What is AIDS?
AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a disease caused by the HIV virus. In this condition, a person’s immune system becomes too weak to fight any kind of infection or disease. AIDS is usually the last stage of HIV infection; a stage where the body can no longer defend itself and thus spawns various diseases. AIDS, when untreated, leads to death.
AIDS is an advanced HIV infection or late-stage HIV. Someone with AIDS may develop a wide range of health conditions like – pneumonia, thrush, fungal infections, TB, toxoplasmosis.
There is also an increased risk of developing a medical illness like cancer and brain illnesses. CD4 count refers to the number of T-lymphocytes in a cubic millimetre of blood. A person may be referred to as “AIDS-affected” when the CD4 count drops below 200 cells per cubic millimetre of blood.
Symptoms of AIDS
As AIDS is a virus infection, the symptoms related to acute HIV infection can be similar to flu or other viral illnesses, like –
- Fever
- Muscle & Joint Pain
- Chilis
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Night Sweats
- Red rashes
- Mouth sores
- Tiredness
- Swollen lymph glands
- Weakness
- Weight Loss
- Diarrhoea
Symptoms of late-stage HIV infection may include –
- Blurred vision
- Persistent or Chronic Diarrhea
- Dry cough
- Fever of above 37 degrees Centigrade (100 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Night Sweats
- Permanent tiredness
- Shortness of breath
- Swollen glands lasting for weeks
- Weight loss
- White spots on the tongue or mouth
Cure for AIDS
There is no specific or perfect cure for AIDS, but with proper diagnosis, treatment and support, one can fight it and live a relatively healthy and happy life. One needs to take treatment correctly and deal with any possible side-effects.
Medicines are used to stop the virus from multiplying. One major treatment for HIV/AIDS is called antiretroviral therapy (ART)
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