The cause for Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the virus called the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV. The virus will stop the immune system of a person. This means if the person gets infected by a certain illness, he or she will easily die. This virus can also be passed on from person to person. HIV will not show its signs and symptoms instantly. The person may still feel very healthy for some years before he or she feels the signs and symptoms of the virus. You must take a blood test to make sure whether or not you are infected. This way you can be sure and you do not have to wait for years to know. If there is no proper medical treatment given to a patient with HIV< the virus will progress into AIDS later within 10 years.

Facts

If a certain amount of fluid coming from an infected person gets to the blood stream of another, the other person will also be infected with HIV. This usually happens through unsafe sexual intercourse. This may also happen during breastfeeding or if you get in contact with the blood of an infected person like sharing a tattoo needle and blood transfusion. People who use intravenous drugs are also at great risk of accumulating this virus.

Misconceptions

The most common misconception about HIV is that it occurs to homosexuals only. The truth is, it can happen to anybody who is not careful enough. A simple exchange of body fluid from person to person may already lead to having HIV. People also think that simple contact with a person with HIV like shaking hands can already infect the other. This is wrong, because you can only get infected if a certain amount of body fluid is transferred to the blood stream of another. You will not get HIV by simple shaking hands with a patient, in public comfort rooms, and in the swimming pools.

Symptoms

During the early stages of having HIV, there are still not much symptoms that may occur. After a couple of weeks, you may be experiencing flu like sore throat, headache and fever. There are situations when you will not have any symptoms even for months or for years. As the virus destroys your immune system, you will be very vulnerable to infections that may lead to your death. In the later stages of being infected, you will have symptoms like short of breath, diarrhea, fever, weight loss, and lymph nodes.

Prevention and Cure

There is still no proven cure for having HIV. However, there are a lot of ways to prevent and avoid this virus. Some of the ways to prevent this virus from coming into your body is by abstaining from sex or performing safe sex, using clean needles and create more events that may raise the awareness of people on HIV.