What is AIDS? AIDS is Acquired amino deficiency syndrome caused due to increase in HIV in body. It causes around 33 million deaths per year world wide.
What is HIV? HIV is Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is responsible for a weak immune system of human body.
How HIV works?
In our blood stream there are billions of T cells or CD4 cells. These T cells work as soldiers and protect the body from germs and viruses which cause diseases. An HIV virus has a special chemical called integrase on its surface which unlocks and enters the T cell to change its working and force it to create more HIV virus. After creating more HIV, T cell dies, multiplying the number of HIV
Difference between HIV and AIDS
As above discussed, HIV is a slow virus which slowly and slowly makes immune system weak. It kills the cells which protect body from diseases. The last stage of HIV infection is called AIDS when there are almost negligible amount of t cells in blood stream.
Drugs and medicines
There is no medicine which can kill HIV but there are many drugs and medicines which delay the development of this virus. And the last stage of this infection (AIDS) comes late
How HIV is transmitted?
HIV is most commonly transmitted when it comes in contact with blood. Here are some most common ways though which HIV is transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person.
Having sex without protection
It is possible that the person is having some sores or cuts in the sexual organs which are not even noticeable. HIV virus may be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person through these cuts.
From infected mother to unborn child
An infected mother can pass the virus to unborn baby either before or during birth. HIV may also get transmitted during breast feeding.
By using injecting equipments of an infected person
The needles or any other injecting equipment used by infected person contains HIV. If a healthy person uses these equipments, HIV enters in the blood stream.
Blood transfusions
It is very rare but some of the cases have been detected where HIV is passes through blood transfusions. Since then HIV tests are done before transfusing of blood
Tattoos / piercing
As said above, HIV is mostly transmitted when it comes in contact with blood, hence while piercing, it the equipments are not properly sterilized, the chance of getting HIV infection increases.
Myths about AIDS
# HIV is passes while kissing
# HIV is passes by touching infected person
# HIV is not passed while having oral sex
# HIV is passed through insects
Preventing measures
# Protected sex
# Use of sterilized equipments while making any type of cuts on the body
# Use of new needles while injecting drugs
# Always try to verify about the blood that is transfused in the body.
