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Understanding HIV/AIDS
Protect yourself and your child
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- العربية
What is HIV?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that affects the body's immunity system responsible for protecting our bodies against diseases. This system being affected, the body becomes vulnerable to many diseases.
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, while AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome which is a diverse set of symptoms that occur at a later stage of HIV infection. At this stage, the immune system of the human body collapses making it vulnerable to all diseases that it can normally resist.
How is HIV transmitted?
How can I prevent HIV infection?
You can do this through:
- Good understanding and knowledge of the routes of HIV transmission and avoiding practices that may put you at risk of infection.
- Refraining from sharing needles or skin-piercing tools with someone else.
- Use condoms correctly to prevent sexual transmission of the virus.
How to know I’m at risk of having HIV?
It is recommended to consult a doctor and get tested for persons, their spouses and children if they:
- Have multiple sexual partners.
- Complain of Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STIs).
- Use unsterile or shared needles (as in the case of addiction).
- Had a contaminated blood transfusion.
- Were sexually assaulted or raped.
- Were born to mothers with HIV.
If you are one of these persons, their spouses, or children, this is a contact list for free counseling and testing.
What are the most common misconceptions about AIDS in Egypt?
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