When dealing with sexually transmitted diseases, otherwise known as STDs, two prominent letter combinations typically get the attention of most: HIV and AIDS. Both diseases are directly related to one another and both tend to strike fear in the hearts of most sexually active people, particularly those who fear they may have put themselves at risk for acquiring the infection. While dealing with HIV and AIDS can be a scary process, learning more about the two diseases can help a person to feel more armed with information. When a person is armed with knowledge, he can make better choices that can positively influence his life and possibly prevent an HIV or AIDS infection.

More about HIV and AIDS

HIV is known as human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS is known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome. A person can acquire HIV from the infected blood or body fluids of someone who has the disease. This means that any person involved in sexual activities with another person who has HIV is at risk for acquiring the infection. Even babies who are nursing from mothers who have HIV can acquire the infection through infected breast milk. But while it seems that the risk of transmission is frighteningly high, in reality it would appear that potentially acquiring the HIV infection is no more likely than acquiring another fluid borne STD. Yet since HIV and AIDS still have a social stigma, people are more aware of the transmission factor. Usually it takes contact with infected fluids or a dirty needle to acquire the infection if the disease is transmitted successfully.

HIV works to weaken a person’s immune system and to make them more susceptible to opportunistic bacteria and infections. A person may have HIV for months, even years, before developing AIDS. A person is said to have developed AIDS after acquiring one of the AIDS indicative illnesses after becoming infected with HIV. A blood test can be done both during the HIV stage and the AIDS stage to confirm the diagnosis. There are several measures a person can take to prevent transmission of HIV, namely by using protection and avoiding drug use. If a person does use drugs intravenously, for one reason or another, a clean needle must be used each and every time.

info@treatyourstd.com