HIV /AIDS is the disease with no cure at any stage. There are certain medications which let the HIV POSITIVE patient live longer than before. Antiretroviral therapy is the most effective solution for HIV positive patients to live longer. HIV is equally affecting all the societies in the world. The HIV patients are prone to every disease once the HIV virus activates in their body so they need to take great care. Below are given some more facts about HIV positive patients.
1. HIV and AIDS are not same
HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that destroys or impairs the function of the body’s immune system. They affect the immune system which then triggers as a never ending process. AIDS, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is the advanced stage of the HIV virus infection where the body loses the complete control on its natural ability to fend diseases.
2. Its transfer
The HIV virus can be transferred from one body to another in multiple ways, the unprotected intercourse, the blood from an affected person, the use of needles and syringes of an affected person, and even a small wound from a used razor.
3. Population
There 34 million people affected worldwide from this disease. According to WHO, the low and middle income countries have more HIV cases.
4. Deadly
HIV/AIDS is the deadliest disease of this age because every year around 2 million people die worldwide due to this disease. To date around 30 million people have died because of HIV/AIDS.
5. ART
The antiretroviral therapy is one solution to stop the HIV virus from multiplying in the body. This makes the person live longer and provides ability to protect it against diseases. But this cannot be considered as cure.
6. ART access
There are 5.2 million people in the world who have access to ART worldwide. This is a twelve fold increase in the access of ART. In 2010, WHO recommended as much as 10 to 15 million new cases for ART. It must have gone to a larger number now.
7. Children
There are 2 million registered cases in which children are HIV affected. They get this disease from their HIV positive mothers. Also the mothers feed their kids to transfer this deadly virus more and more into their bodies. 1200 newly born babies get this virus every day.
8. Mother to child transfer can be prevented
This transmission can be prevented if antiretroviral medication is given to the mother. This was done and 45% of the babies were saved in 2008. Almost 10 percent success was made in 2008 as compared to 2004 in saving children.
9: TB
Almost 450,000 patients died because of TB who was HIV positive patients.
10. Safety recommendation
To avoid drug intake and use of used needled and syringes, to avoid from intercourse, to get tested for HIV periodically and to use the HIV tested blood and blood products when needed.