Every 1st of December each year marks the World AIDS Day, as established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The human immunodeficiency virus, known as HIV, is a disease that may be present in the body of someone who is contagious without presenting a condition or condition that is of its existence until it becomes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
HIV- positive people do not have symptoms immediately, the only discomfort that a person can get the virus can be high fever, pain and discomfort (flu-like symptoms), but that feeling only lasts a couple of days and they present 2 to 4 weeks after contracting the disease.
HIV destroys the cells of the immune system called CD4 cells or T cells. Without CD4 cells, it is very difficult for your body to fight diseases.
Even if a person is infected with the virus, it could be a long time (even more than 10 years) without presenting any signal that shows the presence of HIV, which later becomes AIDS.
Some symptoms of AIDS
When HIV becomes AIDS, it is when the symptoms are more frequent and obvious. According to Planned Parenthood, some of them are:
- Sore throat
- Persistent tiredness, dizziness and lightheadedness
- Headaches
- Sudden loss of weight
- Diarrhea, fever, or night sweats for long periods
- Dry and deep cough
- Feeling short of breath
- Bleeding from the mouth, nose, anus, or vagina
- Skin rashes
- Loss of control over muscles and reflexes
According to UNAIDS reports, in 2016 alone, it is estimated that a total of 1.8 million people contracted HIV worldwide; That’s why the importance of having a blood test every time, especially if you have unprotected sex or you share needles.
The figures of HIV / AIDS
- 1 million people died of AIDS in 2016.
- It is estimated that in 2020, $ 26 billion will be needed to understand AIDS.
- A total of 76.1 million people worldwide became infected with HIV since the beginning of the epidemic in the mid-1980s.
