Basic Information on hiv
WHAT IS HIV?
HIV (The Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is simply a virus which breaks down your immune system! This disallows your body to efficiently fight against viruses and diseases, thus being vulnerable. Worse, the reason why HIV is known to be deadly is because there is no existing cure! The HIV virus constantly mutates and evolves, preventing the cure to work! |
Here is a video from Brainpop.com which simply explains what HIV and AIDS are! Click here to watch the original video
|
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV can be transmitted in various ways. According to Aids.org, HIV can be sexually transmitted by the infected, as semen and vaginal secretion contain HIV. Moreover, HIV transmission can also occur by directly in-taking the blood of an HIV patient. This is considered to be a very successful way of HIV spread, because the blood is known to consist great amounts of HIV, thus increasing the possibility of infection. Finally, a HIV infected mother could transmit the virus to her child through breast milk. However, unlike blood, breast milk contains minimal amounts of HIV, therefore having a low probability of transmission.
HIV can be transmitted in various ways. According to Aids.org, HIV can be sexually transmitted by the infected, as semen and vaginal secretion contain HIV. Moreover, HIV transmission can also occur by directly in-taking the blood of an HIV patient. This is considered to be a very successful way of HIV spread, because the blood is known to consist great amounts of HIV, thus increasing the possibility of infection. Finally, a HIV infected mother could transmit the virus to her child through breast milk. However, unlike blood, breast milk contains minimal amounts of HIV, therefore having a low probability of transmission.
The picture above shows how sharing needles contribute to HIV transmission. Sharing needles is an example of direct in-take of HIV infected blood, as needles are capable of inserting the infected blood of others directly into your circulatory system.
|
How is HIV and AIDS different?
Many people confuse HIV and AIDS as the same thing. As medicalnewstoday.com states, HIV is the virus that attacks your immune system and AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the disease that is caused by HIV. People normally group the two together due to their direct relation as explained above. However, they are not the same thing! |