This Is How You Can Keep AIDS From Getting You

This Is How You Can Keep AIDS From Getting You

AIDS is one of the biggest health challenges faced by humanity, difficult to overcome only after Cancer. WHO classifies AIDS as a pandemic disease, which is a disease that spreads all over the world or a wider geographic area. Although the disease was detected in the year 1982, university studies show that its origins likely lie in Africa where the disease may have begun from bushmeat practice and rapidly spread owing to the many socioeconomic reasons during the colonial era. From polygamy to prostitution and usage of unsterilized needles being used to quell diseases like smallpox and malaria outbreaks led to the spread of the disease. In retrospect, scientists from the University Of Oxford and the University of Leuven in Belgium have found that reports by Belgian colonial doctors during the time reported symptoms that match those with AIDS.

The basis of AIDS lies in non-human primates, originating from two strands or varieties of HIV, namely HIV-1 transferred from chimps to gorillas, and HIV-2 transferred from Mangabey monkeys to humans. It began as a mutation and spread rapidly due to aforesaid prevalent factors.

In a nutshell, it was only in 1982 that the strain was identified, though the disease has been under observation since the late 19^th and early 20^th century.

What Is AIDS And How Does It Work?

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus causes AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is a retrovirus which breaches the T Helper Body cell of the infected person. It merges itself with the cell and carries out a series of changes and in the host cell that ultimately leads to the person losing their basic immunity. This loss of immunity causes them to fall prey to diseases and infections that their body would have fended off otherwise.

What Are The Causes That Lead To An AIDS Infection?

We will understand the causes of the spread of AIDS in two ways:

1. Carriers of the HIV-AIDS

2. Methods that cause AIDS.

1. Carriers Of HIV AIDS:

Body fluids such as sweat, blood, semen, breast milk, amniotic fluid, saliva, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids and preseminal fluids are carries for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The HIV does not spread through the air or by touch and thus needs a tangible medium, mainly the ones mentioned above to spread from person to person. However, HIV does not spread by touch.

2. Methods That Cause AIDS:

2.1 Unprotected Sexual Intercourse:

When one has an unprotected sexual intercourse with an HIV infected person, the exchange of sexual fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids act as a carrier for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus from the infected person to the uninfected person, and thus the latter’s body becomes a host for the virus. As a fact, a high incidence of HIV has been found out in homosexuals due to promiscuity. It is also the reason why prostitution leads to HIV AIDS. More the number of sexual partners, more the chances of getting infected with HIV AIDS.

2.2 Mother To Unborn Child:

HIV positive mothers can infect their unborn child through the amniotic fluid which is also a potent way of transferring HIV. This is one of the reasons why HIV grows exponentially because there is a likelihood that HIV positive mothers birth multiple children who are also infected with HIV.

There are chances that despite taking the preventive medicine, it may spread later due to infected breastmilk.

2.3 Sharing Infected Needles And Syringes:

When needles and syringes that have been used on HIV positive individuals are used on HIV negative people, the possibility is great that the HIV may spread to the later as these metallic objects have acted as carriers of HIV.

How To Prevent Getting Infected With HIV AIDS?

There are many ways of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS infection.

Protected Sexual Intercourse:

One must get tested for HIV along with their partners so that they leave out a possibility that one of them is infected. If one visit prostitutes, they should ensure that they are using protections such a good quality condoms that do not slip. Preferably, one should not engage in too much in whoring or having multiple sexual partners.

One must also ensure that they are not engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with an HIV positive person.

Take Preventive Medications For Unborn Child:

Mothers who are HIV positive should take preventive medications that prevent their unborn child from being born as HIV positive. Also, these children should not be fed with breast milk as it is infected with HIV. The nearest public health center will help them to get information and medical resources to prevent HIV as well give substitutes to the child for breastfeeding.

Do Not Reuse Used Needles And Syringes:

Medical workers, barbers and other such people who deal with sharp metallic objects that come into direct contact with human skin, should ensure that they are not reusing them on others. Sterilizable syringes and blades should be promptly and carefully sterilized after use.