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HIV is Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a lot like other viruses that cause the flu or even what we know as cold. The most important difference here is that; the human immune system can clear most viruses out of the body but that isn’t the case with HIV – the human immune system cannot get rid of it.
HIV hides for long periods of time in the cells of the human body and then it attacks the key part of the immune system. With time HIV can destroy so many of the CD4 cells that the body is unable to fight infections and diseases anymore. This further leads to AIDS. Most people who are HIV-positive do not have symptoms of HIV infection for a long time and often people only begin to feel sick when they progress toward AIDS.
HIV initially can make a person feel sick and show common symptoms of cold and flu. There is no severe symptom shown till AIDS is developed. The symptoms may include fever, cold, rash, muscle aches, sore throat, night sweats, fatigue and ulcer in mouth. These symptoms can be misjudged to be common problems and not treated as required. Thus, preventing and taking precautions for HIV is helpful.
Effective Preventions For Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Avoid Infected Fluid Transmission
HIV can be transmitted from person to the other by infected fluids of the body. This can be transmitted through Blood, Semen (cum), Pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), Vaginal fluid and Breast milk.
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Have Protected Sex
Having unprotected sex is a cause of spreading HIV infection from one person to the other. Using condoms consistently and properly is a major prevention of HIV. One must use a new condom with every act of anal, oral, or vaginal sex and also use them correctly, to ensure they do not slip or break.
Use of latex condoms is the safest and can prevent bacteria and virus transmission. Both male condoms and female condoms will help protect one against HIV and can be used to prevent it. Do not avoid protection for satisfaction because that may lead to other problems.
Be Monogamous
It is very important to be monogamous to avoid HIV infection from spreading during sexual intercourse. Being monogamous includes that an individual is in a sexual relationship with only one person and also that both the partners are having sex only with each other.
This reduces the risk of HIV infection to a large extent but cannot stop it if one of the partners is HIV positive. Both the partners should be sure of not being HIV positive before having sex to become sure of not infecting the other person.
Get HIV Tested
Before getting into a physical relation both the partners should get HIV testing done to be sure of preventing it. It is important to note one’s own health status as well as the partner’s health.
Talking to your partner about HIV initially may be a difficult and uncomfortable at times but it is important to ask various questions related to the problem openly and let the other partner know about your HIV results also.
Do not avoid such situations to help you from preventing HIV. It is beneficial for both the partners and should be discussed openly as much as possible and get tested.
Use Fresh Syringe
HIV can be transmitted from an infected person through use of the same syringe also. To prevent it everyone should make sure that a fresh new syringe is being used each time for simple blood tests at local clinics, injecting medicines in hospitals and also at home.
Syringe reuse should be stopped completely to prevent such diseases from spreading because of carelessness. Whenever you are being injected through a use of a syringe make sure that the syringe packet is being opened in front of you and do not accept already open syringe.
HIV Test Before Pregnancy
HIV can be transmitted from a mother to a baby during pregnancy, during vaginal childbirth or during breastfeeding. So, it is important to prevent an HIV positive baby by being sure that the mother is not HIV positive.
Test before pregnancy of the mother or during pregnancy should be done to be double sure. Even if one is sure of not being HIV positive till before pregnancy a test should be done. A mother with HIV positive has 25 percent chance of passing HIV to her child so early treatment of the baby may be required.
Testing Donated Blood
Earlier one of the major cause of spread of HIV was because of HIV blood donation. If you are using donated blood for yourself or anyone else in the family be sure of getting the blood screened for HIV negative before transmitting it.
It is also advisable to screen the donor of HIV and then take the blood. There is no point of taking the blood if the donor is HIV positive. Once screening of the donor and the blood is done, the donated blood can be used safely. It is also required to learn that blood donation does not cause HIV.
Check HIV Before Organ/Tissue Transplant
HIV testing of the organ donor is also required to be done to prevent HIV from spreading to the receiver of the organ/tissue. Though, all doctors and hospitals perform these required tests.
But individuals and family members need to be double sure about these small things for their own safety and should not leave it on the management. Also it is advisable to take organ or tissue from known individuals for better protection from infections. HIV can be avoided by simply following these factors and being consciously aware of them.
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