HIV/AIDS and What We Should Know

       

Virus Image

  Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is an infection caused by virus, it has been on the increase ever since it was identified year long.It a world-wide disease but research shows that the prevalence rate is high in Africa and higher in the under developed African countries.This i supposed should be as a result of poor or lack of sensitization like we see abroad and " somehow " in some top African countries.

 HIV causes progressive impairment of the body's cellular immune system, leading to increased susceptibility to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).There are basically two types of the virus causing HIV; the HIV-1 which is found mainly in west Africa and HIV-2 which is less easily transmitted than HIV-1 and the period between the initial infection and immunodeficiency is longer than with HIV-1.HIV/AIDS type one or two can only be identified through routine laboratory diagnoses.

HIV is an enveloped RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) virus belonging to the lentivirus subgroup of retroviruses which causes slowly progressive disease, often with long incubation periods.
Transmission of HIV is either through sexual contacts, blood transfusion or through contact with infected objects via open wounds.Blood and semen remains the most contaminant body fluid, other body fluids may also play role in transmission: among them are ; saliva, tears, urine, breast milk cerebrospinal fluid and infected discharges.Transmission rate keeps increasing due to poor or no sensitization and human indifference where the infected person will not want to be positive alone, male to female transmission risk is high  in young girls of aged 16 and below.Frequent changes of sexual partners increases transmission risk, mother to child transmission is also a case to behold.

HIV is never transmitted through air, body contacts within no open wounds nor by hand shakes, utensils, coughing/sneezing, insect bites or toilets.This is not to make us not to be careful, we all need to be careful in order to be on the save side.Prevention remains the best way to stay free from HIV/AIDS and this is best achieved through keeping away from all predisposing conditions as stated above and othes that are not stated therein.

  Sensitization on the safety state of HIV/AIDS must be the priority of the health workers, radio stactions, government and the elites in order to reduce the rate of HIV/AIDS among youths and older ones.Statistics by  UNAIDS shows that as of 2008 about 33 million people were already infected by the virus and the number has been on the increase till date.Family sensitization from my view point may be the best way to expose individuals on how to stay safe from the virus.

  HIV/AIDS infection has no permanent symptoms but may include all forms of disorders ranging from minor fever symptoms in it's early stage to chronic form in the latter stages, diarrhea, dehydration, loss of weight continuously, etc.To confirm the presence of the infection one need to go for laboratory test and follow suit every other demanding steps recomended by a health personnel.

Some important lines of test to confirm the infection include haematological test, SD Boiling HIV 1/2 30 test, Uni-Gold HIV 1 and 2 test, Rapid HIV Antibody Test and more.All of these test demands going to hospital.Dear brethren, stay clear of HIV/AIDS and be happy you did but if you find yourself positive, that wouldn't be the end of life since HIV/AIDS can be managed and you live as long as possible.Following health care personnel instructions will be of good help and we all will be happy indeed.