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AIDS
What are the symptoms of AIDS?
The primary symptoms of AIDS are mainly due to immunodeficiency and opportunistic infections caused by a weakened immune system. During the acute phase of AIDS, the virus replicates in large numbers, leading to immune damage and disorder. In the acute phase, symptoms such as rashes, fever, sore throat, weight loss, and diarrhea are common. During the symptomatic phase, symptoms like unexplained fever, diarrhea, chest tightness, coughing, phlegm, and numerous white secretions on the oral tongue are commonly observed.
Does AIDS cause headaches?
People with AIDS may experience headaches. This can occur when individuals with AIDS develop fevers due to opportunistic infections, leading to an increase in body temperature which may cause cerebral blood vessel dilation and result in headaches. Additionally, some AIDS patients may also have intracranial opportunistic infections, such as infections with Toxoplasma, Cryptococcus, and Tuberculosis, which can cause serious meningitis or encephalitis, leading to severe and intense headaches accompanied by fever. These conditions are very dangerous and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
How many HIV/AIDS cases are there in China?
According to epidemiological surveys from 2017, there are approximately 1.25 million HIV-infected individuals in our country. The annual number of new HIV infections is on the rise each year. Among the transmission routes of HIV, sexual transmission now accounts for 90% of all routes. In women, the main mode of HIV transmission is through men. Among male HIV carriers, about 70%-80% are infected through homosexual activities.
How did AIDS originate?
AIDS is primarily contracted through sexual transmission, blood transmission, and mother-to-child transmission. After infection with the HIV virus, it destroys the body's immune function and invades the immune system, leading to a severe decline and defects in immune function. As a result, a series of opportunistic infections and opportunistic tumors may occur. Once AIDS is definitively diagnosed, it requires scientific and reasonable comprehensive treatment including antiretroviral therapy.
What are the body fluid transmissions of AIDS?
Actually, it is quite difficult for the HIV virus to be transmitted through bodily fluids because the HIV virus mainly exists in the blood, semen, vaginal secretions, cervical mucus, breast milk, as well as amniotic fluid, ascites, and pleural effusion of those infected with HIV. Other body fluids, such as sweat, urine, tears, and feces, generally do not contain the virus or contain it in extremely minute amounts, and are unlikely to facilitate transmission. AIDS is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, blood transmission, and from mother to child, and is not transmitted through ordinary contact.
How long does it take to detect HIV?
Actually, the diagnosis of AIDS is mainly through the testing of AIDS antibodies or AIDS nucleic acids, and the antibody test for AIDS needs to be conducted after the window period. Generally, the window period for AIDS is about four weeks, and the test for AIDS antibodies or AIDS nucleic acids should be conducted after four weeks. If the result is positive, then it can be diagnosed. Further confirmation experiments at the disease control center are needed if the AIDS confirmation test is positive to diagnose AIDS. Once diagnosed with AIDS, treatment against the AIDS virus is required.
Is a red spot on the arm AIDS?
Red spots on the arm are not necessarily an indication of AIDS; they could be a rash, folliculitis, or other skin diseases. The symptoms of AIDS are not very typical and lack distinct features. It is not possible to diagnose AIDS based on external signs and clinical symptoms alone. To confirm or rule out AIDS, it is necessary to conduct an HIV antibody screening, and a negative result can exclude the infection.
Is AIDS a sexually transmitted disease?
AIDS is caused by the infection of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, also known as HIV, which leads to significant immune deficiency characterized by the disease. The main route of transmission is through sexual contact. It spreads quickly and has a relatively high mortality rate. Currently, there is no effective cure, making it one of the major lethal infectious sexually transmitted diseases in humans.
Will touching AIDS-infected blood lead to transmission?
If the skin is intact, generally, contact with the blood of an HIV-infected person will not transmit the virus. However, if the skin is damaged and comes into contact with the blood of an HIV-infected person, there is a possibility of transmission. Additionally, the mucous membranes of the body, such as in the eyes, inside the mouth, and various cavities, can potentially get infected with HIV if they come into contact with HIV-infected blood. If these mucous membranes are damaged, the risk of HIV infection significantly increases.
Where to get tested for AIDS?
If you suspect that you have contracted HIV, you should immediately go to a regular medical institution or a nationally designated hospital to undergo an initial HIV antibody screening test. If the initial screening test result is positive, you will need to further go to a disease control center or a nationally designated hospital for HIV testing to undergo further confirmatory tests. If the confirmatory test is also positive, then you can generally be diagnosed with HIV infection.