Myths about HIV

If a person contracts HIV, flu-like symptoms like fever, raw throat, and fatigue will occur Within a couple of weeks of HIV infection followed by a sense of unwellness. This can sometimes progress to the end-stage of the disease - AIDS. The symptoms of AIDS embrace weight loss, fever or night sweats, fatigue, and perennial infections.

The unimaginative symptoms that individuals usually come with HIV are symptoms of complications that will arise from AIDS-related diseases/complications. However, with adequate antiretroviral treatment and medications, a person can lead a normal life without any symptoms

HIV-positive can’t safely have kids

If an HIV-positive lady starts ART treatment before conception and takes it throughout pregnancy (including labor and delivery), and continues drugs for her baby for four to six weeks once birth, the chance of transmitting HIV to the baby is very low

HIV is not a huge deal

Although there are heaps of medical advancements within the treatment of HIV, the virus can still cause complications, and therefore the risk of death continues to be one of the important facts for certain individuals.

Despite major advances in information concerning HIV, modes of transmission, and protection, people take it lightly. The risk of getting HIV and the way it affects an individual varies with age, gender, sexuality, lifestyle, and treatment.

Precautions between sexual encounters -

Studies have shown that an individual with HIV, who is on a regular antiretroviral regime has the virus load to undetectable levels within the blood and does not transmit HIV to a partner throughout sex. This is “Undetectable = Untransmittable as per World health organization.”

However, the agency recommends that even if both the partners have HIV, they must use condoms during each sexual encounter. In some cases, it’s possible, that one partner may transmit a different strain of HIV to another partner, or in some rare cases, transmit a “superinfection” that's resistant to current ART medications.

HIV results in AIDS

HIV is the infection that causes AIDS. However, this doesn’t mean all HIV-positive people can develop AIDS. AIDS could be a syndrome that's the result of HIV over time and is related to weakened response.