HIV/AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus infection / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
HIV is transmitted primarily via unprotected sexual intercourse (including anal and even oral sex), contaminated blood transfusion, hypodermic needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. Some bodily fluids, such as saliva and tears, do not transmit HIV.




CAUSE OF HIV/AIDS:

According to researchers, two viruses cause AIDS, namely HIV-1 and HIV-2.
HIV-1 is the predominant virus in most part of the world, whereas HIV-2 is the most commonly
found in west africa . These viruses belongs to a family called the retroviruses. They are unique viruses in that they are able to insert their genetic material into the genetic material (DNA) of cells of the person that they have infected. In this way they are able to infect a person for the rest of that person's life.





         SIGNS/SYMPTOMS:

• One of the first signs of ARS/Acute Retroviral Syndrome can be a mild fever, up to about 102 degrees F.The fever, if it occurs at all, is often accompanied by other usually mild symptoms, such as fatigue, swollen lymph glands, and a sore throat

 
Achy muscles, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes
Lymph nodes are part of your body's immune system and
 tend to get inflamed when there's an infection. Many of them
 are located in your armpit, groin, and neck.
 

• Skin rash

 Skin rashes can occur early or late in the course of HIV/AIDS.

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
These symptoms can also appear as a result
 of antiretroviral therapy and later in the infection,
usually as the result of an opportunistic infection.










Dry cough

This symptom—an "insidious cough that could be going on for weeks that doesn't seem to resolve,"Dr. Malvestutto says—is typical in very ill HIV patients.






 Nail changes

Another sign of late HIV infection are nail changes, such as clubbing (thickening and curving of the nails), splitting of the nails, or discoloration (black or brown lines going either vertically or horizontally).
 Tingling and weaknessLate HIV can also cause numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. This is called peripheral neuropathy, which also occurs in people with uncontrolled diabetes."This is when the nerves are actually damaged," Dr. Malvestutto says.
These symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers and antiseizure medicines such as Neurontin (gabapentin).






**Treatment as prevention has been used successfully by doctors to prevent mothers from passing HIV to their babies. Mother-to-Child transmition prevention, involves the screening and treatment of  pregnant women and their new-born babies.
Increasingly, treatment is being used to prevent HIV transmission. Good adherence to antiretroviral treatment can lower a person’s viral load and reduces the risk of onward HIV transmission.HIV treatment known as pre-exposure prophylaxis is also used by people who may be exposed to HIV, for example, discordant couples.
Overall, HIV prevention programmes should be comprehensive, making use of all approaches known to be effective rather than just implementing one or a few.