AIDS
by:
Jose Angel Chapa (M)
What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Mainly, as you know or not, AIDS is a sexual-transmitted or "born with" disease. Even though there are many theories regarding where this disease originated, this disease's origin has not been discovered yet. People get this disease by the direct contact of the sexual organs without protection (if one of the organs is infected with the virus). Even though it is not a mortal virus, a cure for it has not yet been discovered. It is also one of the principal causes of death in the world. Some diseases might be transmited with AIDS, this diseases include pneumonia, skin cancer and fungal infections. And in most of the cases the persons that have this virus look like normal and healthy persons, but they do have AIDS.
What causes AIDS?
The
disease of AIDS can be transmited in a different variety of ways. Another abbreviation
for AIDS is HIV (Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus), which attacks the body’s
immune system and this attacks make the body defenses weaken. This disease can
also be transmitted from a mother with HIV to her baby, when a mother is infected,
her babies are born with HIV. Another way is using certain tools of an infected
person, such as a razor, if this person cuts himself with it, and you also cut
yourself with the same razor, you will be infected. Sometimes people with AIDS
don't even know that they are infected, since this disease doesn't always show
simptoms, but they can still pass on the virus to other individuals.
How is the virus spread?
The virus is spread by sharing sexual transmittion with people that are infected and don't protect themselves. There's also the "born with" way, as said before, mothers transmitting the disease to the babies they are carrying. There also other ways in which the people can acquire this mortal virus. There are four proven ways in which AIDS can be passed from person to person:
1. Sexual contact - involving exchange of infectious body fluids (semen, vaginal secretions and blood) with an infected person.
2. Sharing injection needles and equipment, with an infected person.
3. From an infected pregnant mother to her baby.
4. Injection or transfusion of blood or blood products taken from an infected person.
You
cannot get HIV by...
• Hugging and kissing on the lips.
• Sharing plates, forks, spoons etc.
• Shaking hands.
• Using the same toilet facilities.
• Being sneezed or coughed upon.
• Insect or animal bites.
• Sitting beside someone.
• Using the same laundry facilities.
• Using swimming pools.
How to avoid infection
The most common ways to preven the disease, that give you a security of a 79% of chances that you can't get infected with HIV are the preservatives. Never share injection equipment. Any device that pokes the skin may be infectious. This includes needles for tattooing and for piercing. Make sure that if you will get a tattoo or a piercing, the needle used has been properly sterilized (soaked at 56°C for 10 minutes). Of course, abstaining from sexual relationships is the best certain way of avoiding the sexual transmission of HIV infection. These are also high risks of obtaining the disease: Having sexual relationship with an infected person without the protection use of preservatives. Having a blood transfusion in a country where screening services are not properly supervised.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
http://www.shb.ie/content1348011329_1.cfm
http://www.shb.ie/content1348011302_1.cfm cfm
http://www.shb.ie/content1348011255_1.cfm
http://www.shb.ie/content1348011282_1.
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