AIDS virus HIV

AIDS virus HIV

It is a nationwide health problem.

• Approximately 42.3 million people have this condition.
• By the end of 2023, about 39.9 million people are infected with the virus, 65% of whom are in African regions where WHO data is collected.
• In 2023, about 630,000 people will die from the virus and related causes, and about 1.3 million people will be infected in the same year.
• There is no cure for this virus, but it can be controlled by preventing the spread and by identifying and caring for the infected person.

HIV attacks the body’s immune system. AIDS appears when the infection is advanced.

The virus targets the body’s white blood cells and immune system, making the carrier more susceptible to diseases such as tuberculosis, some cancers, and infections.

HIV is transmitted through body fluids such as blood, breastfeeding, body fluids, mother to baby, but not through hugging, kissing, or sharing drinks.

 

It can be prevented and treated with antiretroviral therapy. When left untreated, HIV can spread to AIDS.

 

Symptoms:

In the first few weeks of infection, the symptoms are flu-like:

 

1) Fever

2) Headache

3) Skin sensitivity

4) Inflammation of the throat

 

Over time, it weakens the immune system and can cause the following symptoms:

 

1) Lymph node infection

2) Weakness

3) Fever

4) Diarrhea

5) Cough

 

If left untreated, people with this infection may have the following symptoms:

 

1) Tuberculosis

2) Meningitis

3) Acute bacterial infection

4) Cancers such as lymphoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma.

 

It can be a worsening of some other infections such as hepatitis type (C & B) as described in previous articles.

 

Diagnosis: –

It can be diagnosed through a rapid test with same-day results.

However, no test alone can diagnose the disease. Several confirmatory tests are required. The most common test used to diagnose the virus is to determine the amount of antibodies the body produces in response to HIV. If the test result is positive, a repeat test should be done to confirm the result before treatment.

 

Tackle: –

There is no cure for this virus, all that is available is to prevent the virus from multiplying in the body. Antiretroviral therapy is used throughout life to strengthen the immune system, not to cure the disease.

 

Directorate of Health and Safety

Presidency of Sulaimani Polytechnic University