THE WEAKEST HEART

AIDS: On the Breakdown

Diseases, ailments, and resolved and will never be talked about again, but some does not cease
and is deemed eternal. Unfortunately, AIDS is also one of the never ending threat and a continuous
hazard to human health, but what exactly is AIDS?

By Definition:

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a disease is the advanced stage of the infamous
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Though one does not acquire AIDS, but HIV that is transmitted
from certain media can develop to this ailment.

Target:

The virus first emphasizes in the immune system, specifically the Helper T-cells, a variant of
white blood cells. The cells are being manipulated into infecting other cells making an unending cycle of
infection till the fortified defense of the systems are in the oblivion of HIV.

Methods of transmission:

There are very distinct scenarios where HIV can be passed from one person to another. The
most common one being sexual intercourse, one person having sex with another can spread the virus
through seminal fluids. However, sex is not the only way. Since bodily liquid can also be a medium,
blood transfusions and infected injections can also carry the said infection. Also, pregnancy, labour and
breastfeeding are possible carriages for this threat.

Signs and Symptoms

It wouldn’t be clear for a patient who unknowingly has HIV until he/she has developed
opportunistic infections. These infections may include, but not all, Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, fevers,
night sweats, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes and fungal infections. Again, this is not directly the effect of
AIDS, but a result of the weakened immune system.

Diagnosis

Normal adults have between 500 and 1,500 CD4(T-helper) cells in a milliliter of blood. If it goes
down, a person still won’t be diagnosed as HIV-positive. Not until the immune system notices the virus
and starts to make antibodies will the HIV be detected by laboratory tests.

Treatment or Cure

Up to this day, there is still no cure to AIDS. However, through research and discovery, the
Antiretroviral Therapy has been formulated. Though it does not perfectly clear the syndrome’s
dominance, it does manage to slow its reign upon the body.
Prevention

Abstinence is key to correction. It is always correct to say no at the right circumstances

especially when being asked of sex. Analysis and proper checkup is a necessity to a healthy, AIDS-free
life.

Since most of the citizens are unconscious to the lurking parasites to their own health, it is a
must to spread awareness. Helping others and thinking wisely is the key to beating the art of the
weakest heart.