Cooper Hughes by Hughes, Cooper (cthughes01)

What is HIV?

cthughes01_ — 2023-11-15 14:38:28 UTC

HIV is a sexually transmitted infection. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It can attack the white blood cells and cause damage to the immune system. It can be difficult to fight off the infections. It can turn into AIDS which is a chronic immune system disease caused by HIV.

Symptoms of HIV

cthughes01_ — 2023-11-15 14:38:34 UTC

In HIV, there are usually no obvious symptoms. It can be unnoticed for many years. However, some people can develop flu-like symptoms 2 to 4 weeks after getting HIV. People who take HIV medication will not notice for many years as well. As the virus multiplies, it can develop fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes in your body.

Does HIV have an effect on Newborns?

cthughes01_ — 2023-11-15 14:38:52 UTC

HIV can affect newborns. Most babies that are born from an HIV-positive mother in the US do not become HIV-positive if the mother and infant go through proper Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). ART is taking medication prescribed by a doctor. While HIV doesn't have a cure, it can be treated. Newborns who are infected by HIV sometimes have no symptoms for the first 2 to 3 months.

Long Term Effects of HIV

cthughes01_ — 2023-11-15 14:39:03 UTC

While HIV can be treated with medication and decrease the likelihood of HIV becoming AIDS, it can still have a long-term effect. An older person with HIV can have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal disease, and even cancer. HIV can affect a person's life by decreasing the immune system by destroying white blood cells. White blood cells are important to fight off diseases and with the low number of white blood cells, it would be hard for a person to fight off other diseases. HIV does not affect one's lifespan, and the majority of those infected live as long as a person without HIV.

Treatments for HIV

cthughes01_ — 2023-11-15 14:39:14 UTC

There is no cure available to treat HIV. There is no immunization for HIV either. Some secondary infections can be treated or prevented. Some medications can control HIV and its symptoms and keep the disease from progressing. Women with HIV/AIDS should have a cervical smear yearly. With treatment available, most people with HIV do not develop AIDS.

What Pathogen causes the infection?

cthughes01_ — 2023-11-15 14:39:43 UTC

HIV is caused by a virus. It is grouped with the genus Lentivirus within the family of Retroviridae, subfamily Orthoretrovirinae. It fights off the immune cells leaving your immune system weak. AIDS is caused by having too few immune cells. It's harder to fight off other illnesses with AIDS. HIV has 2 types, HIV-1 and HIV-2.

How do you get HIV?

cthughes01_ — 2023-11-15 14:40:21 UTC

HIV is transmitted through numerous different ways. It can be transmitted through blood, semen, and vaginal fluid. It can be shared through sexual intercourse. It can also be transmitted through sharing needles and from mother to baby. Another way it can be transmitted is through blood transfusions in countries that do not test blood for transfusions.

Facts about HIV

cthughes01_ — 2023-11-15 14:40:48 UTC

Here are 5 facts about HIV/AIDS. HIV and AIDS are problems that are happening in the US. HIV can be transmitted by both men and women. The only way you can know if you have HIV is to get a blood test. You can also contract HIV by getting unsanitary tattoos or body piercings. HIV may have come from chimpanzees as far back as the late 1800s and it was called "Simian Immunodeficiency Virus."

How common is HIV?

cthughes01_ — 2023-11-15 14:42:22 UTC

HIV and AIDS are everywhere. Around 86 million people have been infected by HIV since the start of the epidemic in 1981. Today, there are around 39 million people with HIV. Millions have died of AIDS-related diseases since the start of the epidemic. Once you develop AIDS, it is much harder to fight off other diseases that enter your body.

HIV in Different Countries

cthughes01_ — 2023-11-15 20:10:33 UTC

HIV is everywhere. We have established that 86 million people have been affected by HIV since the beginning of the epidemic. The country with the highest rate of HIV in 2022 is South Africa. The reason HIV rates are so high in South Africa is because of religious beliefs and poverty. Also, most African men are moving from place to place and changing sexual partners.

What is STI?

cthughes01_ — 2023-11-18 03:47:58 UTC

STI is an infection transmitted through sexual contact, caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. The majority of STIs do not show symptoms. The most common and curable STIs are trichomonas, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. There are 25 known STIs. STIs in older adults are on the rise.