Prevention and Detection of HIV
Signs and Symptoms Some people who are infected with HIV do not manifest physical symptoms of the virus at all.
However, for those who have symptoms, they experience flu-like illness, night sweats, feeling of fatigue, feeling sick always, loss of weight and swelling of glands.
Modes of Transmission The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the number of HIV/AIDS infected individuals at around 1,185,000.
About 25% of them are unaware of their condition since a number of infected individuals do not have symptoms.
An individual contracts HIV when an infected person's body fluids like blood, semen, fluids from the vagina and breast milk penetrates his bloodstream.
The virus can also enter the bloodstream through the mouth linings, anus, vagina, penis, or through broken skin.
A person who has HIV can feel normal and healthy but can still transmit the virus to other people.
Pregnant women who are infected with HIV can pass the virus to their babies.
High-Risk Individuals Anybody can contract HIV if they engage in specific activities.
A person can have a higher risk of contracting HIV if they have unprotected sex or having vaginal or anal intercourse without using condoms.
You can also get HIV through oral sex without the use of a latex barrier.
Sharing needles with an infected individual for injecting drugs or steroids can also be a form of transmission.
Another would be the use of dirty needles for tattooing or body piercing.
Having multiple sex partners, men having sex with other men, having recently acquired an STD like syphilis, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes or hepatitis puts a person in a very high risk of having HIV.
If you happen to fit in any of the mentioned activities, you should consider undergoing an HIV screening.
All pregnant women are advised to be tested for HIV.
How to Test for HIV HIV tests require a small blood sample from the arm.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Type 2 Antibody Screen with Western Blot Confirmation is a test which detects the antibodies produced by the immune system of the body as a response to the presence of HIV.
This is the most common test.
However, for those who have symptoms, they experience flu-like illness, night sweats, feeling of fatigue, feeling sick always, loss of weight and swelling of glands.
Modes of Transmission The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the number of HIV/AIDS infected individuals at around 1,185,000.
About 25% of them are unaware of their condition since a number of infected individuals do not have symptoms.
An individual contracts HIV when an infected person's body fluids like blood, semen, fluids from the vagina and breast milk penetrates his bloodstream.
The virus can also enter the bloodstream through the mouth linings, anus, vagina, penis, or through broken skin.
A person who has HIV can feel normal and healthy but can still transmit the virus to other people.
Pregnant women who are infected with HIV can pass the virus to their babies.
High-Risk Individuals Anybody can contract HIV if they engage in specific activities.
A person can have a higher risk of contracting HIV if they have unprotected sex or having vaginal or anal intercourse without using condoms.
You can also get HIV through oral sex without the use of a latex barrier.
Sharing needles with an infected individual for injecting drugs or steroids can also be a form of transmission.
Another would be the use of dirty needles for tattooing or body piercing.
Having multiple sex partners, men having sex with other men, having recently acquired an STD like syphilis, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes or hepatitis puts a person in a very high risk of having HIV.
If you happen to fit in any of the mentioned activities, you should consider undergoing an HIV screening.
All pregnant women are advised to be tested for HIV.
How to Test for HIV HIV tests require a small blood sample from the arm.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Type 2 Antibody Screen with Western Blot Confirmation is a test which detects the antibodies produced by the immune system of the body as a response to the presence of HIV.
This is the most common test.
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