HIV/AIDS Prevention & Symptoms

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Preventing HIV/AIDS

The key to dealing with HIV/AIDS globally is prevention. While many medical experts believe that a vaccine will curb the spread of HIV, until the day arrives when a suitable vaccine is developed, we have to rely on sex education and HIV/AIDS awareness to reduce the number of infections. The approach to HIV/AIDS prevention focuses on three core principles :

1. Abstaining from sexual intercourse until marriage. Abstinence
2. Having one partner at a time. Be Faithful
3. Always use a condom. Condomise

Symptoms of HIV/AIDS (Vigs)

Unlike other infections, HIV infection is usually ‘silent’ for months to years. An infected person will remain asymptomatic for long periods of time and possibly infect others before discovering their status. Some of the common signs and symptoms of HIV include :

Weight loss
Fatigue (tiredness)
Recurring fevers or night sweats
Repeated bouts of colds and flu’s, including the seasonal flu and gastric flu
Swollen glands (lymph nodes)
Recurrent eruptions (rash or small ‘pimples’) on the skin with or without itching
Unusual mouth sores and white specks on the tongue

There are numerous other symptoms of HIV however these signs and symptoms could also be due to other diseases. HIV infection and AIDS can cause the presentation of just about any known medical disorder depending on the stage of the disease. It is essential to get tested even if you are not showing any signs or symptoms or consult immediately with your medical practitioner.