Infectious Diseases and HIV Conference

This virus of HIV attacks the body's immune system; as it particularly targets cells known as CD4 cells or T cells that fight infection, so in case left untreated, opportunistic infections and some cancers overpower an immune system.

Although HIV is still incurable, the advancement made in antiretroviral therapy has turned out to make it an understandable chronic illness. The most frequent routes of transmission of the virus are through contact with such fluids from an infected person, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.

Most commonly, this occurs sexually when protection is not available, through sharing needles or syringes, and mother-to-child during delivery or even while breastfeeding. HIV is not transmissible via casual contact, such as kissing, touching, or sharing utensils or even handshaking. Symptoms may differ with the progression of the disease.

A person may fall ill with flu-like symptoms of fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue, 2-4 weeks after exposure to the infection, also known as acute retroviral syndrome (ARS).

This stage of the progression of this infection into the chronic stage does not display any obvious symptomatology, or only minimum symptomatology still prevails, while the virus continues to wreak havoc on the immune system. If the patient continues untreated, he will eventually end up in AIDS; he would have marked weight loss, chronic fever, and recurrent infections.

Preventive measures in acquiring HIV include safe sex, use of contraceptives by condoms, testing, and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among other risk-preventing measures. Use of unshared needles and proper blood transfusion methods are effective ways. Infected mothers can be treated in order to reduce a chance of transmitting the virus to their children.

Treatment for HIV is, and remains, antiretroviral therapy, or ART, suppressing viral replication, maintaining immune function, and preventing the development to AIDS.

If taken consistently, ART has been scientifically proven to reduce the viral load to an undetectable level, hence a complete elimination of the risk of transmission of the virus to others through sexual contact.

This includes creating HIV awareness, promoting constant testing of people and ensuring that people access good treatment and prevention options.

All this needs to do with the reduction of the spread of HIV and improving the quality of lives for the infected people by the virus.