Comprehensive Guide to HIV and AIDS Awareness
Learn essential facts about HIV and AIDS, including transmission methods, common misconceptions, symptoms, and disease progression. Understand how HIV affects the immune system and the timeline leading to AIDS. This comprehensive guide clarifies common myths and emphasizes prevention.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes the infection known as AIDS. Transmission occurs through contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood, semen, or vaginal secretions.
Primary Causes of Transmission
Unprotected sexual activity with an HIV-positive individual is the leading cause.
Sharing needles for drug use with someone infected increases risk.
Mother-to-child transmission during childbirth or breastfeeding is also a common cause.
Common Misconceptions about HIV
HIV cannot be transmitted through casual contact like hugging, kissing, or sharing utensils.
Engaging in casual contact such as kissing or sharing drinks does not spread HIV.
What to Expect After Infection
Once inside the body, HIV targets the immune system, specifically attacking CD4+ cells, which help defend against infections. Initially, individuals are not considered AIDS patients. Symptoms at this stage may resemble the flu, including nausea, fatigue, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, fever, and diarrhea. These symptoms typically resolve within 7-10 days.
Over time, HIV damages the immune system by destroying CD4+ cells, weakening the body's ability to fight common infections. This process can take about 10-12 years. When immune defenses fall below a critical level, the condition progresses to AIDS, where opportunistic illnesses become prevalent.
