When people hear about AIDS, they tend to "talk about the tiger", in fact, many people do not really understand this disease, and even because of "ignorance" and paranoid "fear of AIDS", so today So today, we are going to give you some in-depth information about AIDS.

First of all, AIDS is caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. This virus is also known as HIV.

I. Symptoms of AIDS

In the order in which the virus enters the body.

1. Most infected people do not have any specific or obvious symptoms in the early stages of the disease, and their physical condition is the same as that of a healthy person.
2. Once the HIV virus enters the body, it gradually destroys the CD4 lymphocytes in the immune system, which are responsible for defending against foreign infections.
3. When an infected person's immune system is severely compromised, he or she becomes susceptible to certain tumors and opportunistic infections.
4. Opportunistic infections are infections that enter the body when the immune system is weakened and are generally not a threat to people with normal resistance.
5. HIV infection lurks in the body's immune cells for a long time and attacks specific immune cells. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the stage in which HIV-infected people develop serious physical complications due to a decline in their resistance, and it takes a long time from infection to onset.
6. Without treatment, about half of those infected will develop AIDS within 10 years.

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Transmission

The HIV virus is mainly found in the blood, semen or vaginal secretions of people who have the virus.

The virus is transmitted mainly through

• Sexual contact - Sexual intercourse, including vaginal, oral and anal sex, with an HIV-infected person. In Hong Kong, about 80% of HIV infections are transmitted through sexual contact.
• Sharing of syringes, needles or other related devices to inject drugs with an HIV-infected person.
• Mother-to-child contact - Transmission of the virus from an infected woman to her baby during pregnancy, during delivery, and during breastfeeding.
• Importation of HIV-contaminated blood or blood products.

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HIV is not transmitted through everyday contact.

Daily contact includes shaking hands, hugging, kissing on the cheek, eating together, and sharing restrooms. In addition, there is no evidence that mosquito bites can transmit HIV.

3. How to diagnose HIV infection?

We cannot tell who is infected with HIV from the outside, but an infected person can transmit the virus to others, and an HIV antibody test can be performed three months after infection to determine whether a person has been infected or not.

Generally speaking, when the body is invaded by a foreign infection, the immune system will produce antibodies to defend against the invader; however, HIV antibodies have no protective effect on the body. An HIV antibody test is a test to check for the presence of such antibodies in the blood to determine if a person is infected.

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If the HIV antibody test is positive, the person is infected; conversely, if the test is negative after the "window period", the person is not infected.

What is the "window period"?

"The "window period" is the period of time between the time the body is infected with HIV and the time the HIV antibody test reveals antibodies.

If an HIV-infected person receives an HIV antibody test during the "window period", the test may be negative, but the person may have HIV in his or her body and can infect others.

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V. Treatment methods

Although there is no cure for AIDS, medications are available to effectively deal with HIV infection and its complications. A variety of medications are available to prevent and treat opportunistic infections and other complications that can occur in patients with severe AIDS. Anti-HIV drugs can suppress HIV to undetectable levels in the patient's body and reduce the extent of damage to the immune system.

Various treatments for HIV infection can help patients maintain a healthy life. As with many other diseases, early diagnosis allows patients to receive appropriate treatment early and prevent the disease from worsening.

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VI. Prevention methods

To protect yourself and your sexual partner, use a condom every time you have sex. Proper and consistent use of condoms, whether for vaginal, oral, or anal sex, will reduce your chances of being infected with HIV. Maintaining a single intimate relationship with a sexual partner can reduce but not completely eliminate the chance of infection because we cannot know who is infected with HIV by appearance. If your partner refuses to use a condom, you may consider refusing to have sex with him or her.

• Do not have sex after drinking alcohol or taking drugs; alcohol and drugs can impair your judgment and make you less alert to use condoms.
• Do not share syringes, needles and other related injection equipment with others.
• If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, get tested for HIV antibodies as soon as possible. Early detection of HIV infection not only allows for appropriate medication to help infected mothers, but also effectively reduces the chance of fetal infection through the mother's body.

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