User:Dipsikha De

Definition and Explanation:
HIV is a virus that gradually attacks the immune system, which is our body’s natural defence against illness. If a person becomes infected with HIV, they will find it harder to fight off infections and diseases. The virus destroys a type of white blood cell called a T-helper cell and makes copies of itself inside them. T-helper cells are also referred to as CD4 cells. There are many different strains of HIV – someone who is infected may carry various different strains in their body. These are classified into types, with lots of groups and subtypes. The two main types are: •	HIV-1: the most common type found worldwide •	HIV-2: this is found mainly in Western Africa, with some cases in India and Europe. AIDS is a syndrome caused by the HIV virus. It is when a person’s immune system is too weak to fight off many infections, and develops when the HIV infection is very advanced. This is the last stage of HIV infection where the body can no longer defend itself and may develop various diseases, infections and if left untreated, death.

Mode of Infection and Transmission:
You can become infected if you have contact with the blood of someone who is infected with HIV. Blood-borne infection with HIV can occur through: •	sharing needles when shooting drugs •	tattoos or body piercings with unsterilized needles •	accidental needle sticks •	blood transfusions •	splashing blood in your eyes •	HIV is NOT spread by blood passed through insect bites. Infection can occur from HIV positive pregnant women to their babies in the womb and during birth. Taking anti-HIV drugs during pregnancy and childbirth dramatically lowers the risk of a baby becoming infected with HIV. After birth, transmission can occur through breast milk of infected women. The highest risk may be in the early months after birth. It is recommended that new mothers should try to bottle-feed their babies rather than breast-feed.

If you inject drugs, the best thing to do is to use new or sterilized injection equipment every time. You can also take a daily medication called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to lower your risk of HIV. HIV is also spread from sexual contact with someone who is infected with HIV.

Social Impacts:
Households and families bear the brunt of the misery caused by AIDS. Those who fall ill become unable to work, forcing family members to care for them rather than producing food or income. According to studies of rural families in Thailand and urban families in Côte d'Ivoire, farm output and income fell between 52 and 67 per cent in families affected by AIDS. Families are also subject to discrimination if they have members who are HIV-positive, often facing reduced access to publicly available social and economic benefits. AIDS has a dramatic impact on children, particularly through the emergence of an entire generation of orphans to families affected by HIV. To date, the epidemic has left behind 13.2 million orphans, children who before the age of 15 have lost either their mother or both parents to AIDS.

Medication:
HIV is treated using a combination of medicines to fight HIV infection. This is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART isn’t a cure, but it can control the virus so that you can live a longer, healthier life and reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others. ART involves taking a combination of HIV medicines (called an HIV regimen) every day, exactly as prescribed. These HIV medicines prevent HIV from multiplying (making copies of itself), which reduces the amount of HIV in your body. Having less HIV in your body gives your immune system a chance to recover and fight off infections and cancers. Even though there is still some HIV in the body, the immune system is strong enough to fight off infections and cancers.

Conclusion and Suggestions:
''HIV/AIDS is the deadliest epidemic of our time. Over 22 million people have already lost their lives, and more than 42 million are currently living with HIV/AIDS. Even if a vaccine for HIV were discovered today, over 40 million people would still die prematurely as a result of AIDS. In many countries, especially in Africa and the hardest-hit countries such as Botswana, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, the AIDS epidemic has spread rapidly, leaving illness, death, poverty and misery in its wake. Of the many challenges faced by people living with HIV, one of the most difficult is keeping up to date with important information about the treatment and day-to-day management of HIV.''