HIV AIDS Full Form
What is the full form of HIV AIDS?
The full form of AIDS is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a type of retrovirus. A Retrovirus is a type of virus that inserts a DNA copy of its RNA genome into the DNA of the host cell, thus resulting in the change of the genome of that cell. Once it has entered the host cell it starts multiplying which infects other cells. By damaging our immune system it affects our body's ability to fight with disease or infection. It is a sexually transmitted disease. Apart from this it can also be transmitted through contact with blood of an infected person, injecting drugs with the help of an injection or needle sharing or it can also get transmitted to a child from mother in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Figure 1
There are two types of HIV namely acute HIV and chronic HIV. In acute HIV people affected will develop symptoms within 2 to 4 weeks after virus enters the body whereas in chronic HIV people may or may not develop symptoms and this stage can last for years.
People can took the following test to detect the presence of HIV-
Antibody test that can detect HIV 23 to 90 days after exposure.
Rapid antigen/antibody test that can detect HIV 18 to 90 days after exposure.
Antigen/antibody lab test that can detect HIV 18 to 45 days after exposure.
A nucleic acid test that can detect HIV 10 to 33 days after exposure.
Symptoms of HIV:
Swollen lymph nodes
Weight loss
Fever
Fatigue
Oral yeast infection
Pneumonia
AIDS
AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome iis caused by the HIV virus. It is a life threatening disease. In AIDS, the body becomes completely weak and the immune system has no power to protect the body from disease or infection. When someone is affected by aids its T-lymphocyte counts drop to below 200 cells per cubic millimetre of blood. It is transferred from one person to another by having unprotected intercourse, contaminated blood transfusion, from mother to child during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Symptoms of AIDS
Joint pain
Fever
Headache
Sore throat
Rash
Treatment of AIDS
Currently there is no complete cure for AIDs. Our body cannot get rid of it once affected but there are certain medications called antiretroviral therapy(ART) that can control HIV and prevent complications.