Living with HIV!
When the person hears diagnosis of HIV for the first time, he or she is shattered and in a kind of awe that how anything like that could happen to them? But when the report is there on the paper completely authenticated by the doctor in charge, you are there with the dreaded virus in your body. Definitely presence of HIV virus in body does not mean that you have got AIDS. These are two different entities and education is needed to eradicate the false notions and concepts regarding the disease.
Once you have caught the virus for whatever unfortunate reason, you are supposed to live with it. The social taboo of the disease is still high and much needs to be done in order to educate lay people about the spread and result of the disease. Though people know that it does not spread by touch or eating with the contacted people, most HIV patients are treated as outcast by most people. This further adds to the woes of HIV patients. Numerous programs are carried in towns and villages all over the world in order to create awareness regarding HIV virus and its treatment.
Being infected and having a disease are entirely different, at least as far as HIV is concerned. However, if you have caught the disease, it is possible that your immune system will not function at its very best. In such a case, utmost care of how you control your lifestyle is important. Try to refrain from eating too much of junk or catching colds because stomach upsets and fevers can get real bad if you have the HIV virus.
HIV does not spread as a result of casual touch. But you should remember that people around you need to be safe. So, deter from any conjugal contacts and stop sharing your blades and needles with friends and relatives. Besides, do not donate blood to anyone, however much the need may be.
Drugs are available to keep the symptoms in check. The immuno compromised patient may suffer from occasional bouts of infections and low grade symptoms, but by and large with proper medication regime, they can enjoy near normal life. They should not be discriminated against while recruiting for various jobs. Social education and motivation are of pivotal importance when dealing with HIV patients is concerned. Myths like the HIV virus affects only homosexuals and that you get cured of the virus if you indulge in sex with a virgin are absolutely wrong. But do not laugh them away because such misleading information can devastate many lives!
As long as you practice safe sex, transfuse blood from blood banks and use sterilized or disposable needles, there is mostly no reason why you should contract the HI virus even if you live with the HIV affected person. No one can say when times can go wrong for so many of us. Any disease like HIV does not take away the right to live. Accept the reality and live with it!