HIV/Aids is an Immune System Disorder in which the body's ability to defend itself against infections, is greatly diminished. HIV is spread primarily through sexual or blood-to-blood contact. To put this simply, in layman's terms, the HIV virus enters the bloodstream and attaches itself to the service of a white blood cell (the CD4 cell's receptors). The virus then changes its genetic information into that of the white blood cell. The virus cannot be recognized by other white blood cells and is, over time, able to replicate itself into hundreds of HIV viruses. When the HIV virus has used the cellular material of the white blood cell, this breaks open and the new virus can, and does, spread through the bloodstream.

A person infected with HIV can go through five stages of the disease:
1. Primary HIV infection stage
2. A symptomatic latent phase
3. Minor symptomatic phase
4. Major symptomatic phase
5. AIDS defining conditions; the severe symptomatic stage.

Symptoms of Stage 1 are:
• Sore throat, headache, mild fever, fatigue, muscle and joint pains, swelling of the lymph nodes, rash and mouth ulcerations. The CD4 cell count is approx. 800-1200 cells/mm3.

Symptoms of Stage 2 are:
• No symptoms occur as this is the latent stage. The CD4 cell count is between 500 and 800 cells

Symptoms of Stage 3 are:
• Swelling of the lymph nodes/glands in the neck, armpits and groin.
• Occasional fevers, recurrent chest infections.
• Shingles, skin infections and rashes.
• Recurrent mouth ulcers
• Weight loss up to 10% of the person's usual body weight.
• Prolonged, unexplained fatigue.
The CD4 count is between 350 and 500 cells

Symptoms of Stage 4 are:
• Persistent and recurrent oral and vaginal Candida infections (thrush)
• Recurrent herpes infections eg cold sores
• Recurrent shingles infections (herpes zoster)
• Recurrent bacterial skin infections and skin rashes
• Fever that lasts for more than a month, night sweats
• Chronic diarrhea that lasts for more than a month
• Significant and unexplained weight loss
• Abdominal discomfort, headaches
• Thickened white patches on inside of the tongue
• Persistent cough and reactivation of TB
• Opportunistic diseases of various kinds
The CD4 count is between 150 and 350 cells

Symptoms of Stage 5 are:
• Continuous diarrhea, nausea and vomiting causing weight loss.
• Persistent recurrent vaginal candidiasis.
• Cold Sores and oral thrush
• Severe and recurrent skin infections
• Respiratory infections causing persistent cough, chest pain and fever.
• Pneumonia
• Weigh loss, tiredness
• Severe shingles
• Body pains, numbness or ‘pins and needles'
• Memory loss, poor concentration, headaches or confusion.
• Cryptococcal meningitis, presenting with fever, headache, stiffness of the neck, mental state change
• Infection causing brain damage
• Painless reddish brown swelling on the skin and mucous membranes
• TB
• Other sexual transmitted diseases (STD)
The CD4 cell count is below 200 cells.

The three main modes/causes of infection are:
1. Unprotected sexual intercourse with an HIV infected person
2. Infection through contaminated blood or blood products
3. Mother – child transmission of HIV
via the placenta
during childbirth OR
through breastfeeding.

All these symptoms can be confused with many other illnesses, so the only way to be sure that you have, or have not, got AIDS is to be tested. If you are positive, then you can make a major contribution to your survival and quality of life by getting into an early treatment program in which Immune Enhancement is encouraged.

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) need to take good care of themselves in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle that will enhance their health status. People with HIV/AIDS can live healthier lives for a long period if adequate care and support is provided. Your immune system can be enhanced by medical treatment, food, rest and exercise. You can be better off and cope much better if you are happy and feel productive. Emotional support and a positive lifestyle will help you to avoid depression.

TIPS ON TAKING CARE OF ONESELF
You should try to do the following things for a healthy living

AVOID UNPROTECTED SEX
People living with the virus should endeavor to avoid having unprotected sex. You can be re-infested with the virus again and again if you indulge in an unprotected sex. The harm in this is that there are various species of this virus. Re-infestation is more dangerous than the initial infection. A lot of harm is associated with re-infestation because the rate of damage is doubled in the body. On the other hand, HIV negative individual may be infested with the virus if they indulge in unprotected sex.

STOP USING ALCOHOL, SMOKING OR THE USE OF HARD DRUGS
Prolonged use of alcohol, smoking and hard drugs facilitate the deteriorating effect of the virus and breaking down of the immune system. But, desisting from using these chemicals will enhance a healthy living. The devastating effect of the above drugs should be avoided in order to prolong life in HIV positive patients.

SEEK EARLY TREATMENT FOR INFECTIONS
Treating infections promptly encourages early healing of infections and eliminates prolonged treatment which may be costly.The people concerned should always have access to medical care any time in order to treat infections promptly.

HAVE PLENTY OF REST AND EXERCISE REGULARLY
People who take regular exercise are noted to have reduced their risk of developing about two dozen physical and mental health conditions. Adequate regular exercise slows down the aging process and therefore reduces the deterioration of the body. Having enough rest is one of the methods of treating mental health and also to improve the well-being of the body system.

EAT HEALTHY FOOD AND BALANCED DIET
Eating healthy food and balance diet helps you to keep your body strong. This helps you stay healthy and ward off infections. Also drink plenty of water regularly to enhance body metabolism.