A well informed consumer is the best kind. HIV and AIDS can be scary. Recent developments have clarified several major misconceptions about this deadly virus and disease. By educating yourself about these two sicknesses, you can begin to put levels of protection in place for your loved ones and for yourself. Please see below for a general overview about HIV and AIDS. This is not a comprehensive, nor exhaustive, desciption of the HIV virus or AIDS diseas, but does provide valuable information and will encourage you to pursue being tested.
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
Unlike some other viruses, the human body cannot get rid of HIV. That means that once you have HIV, you have it for life. No safe and effective cure for HIV currently exists, but scientists are working hard to find one, and remain hopeful.
HIV affects specific cells of the immune system, called CD4 cells, or T cells. Over time, if left untreated, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t fight off infections and disease. However, with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. Treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy or ART. It involves taking a combination of HIV medicines (called an HIV regimen) every day. Today, a person who diagnosed with HIV before the disease is far advanced and who gets and stays on ART can live a nearly normal life span.
The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested. Testing is relatively simple. Many new tests can be done in the provacy of your own home and results are ready within 30 minutes. See our products by clicking "PRODUCTS" above.
THE AIDS DISEASE
ABOUT HIV
HIV AND AIDS INFORMATION
AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection, and not everyone who has HIV advances to this stage.
AIDS is the stage of infection that occurs when your immune system is badly damaged and you become vulnerable to opportunistic infections. When the number of your CD4 cells falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood (200 cells/mm3), you are considered to have progressed to AIDS. (Normal CD4 counts are between 500 and 1,600 cells/mm3.) You can also be diagnosed with AIDS if you develop one or more opportunistic infections, regardless of your CD4 count.
Without treatment, people who are diagnosed with AIDS typically survive about 3 years. Once someone has a dangerous opportunistic illness, life expectancy without treatment falls to about 1 year. People with AIDS need medical treatment to prevent death. For more details about AIDS and treatment, visit the CDC site here.