Sickness is never desired; especially one that doesn’t cure. HIV is such a disease. But there are now effective HIV Ttreatment plans that can help you live longer and better. The best treatment in Hyderabad for HIV can be found at Infectious Diseases Center by HIV Specialist Doctor Vishnu Polati.
What is HIV?
HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a pathogen that attacks the immune system of the body making you weaker and more prone to diseases as it advances. The chronic disease is known as AIDS or Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome.
How Does HIV Spread?
HIV can spread in one of the four ways:
- Through sexual intercourse with an infected person.
- Through needles contaminated with the virus.
- Through contaminated blood (whether by transfusion or contact through wounds).
- From an infected mother to her unborn child or through breastfeeding.
HIV does NOT spread through social contact like sharing food, hugging, handshaking or living in the same house.
What Does It Feel To Have HIV?
When the HIV virus enters your bloodstream, it stays inactive for 5-10 years. During that time, you are just as healthy as any other person. But when the action of the virus starts, you may notice the symptoms starting from the second week.
To understand the symptoms of HIV, understand this: HIV weakens the immune system and makes you vulnerable to infections. Hence, the symptoms of HIV are actually symptoms of other infections which may have attacked you.
The initial symptoms, visible within a week of HIV infection, are:
- Flu
- Headache
- Rashes
- Stomach flu
- Sore throat
- General weakness.
As the infection advances, the symptoms get gradually more severe.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle and joint pain
- Weight loss
- Dementia, memory loss, etc.
- Breathing problems
- Persistent digestive conditions
- Swollen lymph nodes
At the final stages, the severity of the symptoms becomes so high that different body organs start shutting down, eventually leading to death.
How Is HIV Diagnosed?
Blood tests can confirm if a person has HIV in their system. The most common test performed in India is the ELISA test or the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. If the test results come positive, a Western blot test is performed to confirm the results. The results can be confirmed even when you are just contaminated but not infected yet.
How Can You Live A Better Life Even With HIV?
As opposed to common belief, HIV does not mean ‘death’. Sure, it is technically a fatal disease since there is no ‘cure’. But advanced medicines can help you live a longer and more fulfilling life. But to live a better life, the infection must be recognized early and treatment should start immediately.
Treatment for HIV includes an elaborate medical regimen. Medicines are given to the patient to lower the load of the virus in your system. In addition, various medicines are given to manage the symptoms.
The patient is kept under close observation and is asked to come for frequent checkups. This step is vital considering that the HIV doctor may have to alter the medicines depending on any new changes in the immune system.
HIV Care At Infectious Diseases Center, Hyderabad
HIV cannot be flushed out of your system. But, at Infectious Diseases Center, we provide the best quality treatment and personalize it as per the needs of each patient. With our care and medicine, even with HIV, you can live a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life.