STEEMIT: SEROLOGY AND YOU

Many atimes we engage in activities that exposes us to contracting one virus or the other or getting an infection. Why do we exhibit risky behaviours even with the knowledge we so possess? Having knowledge is one thing,being able to utilise and apply that knowledge is where wisdom comes to play. Sex is fun, but do you practise safe sex??

As a trained counsellor/tester i want to give this piece of information out

There are many ways through which one can contract HIV like through sharing of sharp objects,blood transfusion etc but sexual intercourse is the most common and main avenue through which one can be infected with this virus. You could either be infected or affected..directly by contact with the virus or relating to an infected person. Most time people shy away from this topic SEROLOGY AND YOU but today i've decided to table it here.

MEANING OF HIV/AIDS

Human - lives in human beings only and not animals,insects,water etc
Immuno-deficiency - immunity is the ability of the body to fight off diseases, now immuno-deficiency is the decrease in the body's immunity
Virus - a very small organism that is very harmful to the body and cannot be seen with the naked eye
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system and works towards disabling it. It harms the immune system by destroying white blood cells that fight infection

Acquired - Gotten from somewhere
Immune - ability to fight disease so one can stay healthy
Deficiency - lowered immunity
Syndrome - series of disease/infection that happen together
AIDS is a condition that results when a person's immune system has been lowered due to infection with HIV so that the body can no longer fight other infections
When the immune system is totally disabled the patient is susceptible to series of attacks by infections/diseases like malaria,typhoid,tuberculosis etc

KEY DRIVERS OF HIV EPIDERMIC

1) Risky sexual practices

Most individuals engage in risky sexual practices. These are practices that exposes one to contracting HIV ,some of which include:

• Having multiple sexual partners

There is a misconception that man is a polygamous animal meaning that man cannot stay faithful to one partner and several men key into this and keep as many sexual partners as they so desire and this increases their chance of getting infected.

• Unprotected sex among sexually active youths

It is a known fact that from adolescence (the period where primary and secondary sexual features take place) the sex drive or what is called libido is on the high side but it is pertinent to practice safe sex and stick to one uninfected partner

• Transactional sex

This is sex in exchange for gift or money

2) Low HIV risk perception

Some due to lack of awareness of HIV and it's modes of transmission engage in activities that increases their chances of getting infected

3) HIV & AIDS related stigma and discrimination

Individuals adamantly refuse to get tested and know their statuses because of the fear of the stigma and discrimination should incase they test positive especially when they might have indulged in one risky sexual practice or the other.

MODES OF TRANSMISSION

There are 3 basic modes through which HIV can be transmitted from an infected person to another
a) sexual intercourse
b) infected blood & blood products
c) infected mother to her child
In the course of this discussion we will be focusing on sexual intercourse
sexual intercourse - this is the act of having sex,whereby the man inserts his penis into the woman's vagina. There is vaginal,oral and anal sex. The first was formerly defined, oral sex involves mouth to genital sex while anal sex involves genital to anus sex. HIV can be transmitted by having unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person.

The virus is found in the semen or vaginal fluid as well as blood of an infected person. During unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person the virus is transmitted from the semen to the woman when it mixes with her fluid or even through very small lesions that can occur during intercourse and the virus moves to the bloodstream. Likewise men, the virus could be received from the vaginal fluid or tiny sores on the penis could serve as entry point for the virus.
Same goes for oral and anal sex,small lesions or sores in the mouth or anus could as well serve as entry point not only for HIV but for other infections/diseases like gonorrhoea,syphilis,genital warts,genital herpes etc. The female are more at risk because more quantities of the virus are present in sperm than in vaginal fluids.
what is reinfection ? This is a condition where an infected person engages in risky practice with another infected person or an uninfected person,infects the person and gets reinfected. This multiplies the virus at rapid rate and is fatal to the individual

PREVENTION OF SEXUAL TRANSMISSION

A - Abstinence from all forms of sexual intercourse
B - Being faithful to one uninfected sexual partner
C - Consistent and correct use of condom
Prevention is the best way to manage HIV as there is yet no cure for the virus.

PHASES OF HIV INFECTION

PHASE 1: During this phase, HIV is present in the blood but cannot be detected for up to 6months
Entry stage : this is the stage where the virus makes its way into its host i.e human body.
Window period: the period between potential exposure to HIV infection and the point where the test will detect the virus. During this period HIV multiplies in the body but cannot be detected by an antibody test. The duration of this period varies in individuals depending on their immune system. It could be within 3-6 months.

PHASE 2 : HIV can now be detected by an antibody test. Still there is no manifestation of signs and symptoms for 2 months to several years. This varies in individuals and there are 2 stages
sero-conversion stage - the period of time during which HIV antibodies become detectable
asymptomatic sero-positive stage - during this stage there are no visible symptoms of HIV infection but the immune system slowly weakens.

PHASE 3 - This is the phase where the virus has graduated to AIDS. The individual shows signs and symptoms of AIDS
Stages
-- the AIDS-related illness stage
-- the full blown AIDS stage

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

It is pertinent to carry out HIV test at intervals of 6months at most to know one's status & it is strictly confidential. The following features should prompt one to take HIV test

1. severe,unexplained weight loss
2. fever lasting more than a month
   3)skin rash
3. persistent cough lasting more than 3 months

CURE FOR HIV/AIDS

At present there is no known cure for AIDS though scientists are tirelessly working on a cure. The best cure for HIV/AIDS at this moment is prevention and it is cheaper than managing the epidermic after infection
Ways to manage HIV/AIDS include:

1. living a positive life by embracing things which are beneficial to the individual's well being
2. improving nutrition,hygiene and exercise regularly
3. taking ARV(anti-retroviral vaccines) and other medicine regularly
4. care & support for PLWHIV (people living with HIV)

HIV is not a death sentence,there are deadlier diseases like hepatitis B and the likes. Know your status today and plan for your future

Sources of pictures: (http://pixabay.com)
Source: (http://aidsinfonet.org)