HIV attacks and weakens the immune system, making the body more susceptible to various infections and diseases. The virus is primarily transmitted through certain bodily fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. To understand how aids develops, one must examine how it is transmitted.
The most common modes of transmission of hiv include unprotected sex with an infected person, sharing contaminated needles or syringes through drug use, receiving a transfusion of infected blood (although this is now rare due to stringent screening measures), and transmission through an infected mother to the mother of her baby during labor or breastfeeding.It is important to remember that hiv cannot be transmitted through casual contact such as hugging, kissing or sharing food.
Once the virus enters the body, it targets and infects CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell that are essential for the proper functioning of the immune system. hiv multiplies in these cells and gradually damages and destroys them. When CD4 cell counts fall, the immune system becomes weakened, leaving the person vulnerable to opportunistic infections and some types of cancer.
Safe sex practices, such as condom use and regular testing, can help prevent sexual transmission of the virus. Needle exchange programs, adequate medical device sterilization, and access to antiretroviral therapy. Awareness, education and access to health care are crucial in the fight against AIDS. Raising awareness about the causes, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS can help reduce the number of new infections and improve the quality of life for those already living with the virus.
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