Know the signs of HIV AIDS

Signs of HIV AIDS do not usually appear immediately when someone is newly infected with HIV. Flu-like symptoms do not appear until two weeks after HIV infection. Because acute HIV infection often only causes mild complaints, this condition is often only detected when it has entered an advanced phase.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system. Without strong immunity, the body struggles to fight off infections that can cause disease.

HIV works by destroying white blood cells which play an important role in the immune system. The more white blood cells are damaged, the weaker the immune system.

Many people think that HIV is AIDS and vice versa. Although HIV infection does not always lead to AIDS if the status of HIV infection is known early and treated early.

At very severe levels of HIV infection, a weakened immune system makes the body very vulnerable to infection and cancer. This deadly disease is called AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). However, HIV infection requires several years to become AIDS.
Symptoms and signs of HIV AIDS

Many people living with HIV do not know that they are infected. In fact, the initial symptoms and signs of HIV / AIDS often do not cause serious symptoms. HIV infection with AIDS is divided into three phases, namely:

• Phase one: acute HIV infection

The first phase usually appears after 2-4 weeks of HIV infection. In this initial phase, people with HIV will develop flu-like symptoms, such as:
- headache.
- Sprue.
- Fatigue
- Sore throat.
- loss of appetite.
- muscle ache.
- rash.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Sweating: The symptoms and signs of HIV / AIDS above are due to the body's immunity against the virus. These symptoms can last 1 to 2 weeks or more.
However, it must be remembered that these symptoms are not always caused by HIV. After the disappearance of the symptoms and signs of HIV / AIDS, the patient cannot feel anything years later.

• Second phase: the latent phase of HIV

During this phase, people living with HIV / AIDS show no typical signs or symptoms and even feel healthy if they are not infected with the virus. But in reality, the HIV virus secretly creates and attacks white blood cells that play a role in fighting infection.
Signs of HIV / AIDS in this phase are not visible, but patients can still pass it on to others. At the end of the second phase, white blood cells decrease so more serious symptoms begin to appear.

• Third phase: AIDS

AIDS is the most difficult phase of HIV infection. In this phase, the body almost loses its ability to fight disease. In fact, the number of white blood cells is much lower than usual. Signs of HIV AIDS at this stage include significant weight loss, fever, fatigue, chronic diarrhea, and swollen lymph nodes.
Because the AIDS phase of the immune system is very weak, people living with HIV / AIDS will be very vulnerable to infections and certain types of cancer. Diseases that usually occur in people with AIDS include:
- Fungal infections of the mouth and throat.
- pneumonia.
- Toxoplasmosis.
- meningitis
- Tuberculosis (TB).
- Cancer, such as lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma.

HIV prevention and treatment
Prevention and early treatment of HIV infection is the key to ensuring that this disease does not become a dangerous AIDS. Therefore, adopting a healthy lifestyle and avoiding risky behaviors, such as free sex or sharing needles with others, is an effective way to prevent HIV / AIDS. Apply the following in your life:

• Use a condom during sex. Use condoms properly to prevent leakage.
• Don't change partners.
• Avoid direct contact with other people's bodily fluids. For example through injury or oral sex.
• Do not use personal equipment such as toothbrushes, razors and sex toys alternately with others.
• If you are at risk of exposure to HIV, starting antiretroviral therapy early to prevent HIV infection and regularly checking HIV status is the right step to combat HIV.

Understand that HIV spreads through bodily fluids such as blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal fluids. HIV cannot be transmitted through saliva, insect bites, food or drinks. The virus is also not transmitted through the use of toilets, by the hand shake or the caress of the victims.

So far, there are no drugs that can cure HIV infection. Although it cannot be cured, HIV can still be controlled by using antiretroviral drugs.

Antiretrovirals prevent virus duplication. This drug is available in tablet form and must be taken daily. Regular use of ARVs can slow the progression of HIV infection and increase patient life expectancy. Without treatment, HIV can progress quickly to AIDS.

Check and test HIV immediately if you are at risk of infection or have symptoms / signs of HIV / AIDS. Do not hesitate or be ashamed to seek medical advice and HIV testing, because early treatment can slow the progression of HIV infection into AIDS.

Share this post