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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome – Prevention and Coping

In the absence of any vaccine or permanent cure for AIDS, prevention is the best option. Educate yourself thoroughly about AIDS/HIV and adopt preventive measures to restrict its spread. Being diagnosed with AIDS is a difficult condition in itself.

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Prevention and Coping with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

New York (USA), June 20, 2013

Preventing Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

In the absence of any vaccine or permanent cure for AIDS, prevention is the best option. Educate yourself thoroughly about AIDS/HIV and adopt preventive measures to restrict its spread. Measures include:

Safe Sex: Always use a condom irrespective of whether it is vaginal, anal or oral sexual intercourse. Use a new condom every time. Use water-based lubricants only as oil-based lubricants weaken and break condoms. Use dental dam or plastic wrap during oral sex. Do not share sex toys with HIV-infected people.

Body Fluid Exposure: Health care workers should use protective gear like masks, gloves, protective eyewear, gowns, and shields to reduce exposure to contaminated blood. Wash kin immediately with disinfectant if you are exposed to infected blood or any other body fluid.

Drug Abuse and Needle Sharing: Intravenous drug use is often the main cause behind HIV/AIDS. Needle sharing exposes you to numerous viruses including HIV and hepatitis C.

Pregnancy: Pregnant HIV-positive women should opt for caesarean delivery than vaginal delivery as chances of infection to baby is less. It is better to avoid breastfeeding and support bottle-feeding as HIV transmits through breast milk. Research also indicates that breastfeeding for more than six months with antiretroviral therapy can reduce HIV transmission from mother to child. This also increases chances of survival of your baby.

Coping with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS is a difficult condition in itself; further, coping with emotional, social, and financial consequences of the illness is devastating not only for yourself but also for your loved ones.

Reach out to counselors, nurses, social workers, and other support staff present at HIV/AIDS clinics. They provide important information on how best to cope and manage your situation. They also connect you to doctors and hospitals, help with child-care, look into legal and financial issues related to HIV/AIDS, arrange for transportation for doctor appointments, and various other issues.

Seek help from support groups. You gain through experiences of people having gone through travails of HIV/AIDS. Some try to live life to the maximum to overcome the agony of living with HIV/AIDS.

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