HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS

The human immunodeficiency virus which is known as HIV is a sexually transmitted disease contracted by any sexual contact, sharing needles associated with drug use, tattoos, and piercings, blood to blood contact with someone infected with the virus, transfusions with contaminated blood, breast milk from an infected mother, and an infected mother to fetus during pregnancy. Getting a transfusion of blood from an infected blood donor used to be a way people got AIDS, but now the blood supply is screened very carefully and the risk is extremely low. Also there has not been any documentation of cases where HIV was transmitted by tears or saliva, but it is possible to catch HIV through oral sex, especially if you have open sores in your mouth or bleeding gums. According to AIDS.ORG, ‘In the United States, there are about 800,000 to 900,000 people who are HIV-positive. Over 300,000 people are living with AIDS. Each year, there are 50,000 new infections. In the mid-1990’s, AIDS was the leading cause of death. However, newer treatments have cut the AIDS death rate significantly.’ Even though that death rate has sunk significantly, AIDS is now the 5th leading cause of death according to Planned Parenthood, an organization f

The best prevention of HIV/AIDS is abstinence and education. But hopefully soon there will be a vaccine that protects against HIV with one dose. Drug therapy is a very big part of the fight against AIDS. The virus multiplies in the body for weeks and even months before the immune system starts to respond and weaken. It is hard to tell if someone has been infected with HIV without taking a proper test given by a doctor. He"tms taken very good care of himself so that he doesn"tmt develop full blown AIDS. It is a very expensive treatment and it does not work for everyone. Some people can even go ten years without developing AIDS. HIV is a virus that attacks the white blood cells in your immune system weakening it to the point where it is difficult to fight off a simple cold. Though it is understandable that most people can not abstain from sex. A simple sample of bodily fluid is needed, such as blood or urine for the HIV antibody test. There are antiviral treatments out that that slows the progress of the disease. After testing positive as many as 50% percent of people with HIV develop AIDS within seven years of infection. It stops HIV from resisting treatment and it gives many people hope that it will be able to turn AIDS into a manageable health problem instead of a terminal illness. People can go without symptoms for ten years and within those ten years you can develop AIDS.