FREE ESSAY ON HIV AND AIDS

HIV AND AIDS

Aileen-Jayne Ablaza
April 27, 2000
Com 100/ Dequer
Informative Speech
HIV and AIDS
Good afternoon everyone. Today I would like to inform you all about HIV, human
immunodeficiency virus, and AIDS, aquired immune deficiency syndrome. Statistics show
that about 35% of AIDS cases have been in the age group of 20-29. Now many of you may
already know that AIDS has a long period between infection with the virus and the
appearance of symptoms. Meaning that some of those people between the ages 20 and 29
probably contracted the virus when they were teenagers. Being that most of us in this
room fall near or in that age range, my goal today is to inform you of how the virus is
contracted, symptoms of this disease, and most importantly, the best way to go about
taking more precaution into preventing this fatal disease.
AIDS is preceded by HIV infection. HIV can only be transmitted three different ways
(refer to visual aid). (1) The first is through sexual contact. This is the most common
way HIV is contracted. It can be passed when an infected person has vaginal or anal
intercourse with another. (2) The second way this deadly virus is transmitted is through
the exchange of blood. This method of transmission is now almost entirely limited to
people who inject drugs and share needles. This type of contact between an infected
person and someone else is the second most common way this virus is passed. HIV can also
be contracted through blood transfusions. Now blood transfusions are far safer now than
they were in the early years of the AIDS problem. (3) The third way is from mother to
child. Sadly, most children with HIV contracted it from their infected mothers during
pregnancy or childbirth. If the woman is infected, her child has a 50/50 chance of being
born with the virus. Once, or if, this virus is contracted through these ways, the
symptoms of the HIV infection may not appear for a long time after the person gets
infected.
Initial symptoms of the HIV infection are usually the same as those of minor illnesses
like the cold or flu. The symptoms are tiredness, swollen lymph glands, fever, loss of
appetite and weight, diarrhea, and night sweats. The presence of these may indicate an
HIV infection. Not being able to know right away if your illness is minor or major is
just one of the complications this virus carries. A person cannot determine themselves if
he or she has the infection. So if you think you might, the best thing to do is to see a
healthcare professional so that they can diagnose your condition. If a person has
contracted the virus, these symptoms tend to become more severe over a period of time.
Since AIDS is the last stage of a long period of HIV infection, the number of AIDS cases
is like the tip of a very large iceberg. (refer to visual). Acute HIV infection
progresses over time to asymptomatic HIV infection and later to advanced HIV or full
blown AIDS. So as you can see HIV and AIDS are a fatal disease that can be easily
contracted without much precaution. (Refer to visual) 
The best ways to prevent and reduce the risks that are related to sex are: (1) sexual
fidelty. It is unlikely that a monogamous couple will become infected with AIDS. (2)
Practice safe sex. For example, the proper use of condoms is one imperative way of
preventing this virus from entering one's body. (3) Careful selection of partners. In
other words, do not have sex with just anybody. Make sure your partner has not had
several sex partners, does not use intravenous drugs, and make sure its not someone who
has had any sexually transmitted diseases. (4) Avoid multiple sex partners. Simple as
that, the more sex partners a person has, the greater the chance of getting an HIV
infection. And last but not least (5) sexual abstinence. This is the most certain way of
not contracting AIDS. This is also the healthiest choice of all of the above. There are
no worries of contracting any sexually transmitted diseases and people who are abstinent
usually have fewer problems than those who get sexually involved too soon. Furthermore,
the best way to prevent and reduce risks related to drug abuse is to not use intravenous
drugs. The prevention of AIDS requires a lot of self discipline and strength of
character. The requirements often seem personally restrictive but are very effective and
can save your life.
In conclusion, researchers have found that AIDS is the worst end result of HIV. People
with AIDS usually lead to death. Over 50% of persons diagnosed with AIDS in the US have
died. Unfortunately there is still no cure for this disease and no one has completely
recovered from AIDS. With this, I would just like to remind you that the exchange of this
disease, be it through sexual contact, the exchange of blood, and the pregnancy and
childbirth of an infected mother, can be easily contracted through careless action and no
precaution. Also, the symptoms of this disease, if contracted, and its severity can
easily go unnoticed since they are almost the same symptoms as the cold or flu.
Therefore, prevention and taking more precaution by reducing risks related to sex and
drugs is the essential key to staying healthy and, most importantly, HIV negative.
Remember that making careful decisions and being cautious can save your life. Thank you
for your time.