AIDS Symptoms

What is AIDS?

AIDS means Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Meaning of this is given below:

AIDS is caused because of virus which is called as HIV. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Human body tries to fight against the infection when you get infected with the HIV. Body will produce antibodies which are the special type of molecules which fights against the HIV.

For checking the antibodies, blood tests are taken. If these antibodies are found in blood, this means that person is HIV positive.

The person having AIDS is different from the having HIV or person is HIV positive. People do not get sick even if they are having HIV. As HIV disease grows, it slowly attacks on the immune system. Generally parasites, viruses, bacteria and fungi does not cause any problem but becomes you sick after immune system gets damaged.

Causes of AIDS:

Three main routes are available for causing the AIDS or transmitting AIDS:

AIDS can not transfer by touching someone, sharing the items such as pencils, cup, through sneezing, coughing or routine contact in school, restaurant or at workplace. Sharing razor is sometimes harmful when it contacts in blood from the minor nick and may be transfer from one person to another person.

AIDS Symptoms:

Early AIDS Symptoms and signs:

When people get infected they experience the AIDS symptoms at early stage while others do not. Early signs and symptoms of AIDS are given below:

These AIDS symptoms and signs are very similar to other viral infections and viral diseases. The guaranteed way of checking the signs and symptoms is the HIV test. The people suffering from HIV may not have signs and symptoms for many years.

Later AIDS symptoms and signs:

The CDS (Center for Disease Control) gives the following AIDS signs and symptoms which are given below:

White blood cells are useful for fighting against the infection but HIV destroys these white blood cells. When white blood cells fall to unsafe levels then it is said that person is having Acquired immune deficiency syndrome that is AIDS.

The AIDS symptoms are same as that of other diseases or other illnesses. AIDS is checked medically by the medical doctor on a specific criteria recognized by the CDC.

Diagnosis of AIDS:

Blood test for the HIV antibodies is most common and useful tests for diagnosing the AIDS. Orasure is the new test used for diagnosis which involves collection of secretions between the cheek and gum and test them for HIV antibodies. The result of test of Orasure is very accurate as blood test. This treatment does not required needle stick, so it is used by many peoples. Orasure test is available in offices of physicians and in public health clinic. For the screening, urine test is available. But if the test is positive then for confirmation blood test is needed.

Treatment of AIDS:

Antiretroviral or Anti-HIV medications are useful for controlling the reproduction of virus and stop or slow down the diseases related to the HIV. When the medications are used in combination is very effective and termed as HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy). Three or more anti-HIV medications are included in HAART and this is also called as "cocktail". The medications are not useful for curing the HIV and the person who takes these medicines does not stop transferring the virus to others. Anti-HIV medications are fall in following categories:

The amount of pills depends on type of medications choose by your doctor. The doctor will suggests which medication is best for you. The people taking HAART, the patient will take the medications as given below. But there is no any best regimen.

For the HIV infection, following drugs may be used:

Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs):

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs):

Protease Inhibitors (PIs):

Fusion Inhibitors:

For more information on AIDS follow below pages: