11 FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT HIV (Numbers 6 & 11 Will Shock You)
11 FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT HIV (Numbers 6 & 11 Will Shock You)
HIV is a life-threatening disease that has been around for many decades, affecting people and it is not age-specific but can affect anybody at any age once there is a contact with an infected person.
Here are 11 facts to know about the Virus:
- It is widely believed that HIV originated in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo around 1920 when HIV crossed species from chimpanzees to humans.
- HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is the virus that causes HIV infection. The abbreviation “HIV” can refer to the virus or to HIV infection.
- HIV is the virus that causes AIDS ( Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) which is the advance stage of HIV infection.
- HIV is not AIDS, AIDS is not HIV
- A person living with HIV can still live a good life without progressing to AIDS if proper medication guidelines (antiretroviral drugs) are followed.
- HIV is preventable, treatable but incurable
- HIV is transferred to an healthy person basically through infected fluid: unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person, mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy or breastfeeding; and HIV-contaminated blood from syringe, blade or other sharp objects
- HIV’s symptom is similar to some other diseases, so, could hide in the body for months or even years except a medical test is conducted before it progresses to AIDS
- People living with HIV are still vulnerable to other diseases which could be the cause of their death
- Many people with HIV looks perfectly okay, so, the only way to know is to do an HIV test
- A person diagnosed at age 25 who receives good medical care is estimated to live 40 more years
