[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1516822770946{padding-top: 80px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;}” min_height=”600″][vc_column][vc_tta_tabs style=”engage_boxed” shape=”square” alignment=”center” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section title=”What is AIDS?” tab_id=”1516819540166-48f81bda-5217c3aa-12c2″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Human Immunodeficiency Virus (\u201cHIV\u201d) destroys people\u2019s immune system, making the infected vulnerable to virus and bacteria, and eventually, leads to \u201cAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,\u201d or AIDS.<\/p>\n
HIV is incapable of causing direct symptoms, but once the virus enters the body through blood vessels, they will begin to attack the \u201cT4 Lymphocytes\u201d (white blood cells and macrophages) that reside within the immune system, weakening the immune system\u2019s ability to self-repair. Meanwhile, some harmless diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and fungal infections, which normally do not affect healthy person, begin their infection and thus turn the HIV positive individual into an AIDS patient.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What are the symptoms of HIV?” tab_id=”1516819540186-b9ce80ae-423ac3aa-12c2″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Latency of HIV can last for several years until it destroys one\u2019s immune system. Symptoms of HIV in the early stages include diarrhea, regular coughing, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss and swollen lymph nodes, or sometimes no symptoms. A person living with HIV may not have any initial symptoms and they cannot be identified by any external features. The most accurate way is to perform an HIV screening test. In the later stage of the HIV infection, many other aspects of the infected person\u2019s body, including the skin, lungs, eyes, internal organs and brain, will be susceptible to other infections.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Is AIDS hereditary? Will a mother living with HIV pass HIV to her baby?” tab_id=”1516819540208-96688566-3863c3aa-12c2″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]AIDS is not hereditary but develops after birth from contact with the HIV virus, for example through breastfeeding. During vaginal births, babies may come into contact with HIV in their mother\u2019s blood and other fluids. Caesarean delivery reduces the risk of passing on the virus if the mother has a high viral load. It is also recommended that the baby takes treatment in the first six weeks in order to have extra protection against infection. Women planning a pregnancy are advised to have HIV testing and take treatment as soon as possible.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]