colour of the nails, and numbness in the limbs are some of the later HIV symptoms.

What phases of HIV are there?

HIV spreads through sexual contact, the exchange of infected blood, or the use of infected needles when the blood, sperm, or vaginal fluids of an infected person enter the body of an uninfected person. In the initial stages of infection and again afterwards, the illness may spread quickly. Nevertheless, HIV can be prevented at any stage. The phases of HIV that a person can spread to other people are listed below:

  • Acute HIV infection: This condition appears two to four weeks after an individual contracts the virus. Many patients experience flu-like symptoms during this time, including fever, headaches, and rashes, as HIV replicates quickly and spreads throughout the body. As a result, the immune system's CD4 cells are destroyed.
  • HIV multiplies in the body at low levels in the chronic stage of HIV infection. In this stage, persons may not exhibit signs of HIV infection, yet they are nonetheless HIV carriers.
  • AIDS – The ultimate stage of HIV infection, AIDS causes severe immune system damage and increases your risk of contracting infections and malignancies associated with infections. Additionally, you are officially diagnosed with AIDS when your CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells/mm3. People with this illness typically live roughly three years without therapy.

How can HIV be avoided?

The main method of HIV prevention is to keep you away from an infected person, which includes sharing needles and other injecting supplies and engaging in sexual activity without the use of a condom. The following are some essential ideas to bear in mind if you want to prevent HIV:

  • Engage in safe sex - Unless you are in a relationship with one partner who does not have the underlying disease, engage in safe sex by using a condom. Before engaging in physical contact with a partner, always discuss your sexual history. Get tested for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) immediately if you have had intercourse with someone who is HIV positive. However, you can take a combination drug (Tenofovir plus Emtricitabine) every day to lower your risk of contracting the infection.
  • Alcohol and drugs can occasionally make people negligent about engaging in safer sex and may cause them to utilise intravenous (IV) needles and syringes. Therefore, never share eyedroppers, cocaine spoons, or intravenous (IV) needles.

Conclusion:

Although the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a serious illness, proper treatment and prevention measures can stop or delay the onset of AIDS. Get tested right away if you believe you may have been exposed to HIV. The test results could be unsettling, but the treatment might extend your life.

Pzifflife Care