Source: Mount Sinai
What is HIV and AIDS?
HIV and AIDS affect millions of people around the world. The stigma surrounding this illness has caused many people to be afraid of HIV patients, due to them being ill-informed about this disease. However, with the knowledge that medical professionals have now, they are able to more properly diagnose and treat people with HIV and AIDS, which is leading to a decrease in fear. HIV can lead to AIDS and hinder the immune system’s ability to fight infections, illnesses and diseases. According to the MFMER, a person can contract the virus through the transmission of various bodily fluids. It is typically transmitted through sexual activity, from mother to fetus, or unclean needles and unscreened blood. Unfortunately, HIV and AIDS is a chronic illness that typically lasts throughout one's lifetime. It can be initially diagnosed with lab tests and imaging.
Symptoms of HIV and AIDS
Symptoms of HIV typically start off as flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and sore throat. HIV is usually an asymptomatic disease, meaning that symptoms do not usually present themselves in a person, unless HIV has progressed to AIDS. A person with AIDS experiences weight loss, fever, night sweats, fatigue, and constant and recurring infections. These infections include red blotches, skin rashes, pneumonia, and swollen lymph nodes. The recurrence of infections is one of the major tell-tale signs that HIV has now progressed to AIDS, and the patient’s health is worsening.
Treatment of HIV and AIDS
HIV can be treated with HIV antivirals, which slow down the progression and spread of this virus throughout the body. No cure has been found for AIDS, but antiretroviral therapy slows down the progression of the disease and prevents additional infections to prolong the patient’s quality of life. These treatments can be administered by infectious disease specialists, clinical psychologists, and primary care providers.
HIV and AIDS are illnesses that affect the immune system’s ability to protect an individual from infectious diseases. HIV can be treated with various methods such as antiviruses and ART, but do not have a surefire cure. As scientific advancements continue to take over the world, many new discoveries about HIV and AIDS are being made and researchers are getting closer to finding a long-term cure for this illness instead of depending on short-term treatments. In the meantime, getting to know a person with HIV and AIDS and researching more about the disease will break the stigma surrounding this illness.
Citations:
www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/what-are-hiv-and-aids
https://medlineplus.gov/hivaids.html
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids/symptoms-causes/syc-20373524
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