ALL TO KNOW ABOUT HIV AND AIDS
What is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS. It can only affect human beings by destroying human immune system. This virus may be passed from one person to another when infected blood, semen or virginal fluids come in contact with an infected person’s broken skin. When a person is infected with the virus, after some time, his or her body fluids: such as blood, semen or vaginal secretions, will contain HIV and the antibodies (chemical produced by the body’s immune system or the solders of the body) that fight against the virus. Once infected, the virus stays in the body and slowly destroys the body’s defence system. When the immune system (the body soldiers) can no longer resist disease, the infected person becomes sick and is said to have AIDS.
What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is the name given to the condition that occurs when HIV has weakened the body’s immune system (the body’s solder) and a person begin to fall ill. People with AIDS may have different symptoms. Some may loose weight, have prolonged cough or tuberculosis (TB), prolonged diarrhoea or skin infection.
NB: These symptom may also occur in people who do not have AIDS!
How is HIV contracted?
Since HIV is found in body fluid, it can be transmitted when fluid from an infected person enters the body of another person. This can happen through the following ways:
* During sexual intercourse.
* During blood transfusion.
* When using unsterilised skin piercing instruments such as needles/syringes, razor blade and other skin piercing activities.
* From an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breast feeding.
How HIV is not contracted?
HIV is not contacted through casual contact such as sharing cloths, dishes and toilet seats or through handshaking. You cannot be infected with HIV from hugging, kissing or being near a person with HIV or AIDS.
Can mosquitoes transmit HIV the same way they transmit malaria?
NO! Mosquitoes takes blood from a person but they do not pass the same blood they have to another person. The malaria parasite lives in and transmitted through the mosquitoes saliva. HIV virus is not.
Scientist have proven conclusively that neither mosquitoes nor any other blood-sucking insect can transmit HIV.
Can HIV be transmitted through kissing?
There is no risk of HIV infection if it is a kiss on the cheek. In case of kiss involving saliva exchange, it is unlikely that HIV will be transmitted. Saliva contain very little quantity of the virus and it is supposed that a large volume of the saliva would be needed to infect the someone. But the presence of sores (injuries) in the mouth is likely to increase the risk of transmission during kissing.
What are the symptoms of AIDS?
Following an infection with HIV, eventually the person will develop AIDS and will begin to manifest some symptoms described as major and minor.
Examples includes the following:
* Prolonged diarrhoea.
* White coating on the tongue (thrust)
* Enlargement of glands in the neck, groin and/or armpit.
* Persistent fever and headache.
* Persistent cough.
* Skin infection.
* Unexplained weight loss.
Because these symptoms characterize other diseases. A persistent cough may mean tuberculosis, diarrhoea may mean intestinal illness. Test for the presence of HIV antibodies are the sure way to determine whether someone has HIV or not.
How can a person know if he or she has HIV infection or AIDS?
Remember that a person has AIDS, if he or she has begun to surfer from some of the illness associated with HIV infection.
However, if the person has HIV infection and he or she is not yet sick, the person is said to be HIV positive or living with HIV. A person can know that he or she is HIV positive when the person has taken a blood test and the test has shown HIV antibodies in the blood. The body produces these antibodies when a virus or other germs infect it.
It usually takes between two week or six months after exposure to HIV for a test to detect these antibodies. Most test for a HIV antibodies use a small amount of blood although newer test use other body fluids such as saliva, inner cheek cells or urine.
If you feel that at sometime, you have been at the risk of HIV infection. It is a good idea to have test. If people know that they are HIV positive, they can be careful not to infect other people. They can also take good care of their health and still enjoy long life.
Who is at risk?
Given the modes of transmission, everyone is at risk. However, there are particular behaviour and practice that increase your risk of HIV infection, such as:
* Having multiple sexual partners whose HIV status is unknown.
* Engaging in unprotected sex.
* Sharing skin-piercing of infected equipment
* When given infected blood.
To enable you appropriately modify your behaviour, you need to access your level of risk to HIV infection.
How do I assess my risk to HIV?
Put X or tick in the following boxes as appropriate.
[ ] Have I had more than one sexual partner without using condom?
[ ] Have I had a sexual partner who has or had other sexual partners?
[ ] Have I had sex with anyone without using a condom who has tested positive for HIV?
[ ] Have I had sex without using condom with whose past sexual behaviour I don’t know?
[ ] Have I had sex without using condom?
[ ] Have I had one or more transmitted diseases (STDs) ( discharge, sores or itching on my genitals?
[ ] I did not go to the clinic for proper treatment of the STI.
[ ] Have I or any of my sexual partners had a blood transfusion?
[ ] Have I had an injection or receive incisions from traditional healer, untrained health personnel or local injector?
[ ] Have I shared any skin-piercing instrument with others?
[ ] DO I handle body fluids, including blood without using universal precaution ( hand glove for example)?
Note:
If you have ticked any of these question, then you are at risk of being infected with HIV. The more the ticks you made, the greater the risk. Do not panic! But go for counselling at the nearest Heart to Heart (HIV/AIDS counselling and testing) center or health facility.
How can people at risk change their behaviour?
Changing behaviour and attitude is a process that take time and effort. You need to recognize the fact that several things help people to make changes they can sustain over a period of time. The change starts as follows:
Unawareness to awareness
From a state of complete or virtual ignorance, you learn ( through mass media, by reading a book like this or from a health worker) that sexually transmitted infection (STI) exist and are potentially dangerous to your health and that of your partner(s) by causing great discomfort, life-long complication or even death as well as predispose you to acquiring HIV infection.
Awareness to concern
Having become aware of STIs and their potential danger to your health and that of your loved ones, you wonder if you are at risk and probably even already harbouring an STI. You are concerned that those changes you have noticed in your body and/or your partner lately which you have hitherto to taken for granted may actually be signs of STI.
Concern to knowledge and acquisition of skills.
Your concern about the possibility of harbouring an infection drives you to seek more information about STIs probably from friends/peer or probably from health workers. In the process, you are meant to understand the various type of STI, how they manifest, how to prevent them, as well as where to seek effective treatment. At the end of this stage, you are able to identify the likely presence of an STI in your body.
Skill acquisition to motivate
The presence of sign suggestive of an STI in your body brings back to your memory everything you have heard about STIs and their complications. You do not want any of these to happen to you and you believe there must be other people who are equally at risk of acquiring STIs but who either do not acquire them or do not develop complication because they practice safer sex or treat their STI promptly. You want to be as smart as them by doing what they do. You will therefore, enquire for the location of the nearest clinic where your STI can be effectively treated.
Motivation to trial
You will take the bold step of visiting the clinic for the relief of your symptoms. There, your STI is competently diagnosed and drug prescribed for effective treatment. You are also counselled to take drug as prescribe without sharing with anybody, get your partner(s) treated to avoid reinfection, and use condom to prevent new STI if you must engage in further casual sex. You are also counselled to come back at a specific time to ascertain that you have indeed been cured. As a result of your desire to cure your STI and the demonstrated confidence of the clinic staff, you comply fully with all the instruction you were given both in respect of yourself and your partner(s).
6. Trials to success and maintenance
Now you are cured and by virtue of your consistent and proper use of condoms, you have also been infection free fro some time now. It is such good news that you share it with your friends with whom you have similar risk status for their own benefit too. Your probably also considering reducing your risk status by reducing the number of your sex partners and continuing with the use of condom when casual exposure is unavoidable.
Why are sexually transmitted infections important in HIV prevention?
Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are transmitted in the same way as HIV. STIs create small (sometimes even invisible) sores on the genitals. There are openings that may allow HIV to be transmitted from one person to another. They are extremely dangerous. If you have an STI, or think you have, please go to a clinic and have it properly diagnosed and treated. Then notify your sexual partner to be treated also. You must take all the drugs as prescribed by the physician. And begin to use a condom with your partner throughout the period of treatment.
How long does it take for someone who is infected with HIV to develop HIV antibodies?
The formation of antibodies seems to depend on the route and frequency of exposure, the amount of virus transmitted and the immune response of the infected person. For example, antibodies tend to be produced very early following infection through blood transfusion. It is important to remember that a negative antibody test does not always mean that a person is not infected with HIV. It could mean that the test was done before an infected person develop HIV antibodies, following an exposure or during the window period.
What is the window period?
The window period is the time between infection and production of antibodies to an infection. During this period, the virus cannot be detected with the usual screening test techniques-although the virus may be present and can be transmitted. The duration of the period can be influenced by the load of virus acquired at infection, the route of infection, frequency of exposure to infection and the innate ability of the individual to resist infection (otherwise called the immune status). On average, the window period lasts two weeks to six months. The window period is dangerous because it can give an infected individual a false sense of security, if he or she is tested negative. It also places other contacts at risk of infection from this supposedly HIV-negative individual unless they take preventive measures. It is therefore advisable to repeat negative HIV test from a reputable source after three months. During this period, the individual is advised to avoid risky behaviours. These result then form a base for further action.
Can AIDS be cured?
There is no cure for AIDS. The defence system continues to weaken as HIV infection advances in the body. However, there are cure for some of the infection that people may suffer from when they have AIDS. These drugs are not a cure for HIV and AIDS, but they can delay the unset of symptoms or death. As for an HIV vaccine, there are good prospects that a vaccine will become available in the near future. Until then our best option is to adopt preventive measures to protect oneself and partner from getting infected.
How can HIV infection be prevented?
Although there are no vaccines yet to prevent HIV infection, scientists are working to develop one. However, there are behaviours we can adopt to prevent infection:
· Practice safe sex: stick to one faithful uninfected partner; abstain from sex and use condom.
· Ensure you transfuse or receive only screened blood.
· Avoid the use of unsterilised skin-piercing instrument.
· Infected mothers should seek advice before getting pregnant- drug therapy , breast feeding and delivery option may have to be considered.
Is it necessary for a couple to use condom if they are both infected with HIV?
Yes! If one or both partners of a married is/are infected, they should use condom every time they have sex because:
· They may be infected with different types of the virus and cross infection may result if a condom is not used.
· More viruses can be transmitted which may accelerate the onset of AIDS.
· Unintended pregnancy may take place. They may contact other sexually transmitted diseases.
Does an STI increase the risk of an HIV infection?
Yes! The person who has an STI-such as Herpes, syphilis or gonorrhoea- that results in sores or ulcer is at great risk of transmitting or contracting HIV. Those at risk acquiring STIs are also at risk of contracting HIV because of similar behaviours patterns and similar mode of transmission.
What is Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)?
Antiretroviral Therapy treatment is treatment for HIV infection by using antiretroviral drugs, which interferes with the way that the HIV virus reproduces in the body. ARVs reduce the load of virus (viral load) in the body. This means that they reduce the number of virus in the body.
ARVs lower the ability of HIV to damage the immune system (the body natural defense). It means that the immune system can recover its ability to defend a person from attack by other infections, enabling them to stay healthy and live longer. While the search for cure is on. AVR treatment must be taken for life. If not, the virus will start to reproduce again and will cause AIDS.
What does a person with HIV/AIDS needs?
A person with HIV has a right to full range of care, support, treatment and prevention, like any other person. This means having help with any medical problem and also support for their psychosocial and economic needs and overall well being. Care, support and treatment for people with HIV should be comprehensive. This means that a variety of people and organizations, such as family, doctor, community and workplace, must all play their part and work together to prevent a continuum of care.
What treatment is possible for a person with HIV/AIDS
A person with AIDS can get different kinds of treatment, both for the illness caused by HIV and for fighting the virus itself. The simplest treatment is to make sure that a person with AIDS can always get nourishing food and clean water, as well as good basic care when they are ill. People with AIDS, need more protein and vitamin in their food than other people. This means having meat, beans, fish and plenty of vegetable and fruit. A person with HIV also needs to have good medical treatment for opportunistic illness such as tuberculosis, skin or chest infections. Prompt treatment for these illnesses can help the immune system to stay stronger for a longer time.
What difference does antiretroviral therapy makes?
ARVs can bring a person with AIDS back to good health and keep a person with HIV healthy. A person who takes ARVs can live a much longer and healthier life than someone who does not. But they do not cure a person of HIV. ARVs must be taken continuously and correctly for the whole lifetime of a person with HIV. Even if a person is taking ARVs and has a very low viral load, he or she can still infect other people with HIV.
What is adherence to antiretroviral therapy?
Adherence means taking dose of drug and sticking to the treatment plan exactly as prescribed. It means taking the correct amount of drugs, at the current time and in the correct way. At least 95% adherence is needed for ARVs to work effectively. Missing even a few dose can cause drug resistance to develop and treatment to fail. Adherence is specially difficult if people are isolated, depressed, forgetful or worrying too much about the effects of their medication. A person with AIDS should work with their doctor, pharmacist and treatment supporters or support groups to find ways to help with adherence. These might include: getting support from family and friends; having regular check ups; getting prompt help with side effects; and being able to talk to others who take ARVs.
What are the side effects of ARVs?
Side effect are the unintended effects of drug. Different ARVs cause different side effects. Not all of them are experience by all people.
Some side effects- usually nausea, diarrhoea or tiredness. These may appear soon after a person start taking ARVs. However, they often do not last long and treatment can continue without problems. Other ARV side effect include skin rash, dry skin, chapped lips, insomnia, reduced sexual drive, mood changes and difficulties in moving or walking. It is vital to ensure a person knows about possible side effect before he or she starts to take ARVs. However, if they are severe, a person should see his or her doctor for advice.
What happens to a child born to an HIV infected mother
The virus can be passed on from an infected mother to her newborn child. Without intervention, about 40% of babies of infected mothers can get infected. Infection can occur anytime during pregnancy, labour or delivery. The baby is more likely to be infected if labour takes a long time. During delivery, the newborn is expose to the mother’s blood. Breastfeeding also increases the risk of viral transmission to the infant. Mothers who are HIV-infected should be counselled on infant feeding choice for their babies. It is proven that mothers can reduce the risk of infecting their babies if they:
* Use antiretroviral medications during pregnancy and delivery.
* Are assisted to keep the labour and delivery time short.
* Are advised and supported on appropriate feeding choices.
It is not advisable to test babies born to HIV-positive mothers for HIV antibodies at birth. There is likely to be false to be false positive results because of antibodies from the mother are still circulating in the infant’s blood stream. At present, it is only at 18 months or older, that an antibody test-result can be regarded as reliable.
Why are women more at risk to HIV infection
Studies have shown that women are more vulnerable to HIV infection than men. This trend has been attributed to biological, social and economic factors. Male-to-female transmission is more likely because during vaginal intercourse a woman has larger surface of her genital tract exposed to her partner’s sexual secretions than does a man. Also, a woman faces many social barrier and her chances of negotiating safer sex often depend on man. The risk of becoming infected with HIV during unprotected sex is 2-3 times greater for a woman that for a man.
A woman’s risk is greatly increased if she has an STI, especially one that causes ulcerative lesion such as syphilis. Again, because of the unique physiology of a woman, she hardly recognize symptoms of STI and as such, does not seek early treatment. Among these symptoms are; recurrent yeast infections, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), changes in cervical tissue that could lead to cancer, genital ulcers, genital warts and herpes infection. Moreover, young women produce only scanty vaginal secretion during sexual intercourse which makes them more likely to sustain minor cuts that create entrance for HIV infection. Women, due to their social, cultural and economic constraints, also lack power to negotiate the form of intercourse or reject unprotected sex with some sexual partners. All these factors make a woman more vulnerable to infection than a man.
What advice can be giving to people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA)
Persons living with HIV and AIDS require information, counselling, care and support. In general, they should be advised to:
* Protect themselves against any form of sexually transmitted infection.
* Avoid passing the infection to others through unprotected sexual intercourse.
* Share information about their HIV status with their spouse and those they trust.
* Eat nourishing food and take plenty of rest.
* Enrol at an HIV clinic for medical advice and care.
* Seek counselling about pregnancy, for the health of both mother and child.
How can the community help people with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA)?
* Avoid discriminating and stigmatization of PLWHA
* Respect the right of PLWHA
* Provide for and support PLWHA
* Ensure that PLWHA fully participate in decisions and activities that affect their lives and well-being.
* Understand that people of unknown status are more dangerous than those who have tested positive.
Right of People Living With HIV and AIDS
AIDS is NOT a moral issue. It is a public health problem. People living with HIV and AIDS have the same fundamental human right as any person. Internationally accepted human right include:
* The right to live, right to Shelter, right to Health Care, right to Freedom of Movement, right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, right to Freedom of Though and Religion, right to Education, right to Protect against Discrimination, right to Dignity, right to Gender Equality and right to Employment.
PLWHA should not be discriminated against in the exercise of any of these rights, nor there be any stigma because a person is infected with HIV or is suffering from AIDS.
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