Every year in the world, a large number of people are newly diagnosed with HIV. According to the sources one in five does not know he or she is infected. HIV is a disease that does not discriminate. Anyone can contract this disease, which is why it is important for all of us to be AWARE of how to protect ourselves and prevent the transmission of HIV.
•Get the facts – Learn the basics of HIV transmission and prevention.
•Get tested – It is recommended that every adult and adolescent get tested at least once in his or her lifetime, and those at increased risk (for example, men who have sex with men, and individuals with new or multiple sexual partners) get tested at least once a year.
•Get involved – Encourage friends and loved ones to get tested and speak out against the stigma and complacency that help fuel the spread of HIV.
QUICK FACTS ✓
AIDS- ‘Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome’ Caused by HIV- ‘Human Immunodefficiency Virus’.
As per the name it Weakens immunity to that extent where your running nose can keep running for months!
AIDS patients are open culture plates for all kinds of infections i.e. they can haurber all kinds of bacteria, viruses and fungi.
ROUTE OF TRANSMISSION OF HIV✓
•Unprotected sexual intercourse: Anal, vaginal or oral sex. Most common in homosexuals, prostitutes, sex workers.
•By blood and blood products: blood transfusions without prior screening.
•Injections & Injuries: sharing needles in drug abusers. Injections with unsterile syringes and needles. Needle-prick injuries in healthcare workers.
•Tissue and organs donation: donation of semen, cornea, bone marrow, kidney by HIV infected person.
•Mother to baby: transplacental i.e. within the womb or at the time of delivery or after birth by breastfeeding.
HIV IS NOT TRANSMITTED BY✓
•Social and domestic contact.
•Shaking hands, hugging, putting cheeks together or dry kissing do not transmit HIV.
•Bite of mosquitoes, bed bugs or any blood sucking insects do not transmit disease.
•There is no confirmed case of transmission through saliva but virus may be present in saliva of infected person.
•Urine and sweat don’t transmit HIV.
•Bathrooms and toilet seats of HIV patients are not responsible for transmission.
•Sneezing and coughing also don’t transmit the virus.
HIV virus is present in blood, breast milk, vaginal secretions, cervical secretions, tears, saliva, semen of infected person. Keep yourself away from these body fluids of infected person.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS✓
Many people who are HIV positive do not have symptoms of HIV infection. The virus can sometimes cause people to feel sick, but most of the severe symptoms and illnesses of HIV come from the opportunistic infections that attack the damaged immune system. It is also important to recognize that some symptoms of HIV are similar to common illnesses, such as the flu or respiratory infections.
Signs and symptoms commonly seen in the early stages of HIV include:
•Fever
•Chills
•Rash
•Night sweats
•Muscle aches
•Sore throat
•Fatigue
•Swollen lymph nodes
•Ulcers in the mouth
Infected individuals can have the virus for up to 10 years—sometimes longer—without showing signs or symptoms.
TREATMENT OF AIDS✓
THERE IS NO PERMANENT CURE FOR AIDS!
If the person is infected by needle prick injuries or any surgical wound he or she should be given Anti Retroviral therapy within 72hrs of exposure.
What to do if any needle prick injury occurs while injecting drug or recapping the used needle in HIV infected patients???
•1st and foremost Don’t panic!
•Immediately put your finger below the running tap water.
•Wash the finger keeping your nail vertically downwards.
•Don’t squeeze your finger and never put it into your mouth.
•Immediately check for your blood tests.
•Start the ART (Anti Retroviral Therapy) within 72hrs of exposure if blood tests are positive for HIV.
PREVENTION OF AIDS✓
▪︎ Proper counselling and health education regarding the spread of the disease and symptoms.
▪︎ Clear the myths and misconceptions of AIDS.
▪︎ Protected sexual intercourse. Condoms are cheaper than AIDS, isn’t it!!
▪︎Know the HIV status of your sexual partner.
▪︎ Be aware of blood and blood products.
▪︎ Always use a sterile needle.
We celebrate World AIDS Day, designated on 1 December every year since 1988, which is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease. This is a very important day to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and reflect on both where we have made achievements in battling the epidemic and where we really need to persevere to do better.
The world has changed. The global response to HIV must change too. December 1st has traditionally been World AIDS Day – but now onwards , we urge the global community to reclaim December the 1st as World HIV Day.
We do this, because as we enter the next phase of the global HIV response, we cannot let fear and discrimination drive us backwards.
We must reaffirm and redouble our efforts to end one of the greatest health challenges of our generation.
And, we have reason for great optimism: Dramatic advances in biomedical and behavioral sciences have given us the tools to prevent HIV-related deaths and dramatically reduce new HIV infections.
We defeat HIV when we provide access to treatment for all people living with HIV, HIV testing and comprehensive prevention strategies that include PrEP and condom availability, and harm reduction strategies for people who inject drugs that include needle exchange and opiate substitution therapy. We defeat HIV when these solutions are delivered by genuinely respecting the rights and dignity of all people living with and affected by HIV.
This epidemic has never been just about a virus. We defeat HIV when we embrace social justice and the fundamental human dignity and leadership of affected populations around the globe.
AIDS was our past, HIV is our present and our future can be a world where we ended a virus, by making an unprecedented sustained global investment in combining science with respect for the human rights of all. So, let us commit to creating a World Without HIV.