AIDS has infected more than 78 million people since 1981. AIDS is a condition resulting from the damage done by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to the immune system and is referred to as “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome”. Every day, 5,000 people are diagnosed with a new infection in the world.
WHAT IS AIDS?
AIDS is not a virus but a set of symptoms (or syndrome) caused by the HIV virus. A person is said to have AIDS when the immune system is too weak to fight infection and develops certain defining symptoms and illnesses. This is the final stage in which HIV infection is very advanced and will result in death if left untreated.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIV AND AIDS?
HIV and AIDS are two separate things. HIV is a human immunodeficiency virus and impairs the immune system in infected individuals. AIDS is an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome that develops as a result of the progression of HIV infection.
HIV weakens the immune system of the infected person and makes the body vulnerable to other infections and cancers. However, a person with HIV infection does not always have AIDS. The diagnosis of AIDS is made when the immune system is severely impaired and the infected person has difficulty dealing with bacterial and fungal infections.
AIDS is usually an advanced stage of HIV infection. When HIV infection is left untreated, the infected person’s immune system is severely weakened and that person may be identified as having AIDS. However, if HIV infection is detected and treated early, the immune system of the infected person can be strengthened and AIDS development can be prevented.
WHAT CAUSES AIDS?
AIDS is caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. By targeting the immune system of the infected person, HIV specifically attacks and destroys cells known as T lymphocytes. As a result, a person with HIV infection has a weakened immune system and becomes vulnerable to other infections, cancers, and other health problems.
HIV can be transmitted through blood, through sexual contact, sharing needles, or from mother to baby at birth. The HIV virus can be found in an infected person’s blood, body fluids (for example, semen, vaginal fluids, anal fluids, and milk), and breast milk.
People with HIV infection become more vulnerable to other infections because their immune systems are weakened. In particular, fungal infections, bacterial infections, viruses, and cancers become more common in HIV-infected people. Therefore, people with HIV infection need to take special precautions to protect themselves from other infections.
WHAT ARE AIDS SYMPTOMS?
Symptoms of AIDS appear at an advanced stage of HIV infection. AIDS is also called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and develops when an infected person’s immune system is severely weakened.
The symptoms of AIDS can vary depending on other health problems such as other infections and cancers. However, symptoms commonly seen in people with HIV infection include:
long fire
Excessive sweating (especially at night)
weight loss
Fatigue or feeling tired
chronic diarrhea
Skin rashes or lesions
Painful ulcers in the mouth, throat or genital area
Brain and nervous system problems (especially headache, forgetfulness, imbalance, speech disorders and paralysis)
Lung, liver, or kidney problems
AIDS symptoms can also occur due to other infections or diseases. Therefore, it is important for people with HIV infection to take their symptoms seriously and consult a doctor. When HIV infection is detected early, treatment is possible and disease progression can be stopped or slowed.
IS THERE AIDS TREATMENT?
There is no cure for AIDS, but HIV infection is treatable and can improve patients’ health status. Treatment of HIV infection includes the use of drugs called antiretroviral therapy (ART). This treatment reduces the viral load in the immune system of the infected person and protects the health of the infected person. ART slows the progression of the infection and prevents the HIV-infected person from developing AIDS.
ART may include a combination of a number of drugs, and these drugs can be effective at different stages of HIV. Treatment is determined by factors such as the infected person’s medical history, the stage of the infection, other health problems, and drug resistance.
In addition, people with HIV infection need to take special precautions to protect themselves from other infections and cancers. These precautions are very important, especially when the immune system of the infected person is weakened. For example, HIV-infected people should be vaccinated against other infections and should use condoms during sexual contact.
As a result, the treatment of people with HIV infection requires a specific treatment plan, which is determined by the medical history of the infected person and the stage of the infection. Treatment is crucial to maintaining the patient’s health and quality of life.