HIV/AIDS: symptoms, causes, prevention and treatment

Djakarta : Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a type of virus that infects white blood cells and causes a decrease in human immunity. HIV that is not treated immediately will turn into a serious disease called AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. like is also a set of symptoms that arise due to a decrease in immunity caused by HIV infection. At this point, the body’s ability to fight infection is completely lost.

Symptômes du VIH et du SIDA

Most people with HIV have a mild cold 2 to 6 weeks after becoming infected with HIV. The flu can be accompanied by other symptoms and last 1 to 2 weeks. After the flu is cured, other symptoms may not be seen for years, even though the HIV virus continues to damage the immune system of the affected person, until the HIV develops to an advanced stage. in AIDS.

In most cases, a person only finds out they have HIV after seeing a doctor because of a serious illness caused by a weakened immune system. The serious disease in question includes chronic diarrhea, pneumonia or toxoplasmosis of the brain.

Causes and risk factors of HIV and AIDS

Quoted from the page World Health Organizationn (WHO) and alodokter, HIV can be transmitted through the exchange of various bodily fluids from an infected person, such as blood, breast milk (breastmilk), semen, and vaginal secretions.

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HIV can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth. People cannot become infected through everyday contact such as kissing, hugging, shaking hands, or sharing personal items, food, or water.

Several factors that can increase the risk of transmission include:

  • Having sex with multiple partners and without using protection.
  • Use needles together.
  • Performing work involving contact with human bodily fluids without using adequate personal protective equipment

HIV and AIDS prevention

Quote from the page Kemkes.go.idThe way to avoid HIV transmission is known as the “ABCDE” concept, namely:

  1. A (Abstinence): means the absence of sexual relations or the fact of not having sexual relations for those who are not married.
  2. B (Be Faithful): Means being mutually faithful to a sexual partner or not changing partners.
  3. C (Condom): stands for Preventing HIV transmission during sex by using a condom.
  4. D (Drug Number): means that it is forbidden to use drugs.
  5. E (Education): Refers to the provision of correct education and information about HIV, its mode of transmission, prevention and treatment.

Treatment of HIV and AIDS

Although there is no drug to cure HIV so far, there are some types of drugs that can slow down the development of the virus. This type of medicine is called an antiretroviral (ARV).

ARVs work by eliminating the elements necessary for the HIV virus to reproduce and prevent the HIV virus from destroying CD4 cells. There are different types of ARVs including etravirine, efavirenz, lamivudine, zidovudine and also nevirapine.

While taking antiretroviral drugs, the doctor will monitor virus and CD4 cell counts to assess the patient’s response to treatment. The CD4 cell count will be done every 3 to 6 months. Meanwhile, HIV RNA screening was performed at the start of treatment and then continued every 3-4 months during the treatment period.

(PALE)

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