AIDS reduces resistance to various infections and types of cancer, leaving the body vulnerable. Preventive measures focus on preventing the spread of HIV. It is important to adopt safe sexual practice, use condoms, comply with hygiene rules, and ensure that healthcare services provide safe blood transfusions. In addition, early diagnosis and effective treatment of individuals living with HIV can slow the progression of the disease. Awareness campaigns, testing and counseling services, accessible health services and anti-discrimination measures are important steps in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a serious immune system disease caused by the virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). HIV targets the body’s immune system, specifically weakening white blood cells known as CD4 cells. CD4 cells are an important group of immune cells that help the body fight infections and diseases.
As the virus weakens the immune system in people infected with HIV, the body becomes vulnerable and resistance to various infections and cancers decreases. In the later stages of HIV, the person develops AIDS. AIDS is a stage in which the immune system is so severely damaged that the body can no longer defend effectively against common infections and some cancers.
AIDS is a serious immune system disease that develops in individuals infected with HIV. HIV weakens the body’s immune system by targeting it. People with HIV infection can weaken their immune system and progress to AIDS in later stages. AIDS is often associated with the following conditions:
- People infected with HIV are at risk of developing AIDS if they do not receive appropriate treatment and their immune systems are severely weakened.
- HIV is usually transmitted through sexual intercourse. Unprotected sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners, or intercourse with an HIV-infected partner may increase an individual’s risk of exposure to HIV.
- HIV can enter the bloodstream through shared needles or syringes. Individuals who share syringes during drug use may be at risk of HIV infection.
- HIV can be transmitted through contaminated blood or blood products. However, today blood donations are routinely tested for HIV and other infections, so the risk of transmission this way is quite low.
- An HIV-infected mother can transmit HIV to her baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. However, with the right treatment and precautions, this risk can be significantly reduced.
Is AIDS contagious?
Yes, HIV, which causes AIDS, is contagious. HIV is transmitted from one person to another usually through bodily fluids. We can give the answer to how AIDS is transmitted through body fluids. Body fluids that cause AIDS and therefore HIV transmission:
- Blood: It is the body fluid with the highest risk of contamination. It can be transmitted in situations such as shared needles or blood contact during sexual intercourse.
- Semen: It can be transmitted during sexual intercourse, especially through unprotected sexual intercourse.
- Vaginal Fluid: It can be transmitted during unprotected sexual intercourse, especially with an HIV-infected partner.
- Anal Liquids: It can be transmitted unprotected during anal sexual intercourse.
- Breast Milk: An infant breastfed by an HIV-infected mother can be exposed to HIV.
HIV is not transmitted through saliva, sweat, tears, runny nose, urine or perspiration. It is also not transmitted through the air or through daily contact such as coughing, sneezing, shaking hands, hugging, or breathing the same air.
Symptoms of AIDS occur due to the weakening of the body’s immune system. When the immune system is weakened, a person becomes more vulnerable to infections and diseases. Symptoms of AIDS can appear anywhere in the body. However, the most common AIDS symptoms are:
- Diarrhea It is one of the most common symptoms of AIDS. Diarrhea usually lasts several weeks or months and can lead to severe dehydration if left untreated.
- weight loss It is another common symptom of AIDS. Weight loss is often caused by diarrhea, loss of appetite and muscle loss.
- Tiredness It is one of the most common symptoms of AIDS. Fatigue is often severe and not relieved by rest.
- Fire Fever is another common symptom of AIDS. Fever is usually mild or moderate.
- lymph node swelling It is another common symptom of AIDS. Lymph nodes are organs that help fight infections in the body. In AIDS, lymph nodes swell, usually in the neck, armpit, or groin.
- Mouth and throat infections It is another common symptom of AIDS. These infections are usually infections such as thrush, canker sores and herpes.
- fungal infections It is another common symptom of AIDS. Fungal infections usually occur in the mouth, throat, skin and nails.
Symptoms of AIDS may appear in three periods: the acute phase of HIV infection, the chronic carrier phase and the AIDS phase. The acute phase occurs within the first few weeks or months of HIV infection. During this period, the person may experience flu-like symptoms. These symptoms usually go away on their own. The chronic carrier period covers the first few years of HIV infection. During this period, the person usually does not show any symptoms. However, the HIV virus continues to multiply in the person and gradually weakens the immune system.
The AIDS period is considered the advanced stage of HIV infection. During this period, the person becomes vulnerable to various infections and diseases due to the complete weakening of the immune system. Symptoms of AIDS may vary from person to person. While the symptoms may be mild in some people, they may be severe in others.
Symptoms of AIDS in women
Symptoms of AIDS in men and women are generally similar. However, some specific symptoms may also be observed in women. Symptoms of AIDS in women include:
Vaginal and cervical infections (Herpes, chlamydia, trichomonas and fungus)
abnormal menstrual bleeding
Complications in pregnancy (miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth)
Infection in the baby (usually thrush, herpes and fungal infections)
Symptoms of AIDS in men
Symptoms of AIDS in men and women are generally similar. However, some specific symptoms may also be observed in men. Symptoms of AIDS in men include:
- Anal and rectal infections (herpes, chlamydia, trichomonas and fungal infections)
- Urethritis (an infection that causes discharge and a burning sensation from the penis)
- penis ulcers
- Sexually transmitted diseases
How many days does it take for AIDS symptoms to appear?
Symptoms of AIDS usually do not appear for a long time after HIV infection. HIV does not initially cause obvious symptoms in the body, and a person may not know that they are infected. HIV infection usually does not cause symptoms in the initial stages or may be limited to mild flu-like symptoms.
Symptoms of AIDS appear in the advanced stages of HIV infection and may persist for years before the development of AIDS. The initial stage of HIV infection is often called acute retroviral syndrome (ARS), and symptoms may appear within 2 to 4 weeks after infection. However, in many people, ARS symptoms may be absent or mild.
Is there a cure for AIDS?
There is a cure for AIDS. AIDS can be treated with antiretroviral drugs (ART). ART prevents the HIV virus from multiplying and weakening the immune system. With early diagnosis and treatment, AIDS patients can live long and healthy lives. With ART, the level of HIV virus in the blood can be reduced to an undetectable level. This stops the progression of AIDS and helps protect the person’s immune system.
ART usually consists of three or more drugs used in a combination. These medications are usually taken orally, but in some cases they are given intravenously. ART is usually a lifelong treatment. Taking medications regularly helps prevent the HIV virus from multiplying. AIDS patients treated with ART have been shown to enjoy the following benefits:
- Life expectancy becomes the same as that of people without HIV infection.
- Patients become more resistant to infections and diseases.
- Patients can live normal lives.
In addition to ART treatment, it is important to take the following precautions:
- Practicing safe sex to protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
- Preventing injector drug use.
- Safe use of blood and blood products to protect against infections transmitted by blood and blood products.
Are HIV and AIDS the same?
HIV and AIDS are not the same. The two terms have different meanings and represent different stages in the disease process. HIV is the name of the virus and it affects the immune system, causing infections and diseases. AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV infection and refers to a condition in which the immune system is seriously weakened. If a person living with HIV receives appropriate treatment, they can reduce their risk of developing AIDS and live a healthy life.
HIV It is a type of retrovirus and infects the body’s immune system by targeting it. HIV infection begins with the virus entering the body and multiplying. The initial phase of HIV is usually asymptomatic or limited to mild flu-like symptoms. When receiving appropriate treatment and care, many people can live long and healthy lives with HIV.
- AIDS It is the advanced stage of HIV infection. When HIV causes a severe weakening of the body’s immune system and certain clinical criteria are met, a person can be diagnosed with AIDS. In an individual diagnosed with AIDS, the body can no longer effectively defend against a range of infections and cancers. Symptoms of AIDS are often severe and widespread.