Written By: Dr Faozat Aragbaiye

AIDS- Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus(HIV). By damaging the immune system, HIV interferes with the body’s ability to fight the organism that causes disease.

HIV – Transmission

Anyone can contract HIV. The virus is transmitted in bodily fluids that include;

• Blood
• Semen
• Vaginal and rectal fluids
• Breast milk

          Ways of Transmission of HIV

• Through vagina or anal sex- most common route of transmission
• By sharing needles, syringes, and other items for injection use
• By sharing tattoo equipment without sterilizing it between uses
• During pregnancy, labour, or delivery from mother to her baby
• During breastfeeding
• Through” pre-mastication” or chewing a baby’s food before feeding it to them
• Through exposure to the blood of someone living with HIV, such as through a needle stick
• Through blood transfusion or organ and tissue transplant. Although this is very rare because rigorous screening and testing would have been carried out.

HIV does not spread through

• Skin to skin contact
• Hugging, shaking hands or kissing
• Air or water
• Sharing food or drinks, including drinking fountains
• Saliva, tears or sweat (unless mixed with HIV infected blood)
• Sharing a toilet, towels. Or beddings
• Mosquitoes or other insects.

  Early Symptoms of HIV – Nonspecific symptoms include;

• Headaches and other aches and pains
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Recurrent fevers
• Night sweats
• Fatigue
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
• Weight loss
• Recurrent oral or vaginal yeast infections
• Pneumonia

Symptoms of AIDS can include

• Recurrent fevers
• Chronic swollen lymph glands especially of the armpits, neck and groin.
• Chronic fatigue
• Night sweats.
• Dark splotches under the skin or inside the mouth, nose or eyelids.
• Sores, spots or lesions of the mouth and tongue, genitals, or anus
• Bumps, lesions or rashes of the skin
• Recurrent or chronic diarrhoea
• Rapid weight loss
• Neurologic problems such as trouble concentrating, memory loss and confusion
• Anxiety and depression

        Diagnosis of HIV

HIV tests are used to detect the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS), in serum, saliva and urine.

Treatment

No cure exists for AIDS, but strict adherence to antiretroviral regimens (ARVs) can dramatically slow the disease’s progress as well as prevent secondary infections and complications.

Prevention

• Know your HIV
• Know your partner’s HIV status
• Practise safe sex –use condoms
• Be faithful
• Avoid having sex (abstinence)
• Stay away from drugs.
• Avoid blood contact
• Get tested and treated for STDs
• Talk to your health care provider about pre-exposure prophylaxis( PrEP)
• Post-exposure prophylaxis( PEP)

Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.