HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. I virus that has the ability to harm your immune system and destroy your White blood Cells. AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is the final stage of infection with HIV. Not everyone with HIV develops AIDS.
Scientists identified a type of chimpanzee in Central Africa as the source of HIV infection in humans. They believe that the chimpanzee version of the immunodeficiency virus (called simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV) most likely was transmitted to humans and mutated into HIV when humans hunted these chimpanzees for meat and came into contact with their infected blood.
HIV most often spreads through unprotected sex with an infected person. It may also spread by sharing drug needles or through contact with th
e blood of an infected person or transmission from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding.
Symptoms of HIV infection
Most people experience a short, flu-like illness 2-6 weeks after HIV infection, which lasts for a week or two.
After these symptoms disappear, HIV may not cause any symptoms for many years, although the virus continues to damage your immune system. This means many people with HIV don't know they're infected.
Anyone who thinks they could have HIV should get tested.
Browse through the video to know more about HIV AIDS.
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Treatment for HIV
Antiretroviral medications are used to treat HIV. They work by stopping the virus replicating in the body, allowing the immune system to repair itself and preventing further damage.
These come in the form of tablets, which need to be taken every day.
HIV is able to develop resistance to a single HIV drug very easily, but taking a combination of different drugs makes this much less likely.
Most people with HIV take a combination of drugs – it's vital these are taken every day as recommended by your doctor.
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