AIDS-causes, tips, precautions, symptoms, tests to detect.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) refers to a virus that destroys or damages the cells of the immune system of the Body. This is usually transmitted through unsafe sex with an already infected person and may also be transmitted by sharing of needles or blood transfusion or may pass from a mother to a baby during pregnancy.

Symptoms of AIDS:

Swollen glands and flu-alike symptoms.
Fever, headache, nausea and enlarged lymph nodes.
Diarrhea.
Passing of normal-than-expected blood in case of a wound.
Loss of weight and lack of energy.
Frequent sweats and fever.
Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease.
Hardening or Swelling of glands.
Shortness of breath.
Recurring vaginal yeast infections.
Unusual skin rashes.


People usually are not aware of the occurrence of HIV infection at earlier stages and came to know only after a month or two.

AIDS or HIV infection can be detected through a blood test and can be treated with some medicines but there is no absolute cure for the disease. Studies are going on and there have been several attempts for the treatment of the dreadful disease.

How does AIDS spread?

Use of infected needles.
Unsafe sex.
From mother to the child.
Blood transfusion.
Breast feeding from infected mother.
Oral sex or vaginal fluid.

AIDS do not spread by:

Use of same utensils, sneezing.
Kissing.
Hugs.

The quantity of the virus is quite high and it spreads to different body parts affecting the lymphoid tissue to a great extent. The infected person is likely to pass the disease to many other during this stage and the viral quantity drops as the body system is unable to resist disease due to the weakening of the immune system of the Body.

When HIV is transmitted in the human body, it connects itself to the White Blood cells which are also known as CD4 and T4 cells which are the primary disease fighters present in the human body. And when these cells are damaged due to HIV, it results in the weakening of the body’s resistance towards general health and disease fighting ability.

Precautions for avoiding HIV/AIDS:

Safe sex and use of contraceptives and condoms.
Avoid used needles.
Safe blood transfusion.
Medical advice for pregnant women.

The application of high active antiretroviral therapy extends the median time of progression to HIV and the median survival time but can result in diarrhea, fatigue and nausea. People suffering from HIV/AIDS must take the guidance of a certified medical practitioner and take the prescribed medicines on a strict basis else the disease may shorten the life span quickly.

The most common tumor in AIDS-infected patients is Kaposi's sarcoma that has serious implications on the gastrointestinal tract, mouth and the lungs.

The following tests are available to detect the presence of HIV/AIDS in a human body:

HIV-DNA.
HIV-RNA
HIV antigens