All about AIDS / HIV

We want to inform you aboutthe disease/virus of AIDS, which was ignored for a very long time, and many doctors focused on the risk of sexual transmission instead of fully understanding seropositivity and its consequences on the immune system.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

This is a late stage of HIV-AIDS, which causes the progressive loss of immune defenses (the body can no longer protect itself from infections), leading to the development of certain diseases.

Symptoms and Complications of HIV

Firstly, if you have any doubts, get tested and see your doctor!

But we are also here to inform you, so if you want to knowthe first symptoms of HIV, here they are:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Swollen lymph glands

If you have the slightest doubt, do not hesitate to consult a doctor, because an untreated person with HIV or without medical follow-up can lead to complications such as severe weakening of the immune system, causing serious illnesses such as certain cancers, infections of the lungs, eyes, or even the brain, and then HIV infection progresses to the AIDS stage.

HIV Treatment:

We remind you that we are not doctors, and your doctor can explain your treatment more clearly based on your case. However, today we know that there are 2 HIV treatments:

1. antiviral drug treatment
2. treatment of opportunistic infections

The first treatment is for the prevention of HIV infection and should be started before the CD4 count drops too low, to maximize infection prevention and give the person a better chance.

Causes of HIV:

For a long time, the causes of this disease were unknown or sometimes incorrect, but today, thanks to research and also an increase in cases, we can determine the3 main causes of HIV:

• Sexual transmission
• Bloodborne transmission
• Mother-to-child transmission

Prevention:

As with most diseases, there are preventative measures to take:

Firstly, to prevent anysexual transmission of HIV, use female or male condoms during sexual intercourse. It is important to use them to avoid any disease transmission if you and your partner have not been tested, or if you do not have an exclusive partner. Additionally, remember to use water or silicone-based lubricants only for condom effectiveness. These initial preventative measures will help you avoid sexually transmitted infections. So, avoid any risk of transmission through the genital mucous membranes of other HIV-infected individuals, such as: Penetration, oral sex, anal sex...

Secondly,testing is available for early detection in case of contamination risk. You can go to your doctor, a pharmacy, or Planned Parenthood.

If you want information about the possibility of an AIDS vaccine, we advise you to consult your doctor.