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What is HIV?

HIV is an ellipsis for human immunodeficiency virus. It is a virus that provender in the human body fluids such as blood, breast milk, saliva and the sexual fluids. The virus prompts Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDs). The virus targets your immune system, therefore, weakening it and weakens the way your body would fight other common viruses, fungi, germs and other assailants causing diseases.

How HIV is spread

HIV is often spread by having unprotected sex with the folk who is infected with HIV. It is also spread through unsupervised childbirth, blood transfusion, and deep kissing. The researchers have identified that a person who is HIV-positive can pass the virus within the first week of infection throughout their lifetime. Once you contact the virus, it will multiply in your blood leading to what is referred to as ‘the viral load.’ This Viral load will reduce CD4 counts in your white blood cell hence weakening the strength of these cells in fighting the HIV together with other diseases which manifest into your body. If the Virus is not properly managed and no prior treatments are accorded, it will eventually lead to AIDS.

What Are the Stages of HIV Infection?

As indicated earlier, if you don’t treat the HIV, it will advance in various stages, taking control of your immune system and develops into AIDS. These stages are; acute HIV infection, clinical latency, and finally AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Acute HIV Infection Stage

The first stage of HIV infection is the Acute HIV. This is the period of two to four weeks of infection. During this period, many folks develop symptoms which are flu-like symptoms. Other Symptoms may include swollen glands, sore throat, fever, rashes, and pain in the joints and muscles, and most likely severe headache. This stage is sometimes referred to as acute retro-viral syndrome (ARS) or primary HIV infection. In this stage, the body is going under natural reaction to the virus. Medics advise that people who see these symptoms should seek medical attention right away since they can get the much-needed cure.

It is at this stage that a large amount of virus is produced. This virus load destroys the CD4 cells in the body. The white blood cell will respond by producing more CD4 cells, but it will not go back to the prior counts. Further, throughout this period, you are exposed to the risk of transmitting this infection to other people. Thus, you are advised to take appropriate medical steps to reduce this risk.

Clinical Latency Stage

Immediately after the acute retro-viral syndrome, the virus leads to the clinical latency stage. During this period, the virus will continue to reproduce in your body without necessarily showing any symptom. The virus may not be detected at this juncture even with the standard laboratory tests. People at this stage are still able to transmit the virus: however, the risk is significantly abridged.

AID is the last stage of HIV which severely destroys the immune system. If you are taking ART, you can live for many years without advancing into the AIDs. Those who are not on ART can still live to a maximum of 10 years. However, research shows that others may advance into AIDs faster. During the virus evolution, the viral load continues to increase leading to an ensuing diminution in the CD4 counts.

How do we prevent HIV transmission?

The perfect channel for Preventing and Controlling the transmission of HIV is by getting tested and revealing your status to the uninfected person. Using condoms for protected sex or simply abstaining is also recommended.

Hepatitis Types

Hepatitis in the inflammation of the liver and can be caused by many different conditions and illnesses. Hepatitis is caused by viruses that target the liver. There are different types of hepatitis viruses, and they can all cause acute hepatitis. There are several types of hepatitis viruses, and infections including A, B, C, D, E and G. Hepatitis A to E are the main types that have been discovered. Hepatitis G is a recent discovery and research is still being conducted to find out if there are other hepatitis viruses out there. Hepatitis viruses multiply in the liver and prevent it from carrying out its functions. Here is an overview of the hepatitis viruses.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A causes an acute illness that rarely becomes chronic. It can easily be spread among people just like other viral infections. The virus can be spread through ingestion of water or food from places where the conditions are unsanitary. It occurs in places where the water or food is contaminated with human waste that contains the virus. It can also be spread through sharing bodily fluids and spreads fast among people who do not observe good hygiene.

There are vaccines for preventing hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B was initially thought it only be spread through infected blood. However, it can also be spread through sexual intercourse. Hepatitis B can be spread through sharing piecing or cutting objects and also from infected mothers to their newborn babies.

Although it starts as an acute infection, hepatitis B can turn chronic and cause liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.

There is a vaccine used for the prevention of hepatitis B.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C initially did not have a specific cause since it was different from A and B. it is spread through sharing needles and other piercing objects, blood transfusions, needle sticks and hemodialysis. Transmission through sexual intercourse is rare. The majority of people having an acute HCV infection develop a chronic infection and can continue infecting others as long as they have the virus.

Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D is also referred to as agent or delta virus. The reason is that the virus requires the presence of hepatitis B for it to survive and thrive. The mode of spreading is through direct contact with infected blood and also through sexual intercourse just like hepatitis B.

The virus requires the presence of hepatitis B since there is a protein HBV makes that makes HDV have the ability to multiply in the liver cells.

A combination of HBV and HDV is difficult to treat and causes rapid liver cirrhosis. Those who have both develop a chronic infection rapidly.

You can acquire the two at the same time or acquire HDV when you already have HDV.

Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is similar to HAV regarding symptoms and disease. However, HEV occurs mainly in Asia where it thrives in places where there is contaminated water.

Hepatitis G

Hepatitis G is similar to hepatitis C in many ways. It is abbreviated as HGV or GBV-C. It was recently discovered, and test are still being carried out for the virus. The role of the virus in causing an infection is still unclear although those who have the virus develop symptoms of Hepatitis C.

Non-infectious Hepatitis

Noninfectious hepatitis is not caused by viruses. However, this form of hepatitis can be caused by the following:

• Excessive alcohol consumption that causes alcoholic hepatitis.
• Bodily response to drugs or drug misuse/abuse
• Auto immune response where the body’s immune system attacks the liver cells thinking it is a harmful object.

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Every year, many people participate in the National HIV Testing Day, which takes place every June 27th. This is in line with the government’s HIV awareness campaign. The objective of this annual event is to identify people with HIV and educate them about various treatment procedures. This will also enable HIV patients to find community support to reduce the effect of the disease.

On the other hand, people with negative results should be aware about fighting HIV. The National HIV Testing Day is not just for HIV carriers but for all people who can make a difference.

Benefits of Participating the National HIV Testing Day

Know if You Have HIV

The ultimate benefit of participating in the National HIV Testing Day is, of course, to know whether or not you suffer from HIV. Most people usually would not initiate a move to visit a doctor for HIV diagnosis simply because it never occurs in their mind that they have HIV until they are suddenly or accidentally tested.

The National HIV Testing Day will help people find out whether or not they suffer from HIV. This will encourage not only those who suspect themselves to be carrying the disease, but also those who wish to ensure they are healthy all the time.

In the US, there an average of 45,000 people adding to the list of 1.2 million HIV patients every year. This shows that National HIV Testing Day helps discover more HIV carriers who even didn’t know they had HIV.

Know the Latest in HIV Treatments

In the past, there was virtually no treatment for HIV. Nowadays, there are a lot of medicines and procedures that can reduce the effects of the symptoms of HIV. Although there is no permanent cure yet for HIV, there are a lot of studies and research programs that are being undertaken to find the ultimate cure for HIV, and the National HIV Testing Day can be a proper way to get updates on them.

Most people think that having HIV is like the end of the world. However, if they are able to develop new technologies and treatment procedures for HIV, they will become more confident to move on with their lives and stay healthy.

Preventing HIV

The National HIV Testing Day aims to educate as many people as possible about the risk of HIV and how it can be prevented. Though some ideas about HIV prevention seem like common sense to many people, they can also serve as reminders, so they can give importance to HIV prevention.

However, there are also many people who are not even aware of the ways to prevent HIV. For instance, some people don’t know that blood transfusion may cause HIV if not handled properly. Another thing is that some people don’t know that they inherit HIV from their parents who don’t know they are suffering from such disease. The National HIV Testing Day is a chance to learn what to do in such cases.

Who Should Participate in the National HIV Testing Day?

Anyone between 13 years old and 64 years old. Male and female regardless of health conditions are encouraged to get tested. To participate, find a testing site near you or visit any organization that actively promotes HIV prevention.

Conclusion

The National HIV Testing Day is observed every year the way people observe a holiday. However, you don’t have to wait until June 27th just to get tested for HIV. You can do it anywhere it may be offered.