What is AIDS (HIV), how is it transmitted, is there a cure? What does AIDS mean?
A 13-year-old child who was being treated for suspected osteoporosis in İzmir was diagnosed with AIDS and hospitalized in the final stage, but passed away despite all efforts. So, what is AIDS? Is there a cure?
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WHAT IS HIV/AIDS DISEASE?
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks T cells, which help the body fight infections, leaving the person vulnerable to diseases. The most significant effect of the virus is that it weakens the immune system. If left untreated, HIV leads to AIDS, the final stage. At this stage, an immune system develops that cannot fight off even infections that would not normally make a person sick.
AIDS is a chronic and potentially life-threatening disease that occurs when the HIV virus enters the body. Because there is no definitive cure, the HIV virus remains in a person's body for life.
Symptoms of AIDS include muscle aches, headaches, sore throat, fever, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, and infections such as oral thrush. These symptoms are complaints caused by AIDS, so testing is required for a definitive diagnosis.
WHAT DOES AIDS MEAN?
AIDS is an abbreviation for "Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome." It is a chronic and potentially fatal disease that develops as a result of the immune system weakening and becoming unable to fight infections after the HIV virus enters the body. When the HIV virus is not treated, it eventually leads to AIDS, which causes the body to become vulnerable to infections and certain types of cancer.
HOW IS AIDS TRANSMITTED?
AIDS is transmitted when body fluids from people carrying the HIV virus enter the body of someone who has not been in contact with the virus. The body fluids that are effective in spreading the virus are blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
WHAT ARE THE MODES OF HIV TRANSMISSION?
Sexual transmission: The most common way HIV is transmitted is through sexual intercourse. During unprotected sexual contact (vaginal, anal, or oral sex), the virus can pass from an HIV-positive partner to a healthy partner.
Blood-borne transmission: HIV can also be transmitted through blood. Shared syringes or needles (for drug use), blood transfusions (this is very rare today thanks to blood tests), or situations where healthcare workers come into contact with blood pose a risk.
Mother-to-child transmission: HIV can pass from a pregnant woman to her baby. There is a risk of the virus being transmitted from mother to baby during birth and breastfeeding.
Infected blood, tissue, or organ transplantation: HIV can also be transmitted through the transplantation of blood, tissue, or organs taken from an infected person to another person. However, thanks to modern medical procedures and tests, such transmissions have become very rare.
Other sexually transmitted infections: The risk of HIV transmission may increase in the presence of other sexually transmitted infections (such as herpes, syphilis, or gonorrhea). These infections can facilitate the transmission of HIV by creating sores or open lesions on the body.