With AIDS prevalence and incidence still high in some parts of the world and still a public health concern in the U.S., there’s no arguing that more effective AIDS prevention programs are still needed to be designed and implemented. Over 150 Americans are diagnosed with HIV every day.
Foremost in the fight in AIDS prevention is raising awareness on this disease through proper sex education. The problem with most sex education curricula implemented in schools is its discordance with what the youth would need to know. Most teachers, policy makers, and concern parents still think that AIDS education is something beyond the scope of young mentality, that teenage students are not ‘adult’ or ‘old’ enough to understand what this disease is and on the importance of AIDS prevention.

An effective AIDS prevention program hinges not only on a single behavior, method or use of devices. As young children turn into teenagers and young adults, they must be armed with sufficient information that would enable them to make enlightened decisions. They must know that there are different options available out there to protect themselves, such as condoms and other contraceptives, and it is within their rights to use them. Sure, abstinence and fidelity would probably be the most ideal way to go, but modern society, with its changing norms and influences, often render those options impractical. They must be given a chance to explore other possibilities, and know that contraceptives, when used with free choice and proper knowledge, are not bad things after all. To better understand the concept of AIDS prevention and practice of safe sex would also serve to drive home the fact that STDs, particularly the HIV virus, is out there and may catch the unwary and the unprotected.

HIV and AIDS are some of those diseases, where precaution is the best treatment. Let’s go exploring.

HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus. It was first discovered in early 1980s. It affects a type of white blood cell (T Cell). Once this virus enters inside the body it completely covers the T Cell and start making a number of copies of itself. It fails the immune system of the body, which causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent HIV infection.

AIDS
When HIV virus weakens the immune system of the body, the person is unable to fight the infection. This life threatening infection caused by HIV is called AIDS. It spread through human. It affects the normal functioning of immune system of the body. Currently, there is no treatment for AIDS is available. However there is a significant improved HIV medication helping HIV positive people to live their life longer and healthier.

Transmission of HIV virus
* Sexual intercourse is the one of the big reasons of transmission of HIV virus. Those who practice unsafe sex, having more than one partner or involved in anal sex may be at higher risk.
* Child can get the virus from his/her HIV infected mother and as a result of breast-feeding.
* Contaminated needle is also a reason of transmission of HIV virus.

Causes and symptoms
* Other people do not see any symptoms in infected person. Even the infected person may not experience infection for many years.
* An HIV positive person may begin to feel sick. He or she can feel low-grade fever, regular cough, chronic fatigue and extreme weakness.
* Heavy sweating at night occurs
* Loss of appetite
* Chronic Diarrhea
* Trouble in remembering things

However, when the doctors examine a patient, they will go through overall symptoms of AIDS instead of any one of the findings.

Prevention
* Practice only safe sex and be monogamous.
* Condoms are successful in preventing AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). So, always use latex condom for you sexual activities.
* Never share needles.
* Blood must be tested before transfusion.

Treatment
If you think that you may have HIV infection, you must get it tested. An early treatment may postpone the development of AIDS. The treating specialist will examine you and do the blood tests. Depending on the tests, results may take from several hours to several days. You can also approach AIDA testing center.

Since at present there is no cure for AIDS, prevention becomes more important. However a group of antiviral drugs that pump the immune system have helped many people to resist HIV infections. They are living a healthy and happy life. But at all these drugs may not be referred as a cure.