What will you do if you are infected of HIV? Or what will be your reaction if you are positive?

and the big question is, is

there a cure or treatment for this virus? Yes, you heard it right, it is a virus and you are the host!

But don’t take it for granted, because right of this moment, you will know what HIV is.

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is a virus that can lead to the development of the disease AIDS or
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. This virus targets the cells in our immune system. Over time our immune system
begins to fail called immunodeficiency. Eventually, destroying it, due to the severity and seriousness of the condition,
especially to the ease in which it is transmitted.

It is necessary that the public be informed in order to remain safe and aware particularly limiting the spread of the
disease.

I would like to take this opportunity to discuss the history of the disease, its effect on the human body, in addition to the
treatment and prevention options which are available.

According to World Health Organization, the disease was originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1920s
after SIV or simian variant of the virus, a virus that it is acquired by the chimpanzee and apes, cross the species barrier
transforming into HIV that we know today.

In 1981, a team of US researchers discovered abnormally high rates of rare cancers and infections in a group of healthy
gay men, this event was called as gay related immune deficiency but after the CDC or Center for Disease Control and
Prevention revealed that anyone can acquire this disease, the name was changed to AIDS acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome.

The CDC describes the condition as a disease with no early symptoms or at least moderately predictive of a defect in a
cell mediated immunity occurring in a person with no known case for resistance to that disease.

HIV doctors estimates that today 36.7 million people live with AIDS.

According to UNAIDS, the joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS, there is estimated 77,000 people living with
HIV in the Philippines.

One thing is being taken for granted is the transmission of the virus. It is transmitted first through body fluids such as,
blood, sexual fluids, and breastmilk. The common methods of transmission include unprotected sex, contaminated
syringe usage for drugs, pregnancy from mother through child blood transfusion and any other event in which infected
fluids come into contact with body membranes.

Two to four weeks after initial exposure is acute infection in which there are few like symptoms such as fever, chills,
rashes, sweats, sore throat, muscles aches, and swelling among others.

Following this is a latency period in which there are no to mild symptoms, but the disease continues to spread.

According to Chris Jennings, author of HIV related books, states that HIV is a retrovirus, meaning a class of virus that can
remain dormant or inactive and thrive inside their host for long period of time.

When your immune system is totally weaken the disease progresses into its final stage AIDS, which consists of a number
of symptoms including rapid weight loss, sweating and fever, pneumonia, diarrhea, extreme weakness and fatigue, sores
and rashes on the skin, neurological disorders such as memory loss and depression.

In addition to vast variety of symptoms that can occur from opportunistic infections, which are infections that take
advantage of the weakened immune system that can lead to death.

Due to the increasing number of infected with HIV, there are number of treatment and prevention options. It is
protection during sex or abstinence, this is a common way to reduce infection from HIV and other STD.
Male circumcision has also been found to reduce infection rates and is recommended in areas where HIV prevalence is
particularly high.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis or PreP is a medication that taken daily and has been shown to reduce infection rates in
people who are high risk for HIV.

You can not tell by looking at someone whether they have HIV or not. The disease can be diagnosed by blood test not by
the symptoms. It is the primary and most definite way to diagnose HIV infection.

Once diagnosed the treatment consists of antiretroviral therapy which is combination of medications that alter HIV such
as the way it replicates or the way it infects in order to reduce its spread and progress. Unfortunately, there is no cure
for the disease, although according to Science Daily Publication reports that new research on a potential HIV vaccine
shows promising protection results in both rhesus monkeys and male human adults.

Indeed, HIV is a large and serious threat in our world today and it is necessary to be informed of signs, symptoms,
treatment and prevention. So how can you protect yourself? Have a safe sex and wear a condom, don’t do drugs, or
share dirty meals and don’t be afraid to talk to your partner about their sexual. I think the number one way of stopping
the spread of this virus is education.

Once again, I’m Raff Lorenz Alonzo Razon, thank you for listening.