HIV/AIDS... Explained!
What exactly is HIV?
Human:
The virus only affects humans
Immunodeficiency:
The virus attacks the body's immune system causing it to become weakened and damaged.
Virus:
The germ attaches itself to living cells and multiplies quickly, weakening healthy cells in the process.
Simply put HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV destroys the cells that make up the body's immune systems leaving the body unable to fight off infections and diseases.
So THEN what is AIDS?
Acquired:
The virus can be transmitted from one individual to another.
Immune:
The immune system is the part of the body that fights off colds and diseases.
Deficiency:
The immune system is weak and can't protect the body from diseases.
Syndrome:
A syndrome is a wide range of severe illnesses.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER...
AIDS is a contagious virus which damages the body's ability to fight of colds and diseases!
AIDS is also the final stage of HIV.
TREATMENTS & MEDICATIONS
AntiRetroViral Drugs are the drugs used to treat a person infected with HIV/AIDS.
Even though there is yet NO KNOWN CURE for HIV/AIDS, Antiretroviral treatments can prolong the life of infected persons allowing them to live an active life as close to normal as possible.
The treatments and medications help to in many cases to keep HIV cells dormant and prevent and delay HIV from advancing to AIDS.
Persons infected with HIV/AIDS may have to take between 30 to 65 of these antiretroviral drugs DAILY.
One antiretroviral pill can be the size of a 25 cent piece and this pill can't be broken or crushed and MUST be swallowed whole.
IMAGINE THAT!!
CONSIDER THIS, Someone who has to take the minium of 30 pills a day will end up taking;
NOW THAT'S A LOT OF PILLS!!!!
Side Effects include
Diarrhoea
Nightmares
Skin Rashes
Kidney Failure
Even though these medications can help an HIV/AIDS infected person stay alive; living with HIV/AIDS is certainly not an easy task.
That's one of the reasons why persons living with this disease NEED our LOVE and SUPPORT.
