HIV Aids Symptoms

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, more commonly known as AIDS, is a virus that ultimately weakens a person's immune system. For the first few years, an infected person undergoes simple symptoms such as fever, sore throat, rash or headache. After this, the person enters the asymptomatic stage, meaning symptoms are virtually non-existent. After a few years, the symptoms become evident such as fungal mouth infection. This is usually the stage when those infected seek medical help and become aware of their condition.

Get tested for AIDS

If you find yourself exhibiting various symptom of AIDS, getting tested is the next logical step. Doctors determine if a person is infected by identifying the HIV antibodies specially produced by the body to fight off HIV infection. Once their presence has been determined, doctors then strive to monitor the condition of the person's immune system.

Seek assistance from support groups

Since AIDS has been and is still a worldwide concern, various support groups have been formed to help the people suffering from the virus. Some of those include the National AIDS Hotline, Center for Disease Control, and the American Foundation for AIDS Research.

Keep in mind that AIDS undergoes an asymptomatic stage. Thus, it is ideal for routine check ups to be performed to discover the virus at its early stages. As of now, science is in the process of learning more about the virus and will hopefully find a cure in the future.

Nowadays, practicing safe sex is vital with the emergence of various sexually transmitted diseases. Some are fatal while others are capable of infecting a person for a long time. This is why various objects have been created to promote safe sex and prevent the spread of these diseases.

Safe sex tips

Getting vaccinated is the most effective way of protecting yourself from Hepatitis A and B. One vaccine is enough to protect yourself from contracting the disease. However, other STDs such as Herpes cannot be prevented through vaccine. Practice safe sex by making sure that you and your partner have been examined for various diseases. Always use sex barriers, pills and make sure to never leave home without it.

Condoms for Safer Sex

Latex condoms are an excellent way to prevent direct contact with your partner. However, make sure to use the sex barrier correctly, otherwise you might have problems. Keep in mind that condoms break, so if you are worried about pregnancy then make sure that you routinely take in pills.

Practicing safe sex is very important for those who are sexually active. This is because infected people will not voluntarily give the information. So, it must be you who takes the initiative to protect yourself. It's possible that the cute guy you've been eyeing during your vacation might just give you something you won't forget forever.

Sure, HIV is a serious disease, but many misconceptions cause unwanted panic. Several popular myths about HIV transmission not only waste energy but are an insult to victims of HIV. Read on to know the truth about the spread of HIV:

Debunking myths about HIV transmission

Don’t ever believe that HIV can be transmitted with casual contact. Studies have shown that it is not a communicable disease, and everyday contact with HIV victims is never harmful. Contact with saliva, sweat, or tears of HIV infected persons will not cause harm either. These body fluids contain quantities too small to achieve infection. HIV also cannot be transmitted with insect bites. This has been verified by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Tips to avoid HIV

Avoiding HIV only takes a few simple steps. Those involved in a sex life should always practice safe sex. This will reduce your chance of infection from sexually transmitted diseases. Certain countries are known for having a high rate of HIV, so travelers should take note of this while planning their itinerary.

Testing for HIV

HIV is usually tested from the presence of its antibodies from your blood. Fluid in between your cheeks and gums are also used to screen for HIV.

Symptoms of HIV aren’t obvious at first, so to be completely sure, one should get tested. Still, here are the initial symptoms of being infected:

AIDS symptoms

A low grade fever usually develops, along with a rash, fatigue, muscle aches, or headache immediately after being infected. Rapid weight loss also occurs, as well as unexplained dry cough and shortness of breath. High fever or soaking from sweat at night, an appearance of purple sports on the skin, persistent diarrhea, and signs of mental deterioration also occur.

Testing for AIDS

HIV infection is diagnosed by testing the blood for HIV antibodies. The Orasure Test uses secretions between the cheek and gum to check for HIV antibodies, and is just as accurate as the blood test. The urine test is also used, but after a positive result, a blood test will still be performed.

AIDS support

Support groups are available in most communities. Your doctor will give you references and resources during your appointment. For more options, many groups have websites with their complete information.

Knowing a good friend has AIDS should not be cause of hopelessness. It’s important that your friend has a stable support group and is not afraid to ask you for help. Here’s how you can practice effective emotional support for AIDS victims.

Emotional support for people with AIDS

Never ever avoid your friend. It’s traumatizing enough that he or she has AIDS, and feeling alone will only make matters worse. Be a source of optimism for him or her and spend meaningful time together. Since your friend is going through a difficult time, always ask if you can swing by. Sometimes, your friend may not be up to seeing anyone on a particular day.

Spiritual support for AIDS patients

It doesn’t matter if your friend is the religious type or a complete non-believer. Spiritual support is possible for all kinds of beliefs. Look for books that align with your friend’s philosophical beliefs.

Treatment support for those with AIDS

If your community has professional groups that support AIDS patients, ask your friend if he/she is willing to participate in this. It always helps to be around people in the same situation.

When there's too much profanity almost everywhere, I wonder why we're too critical when it comes to HIV and AIDS. Aside from being fatal and fierce, we attach labels of social stigma and disgrace to these conditions. Too many people have suffered and died, so the least we should think about is discriminating the victims as society's unwanted.

AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease, hence, there are more chances of transmitting the HIV virus through intercourse. So why do we need to shun physical contact? You can touch them and heal their souls. All they need is for you to show them even a bit of compassion and kindness. Even the intimacy of kissing cannot transmit the deadly virus to your partner. So where's the love?

A peck on the cheek or even a sweet touch of your lips can pass on love and care. Kissing is so powerful that it can soothe the ailing heart, even of a distressed AIDS victim. If you really want to make contribution, do away with the myths and misconceptions. Search for truth behind the disease and help strengthen their faith. Two decades from now, AIDS may still be a scare but once you care, you'll help alleviate the social conditions of those in despair.

One day, we're up and the other we're down. All of us are tossed into a topsy-turvy existence called life. Extreme measures are present, but everyday, we try to fight it off with unwavering faith and courage. Life is a series of challenging tests. Even AIDS victims are bestowed with free will. But when it comes to life and death, is it still our choice to make?

The world can always proclaim care and compassion for social distress and misery. But the truth never changes -- those inflicted with HIV or AIDS are still treated with disdain. We treat victims no more than guinea pigs for medical research and breakthroughs. Yet, we fail to heal their ailing body and souls. When will discrimination ever stop? When everybody has fallen off the edge and taken their own lives?

What is life without family? Without love and care? When you're dying slowly into rift and pain, suicide may seem a seductive choice. This is an alarm for people with HIV or AIDS and like Carlos Martines, a Mexican carpenter inflicted with the vicious disease, victims choose to break free from unrelenting society. I hear stories about suicide everyday. Nothing has changed but the names of those who have given up to the battle.

When it comes to sex and crimes, the Vatican is never without a say. They're like overprotective parents who'll stand and fight for his child. They are spiritual warriors with a religious mandate to combat evil and stop the contamination of the precious society. Well, in a way, they are that, so can we blame our leaders when they are vehement against the use of condoms? Maybe not, but what if AIDS continue to kill their people? Will they still be stubborn to say that even safe sex can't be a cure?

The Catholic Church claims that the use of condom is not an effective way to ward off the deadly HIV virus. Whether or not countries stricken with AIDS will listen, they'll have to take a stand. There are claims that the safe-sex plastic is impermeable; though the World Health Organization was quick to rebuff their contention, the Vatican continues to protest and advises its faithful followers not to trust the safe sex method. Condoms are not only unsafe, they also promote promiscuity, according to a Vatican bishop. So the war of science and faith is on, once again!

The World Health Organization released a statement against the Vatican's clamor, saying that incorrect views about condom and safe sex may further expose people to danger and more fatal risks of disease. Millions of people are killed and more are doomed to suffer from this devious affliction. The medical organization firmly stands by their contention that there's no truth to the Vatican's protest that condoms are defective in stopping the transmission of a dreaded virus. In fact, WHO confirmed that consistent use of condom is a way to save people.

If a person acquires HIV, is there any hope for recovery? I've been asked by people about this for maybe a hundred times. I'm not the "Doc", but as a former hospital intern I gained some knowledge about HIV since we were treating HIV positives in the center. Sadly, there's no vaccine against HIV. But there are medications against further infections and complications since it can take 10 years before the symptoms of AIDS manifest. The only thing to watch out for here is the blood -- to make sure that the HIV infection is still in its latent stages.

Blood tests are important in the medication of HIV infection. The trouble with people is that unless they develop the symptoms, they don't visit the physician for necessary blood exams. Sometimes, the doctors make use of cell count in order to discover if the body has enough strength to fight HIV. For example, doctors measure the number of CD4 cells in our body. Normally, we have 500-1600 cells. Those who are HIV positive and are already exhibiting the symptoms of AIDS have fewer than 200.

HIV, it turns out, is not just an ordinary virus, but a "retrovirus" which multiplies by using the other cells in the infected person's body. The role of "antiretrovirals" is to simply reduce the number of multiplying HIV-infected cells before it's too late. The scary thing about this is that HIV cells multiply by the billions everyday! But antiretrovirals, when combined with other drugs, can help reduce this number, slow down the infection, and eventually stop the spread of the disease.

There are glorious days and there are dubious ways, and man always finds himself in the middle of all its besetting danger. When you’'re healthy and mighty, you exhaust all of life’'s possibilities. Money, sex, and luxury-- they all thrive in your audacious living. You seem to have it all, but fate will always claim its price. Once you'’re inflicted with this deadly disease, you forget the meaning of life. They say AIDS is a killer! It kills the hopes and the dreams of a person. But a victim can only fade with nothing but disgrace if he wavers in his faith.

Jamie is 22, a charming, remarkable, and witty person. Perfect stats, actually! Only, he can no longer have a baby, never build a family. But he refuses to call himself a victim. He’ had the best days of his life and even if he's not in the perfect situation now, he resigned himself to faith. He'’s not a pious believer, although deep within, his soul is a warrior. "I've had troubling nights when I'’m left alone in my condo with nothing but fear and despair!"” Jamie confessed. It all changed one day when he got to see Oprah and the story of famine in Africa. He might still be lucky, he thought.

According to Jamie, living with AIDS is not the worst thing that could possibly happen to anyone. He said that we are all born as equals. For him, it might be AIDS but for others, it can be a broken family, unrequited love, famine, and disaster. Society only makes its own misery when in fact, he’ considers deafness and blindness more dreadful than having HIV. Jamie’ is an art director, and this is the most fruitful venture of his life. He also fears of dying one day, but at least he was able to see what he needed to see. He’ heard the most crucial comments and savored the best moments. With that, he may be a sinner, but he’'ll be a winner when he leaves his world. Jamie is a champion of his own strength and faith!

Nowadays, men rival women when it comes to vanity. You will find them as frequent guests in salons, boutiques and spas. And this vainglory has produced metrosexuals in our society. Nothing to fear but while they update and remodel their haircuts with designers and stylists, have they taught of getting a trim for their foreskin down there? They say circumcision can cut off the risk in acquiring HIV or AIDS.

Is circumcision a cut to prevent HIV and AIDS? Certain studies suggest that uncircumcised men are predisposed to sexually transmitted infections, hence, to a more dreaded infliction of the HIV virus. However, in case of UAI or unprotected annal intercouse, there is less conclusive reason to believe that circumcision may ward off the insidious virus. Perhaps, this is why there are more male homosexuals who suffer from the fatal infection aside from the social stigma.

So what should be the fear of uncircumcised men? Well, Langerhans cells found on the inner surface of the foreskin are HIV receptors. During the sexual activity, it becomes susceptible to traumatic ephithelial disruptions. More so, there is higher risk of ulcerative sexually transmitted infection when the foreskin is intact and thus exposing men to HIV acquisition. Will this be reason enough to make you go trimming the foreskin?

A virus that has developed into full-blown AIDS cripples our immune system. But I dare say it maims our souls. How many families have been broken apart? How many workers driven out of their careers? Even some churches prohibit them from taking communion and confession. Of course, all we hear about is the intensive research for treating AIDS. We even see Bono cry out for help. But how is it out there in the jungle of social discrimination? Aren't victims a social prey of stigma and deprivation? We keep our eyes close from their yearning. We all wish to treat AIDS but first let us heal our ailing souls on the road to perdition.

We often hear about the inspirational stories of those who survived AIDS, but on the other corner of the world, some AIDS victims cannot even survive the taunts and injustice of society. Now, here's a story of a true survivor. He was only 25 when he was diagnosed positive for HIV. Carlos thought that it was the end of his life. All he longed for was compassion, but days have gone without hearing anything from them. His wife went away with the kids and his mom never came to visit him anymore. To further injure Carlos' plummeting hope, he was dismissed from work. Living like a beggar, he volunteered for an AIDS program. That's the only time that he kept his spirits high when he saw how others suffered greater than he did. Wives were burned, children were thrown away to the rivers, and some were even left to die. And so Carlos' mission began, now with a new purpose to live.

Carlos, who's been inflicted with HIV for 3 years now, confessed that life has never been better than all his 3 years of ailment. Sure, he lost his family and friends but he now learned to cherish the things he usually belittled. He found peace with God and comfort among other volunteers. He no longer expects a miracle. Carlos said he found it the moment he held others and relieved their pain with his inspiration. A new mission, a new hope, and a new life for a true AIDS survivor.

Sometimes, I feel like the world will be in safer hands if children will take over the leadership. Their naivety and sheer innocence will filter us from our atrocious acts and absurd beliefs. What's the good anyway of slipping into adulthood when we are only corrupted and further live a worthless life? If only we can be children forever, then may be we'll be free from evil and pain should we stuck it out with Sesame Street. I never really thought that my perception as a child will soon be invaded by corruptions, politics, discrimination, and savagery. But that doesn't stop us from facing the evolving world and its pervading war, we all have to confront our fears. This is not heaven, this is a damn so-called life. Even AIDS can be a flicker of hope.