four my research paper The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). 鈥楢cquired鈥?means not inherited. 鈥業mmune deficiency鈥?means a breakdown in the body鈥檚 immune system. 鈥楽yndrome鈥?refers to a range of diseases that may be associated with another disease.
In this case, diseases that take advantage of the body鈥檚 weakened immune system are used to define the onset of AIDS. In Australia, HIV is most commonly spread by sexual intercourse without a condom and through sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment.
Symptoms
Symptoms of HIV are common to a number of other illnesses. If you think you have been put at risk of getting HIV, or if you have any of the signs below (or a combination of them) for a month or longer, you should consult your doctor. Symptoms can include:
Flu-like symptoms
Extreme and constant tiredness
Fevers, chills and night sweats
Rapid weight loss for no known reason
Swollen lymph glands in the neck, underarm or groin area
White spots or unusual marks in the mouth
Skin marks or bumps, either raised or flat, usually painless and purplish
Continuous coughing or a dry cough
Diarrhoea
Decreased appetite.
How it is spread
Someone who has HIV may not have any symptoms, but they carry the virus and could pass it on through blood or body fluids. HIV can be spread in a number of ways, including:
Unprotected vaginal or anal sex with someone who has HIV
Sharing injecting equipment and needles with someone who has HIV
From a mother who has HIV to a child during pregnancy, birth or via breastfeeding
Unprotected oral sex with someone who has HIV (this is less common).
HIV can鈥檛 be spread by social contact
There is no evidence to suggest that HIV is spread by ordinary social or family contact such as hugging, shaking hands, sharing household items or through toilets seats, swimming pools or pets. HIV doesn鈥檛 live long outside of the body. It can be killed by ordinary household bleach, or soap and warm water.
Safe sex explained
Safe sex means sex where semen, vaginal secretions or blood are not exchanged between sexual partners. Some safe sexual activities include:
Mutual masturbation
Touching
Cuddling
Body-to-body rubbing
Erotic massage.
Condoms
Using condoms properly during intercourse (anal and vaginal) will greatly reduce the risk of spreading HIV. Condoms must be used correctly and with plenty of lubricant. Water-based lubricant should be used, as other types of lubricants will cause condoms to break. Female condoms are also available and should also be used with lubricants.
Safe sex can prevent infection
HIV can be spread by unprotected anal or vaginal sex with someone who has HIV. Safe sex is recommended if either partner has HIV or if either partner is unsure of whether they have HIV. Other sexually transmissible infections (STIs) such as herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhoea can also be spread by unprotected sex. If either partner has an STI, or if either partner is unsure of whether they have an STI, safe sex is also recommended. HIV infection is more readily acquired or transmitted if either partner is infected with another STI.
HIV and oral sex
Unprotected oral sex is low risk for spreading HIV but using a condom or avoiding ejaculation into the mouth is recommended when either partner has ulcers or bleeding gums, or has recently brushed or flossed their teeth. Condom use may also prevent the spread of other STIs such as herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhoea. These STIs may be spread more easily by unprotected oral sex.
HIV and deep kissing
Only very small amounts of HIV are found in the saliva of people who have HIV. For you to get HIV, a lot of saliva would need to get into your blood via ulcers or bleeding gums. Deep kissing is a low risk behaviour for spreading HIV.
HIV and blood products
Since May 1985, all blood donations in Australia have been tested for HIV. This means that blood transfusions in this country are now an extremely low risk for HIV. It is impossible to get HIV when donating blood in Australia, because needles, packs, swabs, finger-pricking lancets and so on are never re-used.
Diagnosing HIV
Blood tests can detect HIV infection. If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, see your doctor, health centre or STI clinic. If HIV infection is found in a person鈥檚 blood, this person is said to be HIV positive.
There is a short period where a person may have been infected by HIV but the virus can鈥檛 be detected. This may require a follow-up test three months later. Testing should be voluntary and only carried out with informed consent, except in exceptional circumstances.
Information should be provided about what is involved in the test, and information and discussion should take place about what it means to get tested. All people who request an HIV test must receive pre-test and post-test counselling.
Post-test counselling
Post-test counselling is important regardless of the outcome of the test. If the test is positive, post-test counselling can provide emotional support, further information about the disease and referral to the support services available. If the test is negative, post-test counselling can provide education about HIV and how a person can avoid getting HIV.
The progression from HIV to AIDS
Someone who has HIV may not have AIDS. HIV weakens the body鈥檚 immune system, leaving it open to various infections and cancers. For most people who have HIV, the progression to AIDS is fairly slow. It may take several years from HIV infection to the development of AIDS.
Without treatment, people who have HIV eventually become ill and can develop AIDS within five to 10 years. However, there are a small percentage of people who don鈥檛 show any deterioration in their health, even after 10 years. AIDS diagnosis may require a number of special laboratory tests to be performed.
HIV and AIDS treatments
Currently, there is no vaccine or cure for HIV or AIDS. However, drug treatments are available that work against HIV. For the majority of people, these drugs can postpone, and possibly prevent, HIV-related illnesses and delay moving on to AIDS.
These drugs aren鈥檛 easy to take because of the side effects and difficult courses of treatment. It should be noted that once someone begins drug treatments for HIV, they should continue to take them for life.
There are also treatments for many of the specific illnesses associated with HIV and AIDS. Complementary therapies are used by some people who have HIV to manage the side effects of drug treatment and improve health and wellbeing. New drugs and therapies are being trialled all the time. well you can die, i think if u shake sumone's hand then they get it( i think) and i dont have n e thing else. sorry. but here. ask on ASK! =) datwas kool HIV does *NOT* spread by shaking hands with someone who has it. If it did, many, MANY more people would have HIV than do now.
As far as actually answering the question, you can check www.thebody.com , www.poz.com , www.aegis.com , www.cdc.gov/hiv, www.knowhiv.com , or www.fightaids.com . All of them have good information on it.
Best of luck! |
