It’s WORLD AIDS DAY on Dec 1st

Who should get HIV testing

With the increase in awareness about HIV and how it has been damaging the health most of the people are concerned about the disease. However, HIV testing is not considered a good thing in the society due to which people often ignore it. There are many individuals that are planning to get tested but they are not visiting the hospital because of their personal reasons. Everyone does not need to have HIV testing. Here are some of the common reason when you should get tested.

Doing sex for money or drugs

N this age of technology most of the people are indulged in online dating. When the things get too serious they want to meet in person. There are also some dating sites that are only developed for sex. There are many individuals that go on those sites to buy individuals to have sex with. If you are one of those who is doing sex for money or drugs HIV testing is very important for you. As you are doing it for money so you will not get a chance to say no to the person and you will not know whether he is HIV positive or not. The only way to protect yourself is through HIV testing.

Not knowing the status of your partner

It has been noticed that most of the people never ask their partners about their HIV status.

  • Partners will behave like they have been insulted when such questions are asked
  • You should make it clear before dating that HIV testing is important
  • If you ate done with sex and this question came to your mind it is better that you get the tests done
  • It is important if you have been sexually assaulted against your will. Your harasser might be HIV positive.

You have other STDs or hepatitis

There are many individuals that are suffering from STD and hepatitis B. You should know that these diseases are also considered the symptoms of HIV. The immune system is weak and a wrong step will lead to the development of the disease that you would never know about. So make sure that you get yourself tested. It has been noticed that most of the people have more than two types of STDs and they never noticed. When diagnosed it was found that the cause of STD was not their partner but having sex with someone who was HIV positive.

Bottom line

In case that you are confused that you might have been exposed to HIV, it is important that you get HIV PEP with the HIV testing. The benefit of this combination is that you will get the diagnosis whether you have the antibodies in your system or not. As well as it will give you the chance to stop the virus before it can take control over your body. It will help you to protect yourself from the entire HIV treatment that can be expensive and might lead to your death.

What is the importance of STD Testing

Over the past few years, the number of individuals suffering from the STDs is rapidly increasing the common cause of this issue is having more than one sexual partner, not using protection during sex and getting a blood transfusion from the diseased individuals. It has been noticed that most of the people do not even know whether they have STDs or not but they have noticed some of the symptoms in their body. It is important that you get the STD Testing because it will provide you the following benefits.

Protect you from dangers of not testing

There are many issues that are related to not participating in the STD Testing, for most of the diseases the possible treatments are available. The only issue is that the disease is diagnosed in the early stages. In case that the diagnosis was done at the last stage the chance of positive effects of the treatment will be decreased. There are some individuals that are scared of getting themselves tested. This is the reason that they are often stressed because they do not know whether they are suffering from the issue or not. Getting the STD Testing will provide you the peace of mind that you are safe.

Improve quality of life

The biggest benefit of STD Testing is that it will help you to improve your quality of life. When you will visit the doctor’s office for testing he will provide you certain advice once your test reports are clear

  • He will teach you all the technique that you can use to protect yourself from deadly diseases
  • With the help of STD Testing, you will learn about the different disease that can get transmitted through this route.
  • It will provide you the knowledge that you need to improve your quality of life.

Save your children

One of the most important benefits that you should consider regarding STD Testing is the protection of your children. When you are suffering from the STD, there are chances that the disease will be transmitted to the baby. In case that baby is born through the vaginal route, there are chances that the disease might affect his eyes and other parts of the body. When you will get the treatment on time it will allow you to protect your little ones. It is your responsibility to improve the quality of life of your children.

Bottom line

It is important that we start with educating the public. It is a common problem in the developed countries. Even after the proper sex education, people are not ready to stop having sex because it gives them the required pleasure. However, they should understand that there is no use of risking their lives for the pleasure of 5 to 20 minutes. It is important that every individual should learn to your production so that you can have your desires fulfilled and at the same time you will not have to worry about STD or STD Testing.

What is HIV PEP and how it works

Just like cancer, scientists are actively working to find the treatment of HIV. Even after primary prevention techniques, the spread of the disease has not been controlled properly that is not a good sign. With years of research and testing, scientists have been able to develop HIV PEP. It is also a type of primary prevention medication. Here we have everything you need to know about the mediation.

HIV PEP

PEP is the abbreviation for post-exposure prophylaxis. Prophylaxis means the prevention against the disease or infection. In the HIV PEP, the patient is given certain antiretroviral medications also known as ARV right after the possible exposure to HIV. It helps to prevent a person from becoming infected with HIV.

There are two types of HIV PEP

  • HIV oPEP called the occupational post-exposure prophylaxis
  • HIV nPEP known as the non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis.

HIV oPEP is the treatment used for the healthcare workers. They are often exposed to HIV because of needle injury or other issues. It is the simplest form of exposure that happens these days.

In case of HIV nPEP, it is the HIV that the person takes because of the reason outside of work. It commonly happens in the people that are not related to the healthcare profession. The common reason is the utilization of non-sterilized injections and instruments and sex.

How does HIV PEP works

It is important for the individuals to understand that how HIV PEP works. There are certain drugs in the treatment and your health care professional will prepare a proper treatment plan for you.

  • The patient has to take 3 or more ARV medicines
  • The duration of HIV PEP is almost 28 days
  • You will have to visit your health care provider a few times during and after the PEP
  • It is important that you complete your HIV testing after the PEP to find out the results

HIV PEP will stop the replication of the virus in your body before it can start affecting your immune system. Make sure that you get HIV PEP as soon as you think that you have the chances of development of the disease.

What to do if the virus has been established

The HIV virus takes a few days to establish in the human body and the HIV PEP has to be given before the virus has taken control over the DNA replication system of the body. In case you think that it has been a few days since you were exposed to HIV it is important that you visit the emergency of the HIV department of the hospital. The professional will conduct your tests to find out whether you suffering from the disease or not.

In case you are HIV positive, they will immediately start the treatment to assure that the virus is controlled and removed from your body before it can cause any severe damage. Remember that early diagnosis is the key because it can increase the chances of positive outcomes.

What are the benefits of having HIV PEP

HIV PEP is an innovational treatment that is raising many questions. Most of the people want to know that why scientists are paying more attention to HIV PEP as compared to proper treatment for the disease. You should know that primary prevention is very important because it can save you. If you are confused regarding the application of HIV PEP, here we have some of the common benefits that you can get from the treatment method.

Protect you from deadly outcomes of HIV

The biggest benefit of HIV PEP is that it will protect you from the deadly outcomes that come once HIV has established in your body. You should know that when you will control the virus before it has established even a single cell of the immune system will not be affected. In this way, your body will not attack its own cells. There are chances that you were not exposed to HIV but having the HIV PEP before the testing will give you the peace of mind that HIV cannot control your body before you can have the tests done. Remember that HV testing can be done once the development of antibodies starts in the body.

It might be covered by insurance

Most of the deadly diseases like HIV, cancer and many others are not covered by insurance because the treatment is long-term. However, HIV PEP takes the time of 28 days. It is often covered by the health insurance which means that you will not have to pay a penny for the treatment. However, it is important that you ask your insurance provider about the coverage for HIV PEP. It is important or the healthcare service provider because their chance of being exposed to HIV is the highest. They are always working with the people suffering from AIDS.

Saves time and money

One of the biggest benefits of HIV PEP is that it will help you to save your time and money.

  • The complete HIV treatment is very expensive which means that if you will control the issue before it is established you will save a decent amount of money
  • The treatment of HIV is very long-term and you might have to leave your job for the proper treatment. With HIV PEP you will no have to deal with such issues
  • There are no limitations to HIV PEP because you can have it as many times as you want

Bottom line

It is important that you consult a doctor regarding your condition because he will provide you the best guideline. He will show you how you can decrease your exposure to the virus. Being a healthcare professional working in the HIV department you should take extra care and consider having HIV PEP as many times as possible. You never know when and where your body might get exposed to HIV PEP. As soon as you think that you are exposed to HIV make sure that you take the primary prevention before testing because waiting for test results might give virus the chance to properly establish.

What are the most common types of HIV testing

HIV testing is very important these days. If you are planning to have a secure future it is important that you get yourself tested. As soon as you think that your body has been exposed to the HIV it is important that you visit your nearest lab and get the tests done. It has been noticed that there are different types of HIV testing available. Here are a few types you should consider.

Rapid test for HIV

It is valuable for routine testing or potentially on the off chance that you would prefer not to sit tight a few days for the outcomes. The Rapid test for HIV recognizes antibodies for HIV in the blood. Commonly folks (around 90%) will grow enough antibodies of HIV to be distinguished three to a month after disease.

  • This Rapid test for HIV gives you an outcome shortly, dispensing with the worry of sitting tight seven days for comes about.
  • This Rapid exam utilizes a blood example taken by jabbing the finger with pin like spear and after that illustration some of your blood into plastic tube.
  • This Rapid test is similarly as exact as the Standard test for HIV.
  • On the off chance that you test negative, at that point you don’t require a further test.
  • On the off chance that you are sure, at that point you will require a anymore blood test utilizing an example that should be sent to a lab.

The Early test for HIV

The test is helpful in the event that you’ve had a current hazard occurrence (vaginal or anal intercourse without a protection of condom with somebody whose status was unique or obscure) or a known presentation to HIV. This HIV Early test decreases the window time frame (the time you need to hold up before getting tried) to just 10 or 12 days. This test will be performed on the blood example taken from the arm, much the same as a Standard test. This Early test for HIV searches for the genuine HIV infection, not antibodies created because of the infection. That implies the test can recognize on the off chance that you are contaminated when your samples are still under the examination time of a neutralizer test.

The Standard test for HIV

This test can be utilized for routine HIV testing or when Rapid test for HIV isn’t accessible. This Standard test for HIV distinguishes antibodies of HIV in the blood. Similarly, to what happens in this Rapid test in most folks (around 90%) will grow enough antibodies for HIV to be recognized three to a month after disease.

The enormous contrast is that it is finished with blood take from vein. This blood will be sent to HIV testing lab and you should sit tight for at least five days and wait for the outcome. In the event that it is negative, at that point you don’t need any further tests. In the event that the outcome is sure, you will require another test to affirm. Select the HIV testing technique you are most comfortable with to get treatment on time.

Is HIV PEP effective treatment

A common question that most of the people are asking is whether HIV PEP is effective or not. They want to know about the effectiveness because that is the only way they will decide whether they should get the treatment or not. There are many individuals that think HIV PEP is not very effective because the disease developed in this body. The reason behind this development is that they did not take the preventive measure at the right time. In order to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment.

Has the HIV established or not

The first and most important thing that you have to consider before taking the HIV PEP is that whether the HIV has been established in your body or not. The HIV takes a few days to establish in the human body and this is the time in which you can have the HIV PEP treatment. If it has been a week since your body was exposed to the virus it would be better that you take the proper HIV treatment and not the HIV PEP. If you got concerned about the HIV right after the needle injury then it is the right time to take the HIV PEP.

When you are getting the treatment

An important thing that most of the people ignore is they do not pay attention to the circumstance regarding when they are getting the treatment.

  • Most of the people have a misconception that HIV PEP is a treatment whereas it is a preventive technique
  • Consider is affordable people ask the healthcare provider to treat them with HIV PEP even when the symptoms of disease have started to appear
  • It is the treatment that is only effective in the first few days of exposure before the HIV has established in your body.

HIV testing is important

One of the most important thing that you have to consider is the HIV testing. It has been noticed that most of the people start taking HIV PEP without testing themselves. In this age of technology that are different testing techniques available that would allow you to test yourself for HIV within minutes. So it would be better if your test your blood serum before you start taking HIV PEP. It will give you the perfect idea that whether your body has been exposed to HIV or not and what are the chances of recovery.

Bottom line

Improve education about the HIV PEP is the reason that most of the people think that it is not effective. They also forbid their loved ones to take this primary prevention. It is the duty of the healthcare professionals to increase awareness about the HIV PEP. They should let the individuals know about the effectiveness of the treatment technique and how it can protect their body. They should let the people know about the right time for HIV PEP and when it is better to visit the HIV testing and treatment center rather than going for HIV PEP.

Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

The word prophylaxis in the abbreviation represent the meaning of protecting or preventing from a disease or an infection. The procedure of HIV PEP revolves around antiretroviral (ARV) medications. This is done as soon as the HIV exposure is detected in order to prevent the spread and infection of HIV.

There are 2 types of PEP.

  1. oPEP
  2. nPEP

oPEP is abbreviated for occupational pose exposure prophylaxis. It is the term used to describe the situation where a certain health care provider employee takes HIV PEP because of the possible exposure to HIV, which might have been on the job. Like, an injury by a needle which has been used or any other situation like that. The nPEP is abbreviated for non-occupational post exposure prophylaxis. It is the term used to describe the situation where a person is at possible exposure of HIV outside of the workspace. Like, during a sexual intercourse or the use of injection for drug.

There are certain people, who must take PEP as a cautious step. It may be prescribed to a person on the basis of their HIV negative status or if they are unknown to their HIV status and have bene involved in certain activities in the prior 72 hours.

If a person is in doubt that they have been exposed to HIV during their work, for example by a used needle injury. If a person is in doubt that they are at risk of having HIV infection due to their sexual activities. If a person has shared needles or any other drug preparation equipment with someone else. Or if a person was sexually assaulted, they need to take the precaution and should have HIV PEP done.

The health care providers mostly help the patients in order to determine if they should take PEP or not. PEP is in fact, intended for emergency situations. It is not required by the people who are at a possible risk of exposure to HIV infection. It cannot be used regularly by people. There is one other method of protecting a person form HIV infection. The method sis called, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). It is taken when a particular patient is at high risk for possible HIV exposure. People are recommended to take a specific HIV medication regularly in order to stay protected against the infection.

The medication or the process of PEP must be started as soon as it is possible for the patient to. It needs to be done soon because, as the time passes, it loses its effectiveness. It needs to be taken by people always within 72 hours or 3 days after a possible exposure to HIV infection is detected. As per the conducted studies and researches, the PEP is less likely to prevent a person from HIV infection if it is taken 72 hours after a possible exposure to HIV infection.

The process of PEP involved taking 3 or more ARV meds daily for at least 28 days. The patient will be required to return to their respective health care providers at certain instances during the intake of PEP and after they have finished taking PEP.