what are the facts about hiv?!
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HIV is a retrovirus.
First noted in the early eighties mostly in the gay population, it now affects all races genders and sexual orientations.
It infects the blood and reproduces there, then moves on to engulf another blood cell.
It is spread through blood to blood contact. Sexual intercourse, sharing iv drugs, using the same syringe, mother to child during birth, transfusion or any other situation where an infected persons blood enters the blood stream of another person.
The HIV virus is heavily concentrated in male semen due to the high white blood cell count hence it can be contracted through oral if the 'giver' has any breaks in his or her mucous membranes in the throat or mouth.
A person can go for many years with HIV and be asymptomatic, then the person seroconverts and will have AIDS. The T-cell count is usually low at this point and the person is very sensitive to infections. Because the T-cell count is low the body has a very hard time fighting off the infection.
Death usually is the result of an overwhelming infection.
The only way to be 100% sure of not contracting HIV is abstinance but in the real world condoms are the next best thing. If you are an IV drug user DO NOT share needles, during the injection process a small amount of blood may enter the syringe, when another person uses the same syringe that blood is pushed into their vein.
There is no cure for HIV or AIDS, only supportive treatment.
If you are sexually active or an IV drug user you should get tested, if that test is negative, re-test 6-8 months later. The virus sometimes doesnt show in the initial stages of infection.
You can be infected and with good medical care, diet and a healthy lifestyle may live twenty years.
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