๐คทโ๏ธ Q1) HIV means AIDS, right?
No, HIV and AIDS are not the same things!
Let's start by looking at the definitions of these two words.
HIV ๐ Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a virus that targets the human immune system.
When a person becomes infected with the virus, their immune system weakens over time, potentially leading to the development of ๐ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Simply, an AIDS patient is someone who is infected with HIV and gets the disease due to a weakened immune system.
๐คทโ๏ธQ2) How can I get to know I am HIV-positive?
If you have symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, and skin rash, and you are considered at high risk (suspected) for AIDS, you will undergo a blood test. (you don't need to prepare something.)
Have you ever had a blood test at a hospital? exactly the same way. If HIV antibodies are detected, a confirmation test (typically the Western blot test) will be performed.
๐โ๏ธ๐โ๏ธHold on!!, do you know the antigen-antibody reaction? Let me explain it easily.
If the antigen enters our body, our body produces antibodies as an immune response. Then, the antibody will destroy or neutralize the antigen. This whole process protects our body from a germ or virus like that. This is also the principle of vaccination. So, if the antibody tested positive in the test, what does it mean? simply put, โ) you have been exposed to the antigen before. โ) you are infected. โ) other immune disordersr or testing errors ->which are false positives.
๐คทโ๏ธQ3) What is the HIV-RNA test?
The test is used to see how much HIV virus is growing inside their body if they're infected. It measures the amount of the virus in the body. If the number is high, it means there's a lot of HIV in their body, which might cause their immune system deteriorates more quickly. This test is usually used in the initial period of the infection.
In fact, there are various items of HIV blood tests, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
So, a specialist will choose the appropriate testing items for the patient's situation.
๐คทโ๏ธQ4) So you might wonder if having sex means you will get HIV.
The truth is that it is not a sure thing.๐คHaving sex with someone who has HIV raises your chances of infection, But, the risk of getting HIV with just one sex is very low. Rather, the likelihood of being infected through a blood transfusion from an infected donor is very high, at 90%.
Despite the low chance of infection during sexual activity, in some areas, 99% of HIV infections occur during sexual activity, which leads to the myth that "having sex with an infected person means getting AIDS."
B.U.T !!! though the chances are low, you should be careful and use protection like condoms when you're getting sexual activity. It is always better safe than sorry.
๐คทโ๏ธQ5) Can an AIDS patient donate an organ?
In the past, HIV-positive people were not allowed to donate their organs, but now it is okay to transplant organs from HIV-positive donors to HIV-positive recipients by using techniques. However, we still don't transplant HIV-positive people's organs to people who don't have HIV due to the risk of the virus being transmitted. you can those informations on the CDC website too.
So, how was it? I hope it was helpful in some way, if you have any more questions or ideas, please leave a comment :)
