HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus which attacks the cells and helps the body fight off infection. This virus can make a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases which can be spread through contact. Most often than not, it is spread by unprotected sexual contact or through sharing injection or any other drug equipment. If HIV is left untreated, it can lead to AIDS, which a human body cannot get rid of, and you can have it for life. There is no definitive cure for HIV, but the course of antiretroviral therapy (ART) can allow people to live a long and healthy life. There are many effective ways people can get rid of HIV, which includes protected sex and single-use drugs. HIV is the reason for one of the deadliest and most persistent epidemics.
AIDS
AIDS is the last stage of HIV, where the infection has taken over the body’s immune systems and is badly damaged because of the virus. There are many ways you can stop the development of HIV into aids, which includes taking medicines prescribed by your doctor. When the number of CD4 cells falls below the per cubic millimetre of blood or 200 cells/mm3 is considered to have AIDS. There are also many other infections which get forms regardless of the CD4 count.
HIV medicine, people with AIDS typically survive for about three years and can have dangerous opportunistic illnesses which with the life expectancy can have the treatment going for more than one year. HIV can help people at any stage of life, which can also be lifesaving as ART can help the patient experience more benefits.
How to know if one has HIV?
The only way to learn that you have HIV is to get tested where you need to ask your health care provider for an HIV test. There are many medical clinics, substance abuse programs, community health centres and hospitals which offer HIV testing kits to help test for yourselves.
People at risk
In general, there are a few groups of people who are at high risk of getting HIV than the rest due to their risky behaviour and the place they live in. When you live in a community, you need to understand that participating in sexual behaviour. One of the easiest ways to know if you have HIV is to get it to check. If you see that you have unprotected sex or sharing needles, you are at a higher risk of contracting the disease.
The gay and bisexual communities have the largest number of new diagnoses which is followed by the African Americans, Latinos and other racial groups. They are other risky behaviours like anal sex or oral sex which can lead to both the partners testing positive to HIV.