A Concept Paper: HIV

By: Nichol Niño H. Banaag

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the

body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infection and

diseases. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most

commonly during unprotected sex (sex without a condoms or HIV medicine to

prevent or treat HIV), or through sharing infection drug equipment. Mother with HIV

can also give the virus to their babies, before or when they’re born or through breast

feeding.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are two species of lentivirus (a

subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time the cause Acquired

Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of

immune system allows condition in which progressive failure of immune system

allows life threating opportunistic infections and cancer to thrive. Without treatment,

average survival time after infection with HIV is estimated to be 9 to 11 years,

depending on HIV subtype.

It is widely believed that HIV originated in Kinshasa in the democratic republic

of Congo around 1920 when HIV crossed species from chimpanzees to human. Up

until 1980s infected with HIV or developed AIDS. HIV was unknown and

transmission was not accompanied by noticeable sign or symptoms.

Raffy Ardemil an HIV/AIDS advocate and trained CBS motivator is a person

living with HIV. He was being admitted in the hospital for two months. He had a

category two tuberculosis and severe Pneumonia, fever is about 48-49 temperature,
can’t even stand, pee, and poop on his bed and consumes three tank of oxygen

every day. From 52 kls. to 32kls., skin and bone. But with the help of the medicine he

takes every day, he managed to survive it. He now looks like a normal person we

see everywhere.

It can be easy to confuse HIV and AIDS. They are different diagnoses for HIV

is a virus that can lead to immune system deterioration. The term “HIV” stands for

Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The name describes the virus: Only human can

contact it, and it attacks the immune system. AIDS, on the other hand, is a condition

while HIV is a virus that may cause and infection, AIDS (which is short for Acquired

Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a condition. Contracting HIV can lead to the

development of AIDS.

HIV and AIDS are similar only because both of them involve the human

immunodeficiency virus. Confusion exist between these two words because the

public and medical literature have a tendency to use HIV and AIDS interchangeable.

“Prevention in better than cure” we must be aware and must have knowledge

about diseases like HIV. Protect ourselves from these viruses and must help others

and teach them about proper way of sex.