Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Okay, let's talk about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

HIV is a virus that destroys a person's immune system, making him more vulnerable to infections and diseases. HIV causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which can be fatal if left untreated.

HIV is transmitted through contact with contaminated blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. It can occur during sexual intercourse, sharing needles when injecting drugs, blood transfusions (especially before 1985, when there were no tests for HIV), and from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

Symptoms of HIV can vary and are not always obvious. In the initial stages of the disease, they can resemble the flu: fever, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, headache and rash. In later stages of the disease, more serious problems may occur, such as a persistent cough, weight loss, diarrhea, and infections that do not usually occur in healthy people.

HIV treatment can significantly improve the quality of life of an infected person and prolong his life. Medicines known as antiretrovirals can reduce the amount of virus in the blood and prevent the development of AIDS. These medications must be taken every day and their effectiveness may depend on regularity of use and the correct choice of medications.

However, there is no known medicine that can cure HIV. Prevention, such as using condoms during sex and never exchanging needles, can reduce the risk of contracting HIV. There is also an HIV overdose prevention procedure called PREP, which can reduce the risk of contracting HIV if exposed to contaminated blood.

Overall, HIV is a serious disease, but with adequate treatment and prevention, it is possible to live a fulfilling life with HIV. It is important to remember that no stigma should accompany this disease, and that people living with HIV deserve the same love, respect and support as everyone else.

What is HIV?

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a very serious disease that can lead to death. Since 1981, when HIV was first described, it has become the most common cause of AIDS. People infected with HIV can live for many years but remain carriers of the virus. The CDC estimates that there are currently about 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States.

Routes of HIV transmission

HIV is transmitted in three main ways: sexual transmission of HIV, transmission from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth, and transmission of blood and other body fluids from an infected person. HIV is most often transmitted through sexual contact among gay men and bisexual gay men, but other forms of contact for HIV transmission also exist. For example, HIV can be transmitted through sharing needles and other equipment, blood transfusions, handling other body fluids of infected people, kissing, sharing utensils, and even breastfeeding. Transmission of HIV does not mean you will get AIDS. Your immune system will respond to the virus, and if it is functioning well, you will not be infected with the virus. However, if your immunity is weakened by chronic diseases, cancer, illness, etc., then your defense mechanisms may be suppressed and you may become susceptible to certain diseases.

In addition to direct transmission from an HIV-infected person to another, the emergence of the immunodeficiency virus during the incubation period should be another threat to humanity. In this case, the virus enters an organism that has not had prior contact with it. If the immune system is strong enough, it will be able to respond to the virus that has entered the body. But if the immune system is weak or underperforming, it can lead to more