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What You Should Know
What is HIV?
HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the type
of virus that causes HIV infection. It slowly destroys the human immune
system. Leaving the body weak and defenseless from infections and
illnesses.
What
is AIDS?
AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is the end stage of HIV
infection, where the body’s immune system has already been destroyed,
leaving the body defenseless from any opportunistic infection.
Who can be infected with
HIV?
HIV can infect anyone. Nobody is immune to HIV infection. However,
a person with HIV infection does not show any signs and symptoms of
the infection.
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV can be transmitted through the transfer of an infected person’s
body fluid (blood, seminal fluid, vaginal fluid and breast milk) to
another through transfusion, sharing of intravenous needles, sexual
intercourse, pregnancy and birth and breastfeeding.
How can HIV infection be
prevented?
Infection can be prevented by practicing protected sex and early detection
of sexually transmitted diseases. During transfusion, always make
sure that only clean and sterilized syringes and needles are used.
How can one know if s/he
has HIV infection?
Accredited public and private health laboratories perform HIV Antibody
Testing to check a person’s HIV infection status.
Can HIV infection be cured?
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for HIV infection. There are
Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARD) available, but they only slow down the
multiplication of HIV in the body.
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“All
of us must recognize AIDS is our problem. All of us must make
it our priority. We cannot deal with AIDS by making moral
judgments, or refusing to face unpleasant facts – and
still less by stigmatizing those who are infected, and making
out that it is all their fault. We can only do it by speaking
clearly and plainly, about the ways that people become infected,
and about what they can do to avoid infection”
- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan |
More
things you should know…
In the Philippines…
There were 1,892 reported cases of HIV from 1984 – 2003.
68% are asymptomatic, the patient does not yet show signs of
illness.
32% are already in the AIDS case. |
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