Health: AIDS
AIDS
Anybody can contract AIDS
AIDS is caused by the HIV virus
HIV destroys one’s immune system. When your immunity is low, you are exposed to a variety of illnesses.
AIDS
Acquired :Acquired
Immuno:Immuno
Deficiency:Deficiency
Syndrome:Syndrome
HIV
Human : Human
Immuno deficiency : Immuno deficiency
Virus : Virus
The incubation period of AIDS is 5 to 10 years.
Infection with HIV doesn’t necessarily immediately cause AIDS. The incubation period of AIDS is about 10 years.
If you feel even the least bit anxious about such matters, please visit your local health center.
AIDS inspectionsare performed in eachpublic health center in Kyoto Prefecturefree of cost and anonymously.
From HIV infection to AIDS
HIV infection
HIV is much less infectious in comparison to influenza, etc.
There is no danger of infection in every day activities, except sexual activities.
First infection 2 to 8 weeks
Its symptom is like cold temporarily.
Carrier shows no symptoms
Although there are no obvious changes, your immune system gradually weakens.
When HIV is in your body,even if you don’t have symptoms, you may infect other people with HIV through unprotected sexual activity.
As the incubation period of HIV can last from 5 to 10 years, you should take a test immediately to ascertain if you have been infected.
If you take the test, then it is possible to extend the incubation period.
Symptom of AIDS
Your immunity will weaken and you will suffer from fever, diarrhea and weight decrease.
AIDS
Your immunity will be very weak, and you will suffer from opportunistic infections (Candidiasis, Pneumocystis carinii, etc), tumors, neurosis, etc.
AIDS Testing
Local health clinics provide AIDS testing that is anonymous and free.
Even when infected by HIV, a patient will not show obvious symptoms. If you feel there is a chance you might have become infected, please go to a health clinic and get an AIDS test (HIV antibody test).
How to Take the AIDS Test at a Health Clinic
Note: It takes a certain amount of time for the body to create the HIV antibodies that the test looks for. Please wait until three-months after the day of possible infection to take the test.
Same-day Testing
Doctors will take a blood sample, and test it for antibodies using an HIV rapid testing kit (this takes approximately one hour).
Appointments are required in advance.
Call a health center to confirm or make an AIDS consultation or test reservation (anonymous).
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Apply for the test at the health center (anonymous)
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Give a blood sample at the health center (about 5cc of blood, anonymous)
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After one hour, the results will be given in-person to the one who had the test done.
If the results are indeterminate, a new appointment will be made to personally give the person the results (about 1-2 weeks later).
Conventional Testing
Doctors will take a blood sample, and test it for antibodies. Testing can be done without an appointment.
Call a health center to confirm the date for an AIDS consultation or testing (anonymous).
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Apply for the test at the health center (anonymous).
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Give a blood sample at the health center (about 5cc, anonymous)
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Come back to the health center about 2 weeks later on a specified day. The results will be given in person to the one who had the test done.
Transmission of the HIV virus
Transmission of the virus is as follows
When a substantial amount of the HIV virus enters the body, infection occurs. The virus can be found in such quantities in the following bodily fluids of infected patients: semen, vaginal secretions, blood and breast milk.
Transmission of the virus can occur as follows.
Transmission of the HIV virus
- Sexual intercourse : When males and females are infected with HIV, their semen and vaginal secretions include large quantities of the virus. This can enter the partner`s body through their genitalia, rectum, mouth, etc. In Japan, 75 % of Japanese AIDS patients and those infected with HIV were infected through sexual intercourse.
- Blood infection (sharing needles) : Drug users are most likely infected through intravenous injection.
Drug users often share the same syringe and if the syringe or needle becomes infected it is highly probable that the infection will spread. - Mother-infant infection : If the mother is infected, transmission may occur through pregnancy, birth or breast-feeding. The possibility of transmission becomes lower with medical treatment.
*Infection through imported blood and blood products:
At present, blood for transfusion in Japan is inspected vigorously and blood products are also heated.
Therefore, though blood for transfusion is rarely infected, there remains a small risk of infection.
AIDS is not transmitted through the following means.
Coughing and sneezing, Touching handrails etc, Baths and pools, Sharing drinks etc, Handshaking, Mosquitos, fleas, mites Blood donation, Hairdressers/beauticians
Link List
Domestic Association
Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare:http://www.mhlw.go.jp/
Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare Clinical Study Group for AIDS Drugs:http://labo-med.tokyo-med.ac.jp/aidsdrugmhw/mokuji.htm
National International Medical Center AIDS Clinical Cente:http://www.acc.go.jp/accmenu.htm
Japanese Foundation for AIDS:http://www.jfap.or.jp/
AIDS Prevention Information Network:http://api-net.jfap.or.jp/
Kinki HIV/AIDS Center:http://www.onh.go.jp/khac/
Chu-Shikoku AIDS Center:http://www.aids-chushi.or.jp/
Foreign Associations
UNAIDS:http://www.unaids.org/en/
CDC:http://www.cdc.gov/
AEGIS:http://www.aegis.com
NATAP:http://www.natap.org
