Elton John Aids Foundation: Funding World
The Elton John AIDS Foundation was founded in 1992 by Elton John to end the HIV and AIDS epidemic, after his friend died of AIDS. Today, they are one of the leading independent AIDS organizations in the world.
Their impact and transparency ratings:Charity Navigator gives the Elton John AIDS Foundation a 4-star rating.
We are committed to no more discrimination. No more HIV infections. No more AIDS deaths.
Elton John AIDS Foundation
What they do: The Elton John AIDS Foundation works around the world to end the AIDS epidemic and provide HIV and AIDS relief. For example, their Radian project provides grant money for HIV and AIDS education and prevention in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Other projects, such as Menstar, focuses on HIV diagnosis and testing in Sub-Saharan men. The charity also provided funding during the COVID-19 outbreak to ensure that those who are worst affected by HIV and AIDs still had care they needed, despite the lack of resources available during the global pandemic.
What theyve achieved: Today, the Elton John AIDS Foundation is the number one philanthropic funder for HIV and AIDS in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. They are also the 3rd largest funder for HIV/AIDS in Asia and East Asia. Since their founding, they have completed a total of 48 partnership projects that have made impacts around the world. For example, in 2020 they reached 68,000 people in 30 countries with their COVID-19 Emergency Funding.
Get A Viral Load Test When You Start Care And Regularly Thereafter Regardless Of When You Start Antiretroviral Therapy
- Average score: 3.87
- Percentage voting 5: 39%
- Percentage voting 4 or 5: 65%
US authorities on antiretroviral therapy strongly recommend viral load testing before antiretroviral therapy begins and routinely during treatment. The panel notes that “viral load is the most important indicator of response to antiretroviral therapy … serves as a surrogate marker for treatment response and can be useful in predicting clinical progression.”
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Can You Get Hiv From Kissing
Since HIV is not spread through spit, kissing is not a common way to get infected. In certain situations where other body fluids are shared, such as if both people have open sores in their mouths or bleeding gums, there is a chance you could get HIV from deep, open-mouthed kissing.
You also dont get HIV from:
- Touching or hugging someone who has HIV/AIDS.
- Public bathrooms or swimming pools.
- Sharing cups, utensils or telephones with someone who has HIV/AIDS.
- Bug bites.
- Donating blood.
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Hiv/aids And Skin Conditions
Skin conditions are common in people with HIV/AIDS. Many, including Kaposi sarcoma, thrush, and herpes, are caused by germs that take advantage of a weakened immune system. That’s why they are called “opportunistic” infections. Others, like photodermatitis, may be linked to inflammation caused by an overactive immune system as it revives during antiretroviral drug therapy or due to the drugs themselves.
Here are some of the more common skin conditions related to HIV/AIDS.
Get Tested For Viruses That Cause Hepatitis Ask Your Hiv Provider Whether You Need A Vaccine For Hepatitis A Or Hepatitis B Start Treatment For Hepatitis B Or C If Necessary
- Average score: 4.41
- Percentage voting 5: 55%
- Percentage voting 4 or 5: 91%
Hepatitis virus infection is common in people with HIV because hepatitis viruses and HIV are transmitted in the same ways. Infection with a hepatitis virus has a great impact on HIV treatment and overall care.,
Your HIV provider will probably test you for hepatitis viruses, including hepatitis A, B, and C . If you don’t already have HAV or HBV, they can often be prevented by vaccines. Even if you do not feel symptoms of hepatitis, these viruses are damaging your liver. Alcohol and recreational drugs can increase liver injury caused by hepatitis viruses.
Treatment options for HBV and HCV have improved greatly in the past several years. Treating hepatitis viruses in people with HIV requires careful planning and close monitoring. Do not stop treatment for HBV or HCV on your own.
Pregnant women can pass a hepatitis virus to the fetus.
Tell your current and former sex partners and needle-sharing partners if you have hepatitis virus infection and suggest that your partners get tested for hepatitis viruses.
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Early Symptoms In Primary Hiv
The first noticeable stage is primary HIV infection. This stage is also called acute retroviral syndrome , or acute HIV infection.
It usually causes flu-like symptoms, so its possible for someone in this stage to think they have severe flu or another viral illness rather than HIV. Fever is the most common symptom.
Other symptoms include:
Tell Your Hiv Provider About All Other Drugs Dietary Or Herbal Supplements And Nutrients You Take Talk To Your Hiv Provider Before Starting Or Stopping Any Drugs Supplements Or Nutrients
- Average score: 4.46
- Percentage voting 5: 58%
- Percentage voting 4 or 5: 91%
Many drugs, as well as supplements and nutrients you can get without a prescription, can raise or lower levels of your antiretrovirals ., High antiretroviral levels raise the risk of side effects low antiretroviral levels may not control your HIV.
Tell your HIV provider about all other drugs, supplements, or nutrients you take. And tell your provider whenever you’re considering stopping or starting a nonprescription supplement or nutrient.
References
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Can Hiv/aids Be Prevented
You can reduce the risk of spreading HIV by:
- Getting tested for HIV.
- Choosing less risky sexual behaviors. This includes limiting the number of sexual partners you have and using latex condoms every time you have sex. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms.
- Getting tested and treated for sexually transmitted diseases .
- Not injecting drugs.
- Talking to your health care provider about medicines to prevent HIV:
- PrEP is for people who don’t already have HIV but are at very high risk of getting it. PrEP is daily medicine that can reduce this risk.
- PEP is for people who have possibly been exposed to HIV. It is only for emergency situations. PEP must be started within 72 hours after a possible exposure to HIV.
NIH: National Institutes of Health
What Are The Symptoms Of Hiv/aids
The first signs of HIV infection may be flu-like symptoms:
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Mouth ulcers
These symptoms may come and go within two to four weeks. This stage is called acute HIV infection.
If the infection is not treated, it becomes chronic HIV infection. Often, there are no symptoms during this stage. If it is not treated, eventually the virus will weaken your body’s immune system. Then the infection will progress to AIDS. This is the late stage of HIV infection. With AIDS, your immune system is badly damaged. You can get more and more severe infections. These are known as opportunistic infections .
Some people may not feel sick during the earlier stages of HIV infection. So the only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested.
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Hiv And Aids Treatment
More than 25 antiretroviral therapy drugs are approved to treat the virus. Your doctor will prescribe a mix of these medications.
The drugs will help stop HIV from making copies of itself. That will keep you healthy and lower your risk of spreading it.
Thereâs no cure for HIV or AIDS. ARTâs goal is to lower your viral load and keep your immune system healthy. The idea is to lower the viral load to âundetectableâ and keep it that way, by taking your medicine every day as prescribed.
Who Is At Risk For Hiv Infection
Anyone can get HIV, but certain groups have a higher risk of getting it:
- People who have another sexually transmitted disease . Having an STD can increase your risk of getting or spreading HIV.
- People who inject drugs with shared needles.
- Gay and bisexual men.
- Black/African Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans. They make up a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses and people with HIV, compared to other races and ethnicities.
- People who engage in risky sexual behaviors, such as not using condoms.
Factors such as stigma, discrimination, income, education, and geographic region can also affect peoples risk for HIV.
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Who Does Hiv Affect
Its a myth that HIV only infects certain people. Anyone can get HIV if theyre exposed to the virus. Having sex without a condom or sharing needles to inject drugs are the most common ways that HIV spreads.
Some populations are statistically more affected by HIV than others. Groups disproportionately affected by HIV include:
- People who identify as gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men .
- Certain races such as people who are Black or Hispanic.
- Those who exchange sex for money or other items are also at high risk for HIV infection.
While these arent the only populations impacted by HIV, its important to consider that they face unique barriers to accessing preventative care, getting tested, and receiving comprehensive treatment. Homophobia, racism, poverty, and social stigmas around HIV continue to drive inequities and keep people from accessing high-quality healthcare.
Hiv Is Detected With A Blood Test
Blood tests are the most common and reliable tests for HIV. The virus is detected by taking a sample of your blood either with a conventional blood test or a rapid test .There is a short period of time between exposure to HIV and the ability for tests to detect HIV or its antibodies. This is often referred to as the ‘window period’ between 2 and 12 weeks.
Most tests used in Australia can detect HIV as early as 2 to 4 weeks after infection.
If your blood test shows that HIV or its antibodies are present, you are HIV-positive.
If you have no antibodies in your blood you are HIV-negative. Sometimes negative results might also mean you are in the window period, so you might need a follow-up blood test to make sure.
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Can I Get Hiv From Kissing
You cannot get HIV from kissing an infected person on the cheek. Where saliva is exchanged, it is unlikely that the virus will be transmitted. This is because one would have to swallow one gallon of the saliva from an infected person in order to contract the disease. However, the risk increases if an uninfected person has a sore or cut in the mouth.
Black Aids Institute: Ending The Hiv And Aids Epidemic In The Black Community
The Black AIDS Institute was founded in 1999 by Phil Wilson to educate African American and other underserved communities about HIV and AIDS treatment. Today, the organization is focused on ending the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the black community.
Their impact and transparency ratings:Charity Navigator gives the Black AIDS Institute a 3-star rating, and GuideStar gives them the platinum seal of transparency.
To stop the AIDS epidemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing Black institutions and individuals to confront HIV.
Black AIDS Institute
What they do: The Black AIDS Institute offers the African American HIV University, which is an educational 7-part program to increase knowledge and decrease stigma for those living with HIV and AIDS. They also offer tailored needs assessments and training to health departments to better provide relief for those at risk for or living with HIV and AIDS. Through their Cut the Stigma program, they educate the public on HIV transmission and the negative effects of HIV discrimination. For residents of LA, they offer free HIV clinics that focus on testing and prevention for Black, Latinx, and other underserved communities.
What theyve achieved: The Black AIDS Institute educates 3,000 people annually through their African American HIV University. In addition, their online informational resources reach over 200,000 people every year. For example, in 2020 alone, they spent $2 million on HIV prevention at their LA-based clinics.
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How Long Does It Take For Hiv To Progress To Aids
How long does it take for HIV to progress to AIDS? In all but a few rare cases, if left untreated, HIV will progress to a stage of infection called AIDS. This is when the immune defenses have been compromised, and the body is less able to defend itself against potentially life-threatening infections.
When You Start Hiv Care Get A Resistance Test Regardless Of Whether You Plan To Start Hiv Medications Immediately Then Get A Resistance Test When You Start Hiv Medications Or If Your Antiretroviral Combination Fails
- Average score: 4.05
- Percentage voting 5: 38%
- Percentage voting 4 or 5: 71%
Resistance testing is the only way to tell if certain HIV medications can help control your HIV. Regardless of whether you have already taken antiretrovirals, your HIV may be resistant to certain HIV medications — because you can be infected with alreadyresistant virus. That’s why US antiretroviral experts recommend a resistance test when you enter care , when you start antiretrovirals, and if your antiretroviral combination fails.,
References
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Aids Or Hiv Life Expectancy Without Medication
How long can you live with HIV or AIDS if you chose not to treat with ART combinations or other prescription drugs? In the absence of such therapy, a patient should expect to see a notable decrease in life expectancy.
In countries where health care and ARTs arent readily accessible, HIV rates are above 20 percent. Shorter HIV life expectancy in these regions, combined with a high incidence of AIDS in younger age groups, boosts their overall mortality rate.
Population studies proved that AIDS patients who did not take HIV medications survived for roughly three years. Once they developed a dangerous opportunistic illness, life expectancy with AIDS decreased to one year or less.
Thats why HIV and AIDS remain a serious threat to public health, and why early detection is absolutely critical to long-term survival.
What Treatment Is Available For Hiv And Aids
Currently, there is no cure for HIV or AIDS. While many people can live a long time with the virus, particularly if they receive treatment, once they develop AIDS, there isnt much that can be done other than treat the infections and diseases that they experience.
When someone is diagnosed with HIV, blood tests are done on a regular basis to see how far the infection is progressing. As long as the blood levels stay healthy and the CD4 levels are high enough, there is usually not much to be done. However, once the CD4 levels begin to drop, treatment with anti-retrovirals may begin in what is called highly active anti-retroviral therapy, or HAART.
These medications are very powerful and can have strong, undesirable side effects. So, the doctors must carefully balance the dosages enough to help fight the HIV progress but not enough that you experience bad effects.
Not all treatments help everyone, so if one treatment doesnt seem to be helping, you will likely be offered other options. This trial-and-error approach isnt uncommon in medicine because everyone responds differently to medications.
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Tell Your Hiv Provider About Any Disease Symptoms Or Medical Problems You Have Including Fever Night Sweats Weight Loss Headaches Vision Changes Mouth Sores Swallowing Difficulties Breathing/lung Symptoms Diarrhea Skin Rashes Or Sores And Changes In Mental Function
Your HIV provider will ask you about physical changes and symptoms of illness, like those listed above, every time you have an appointment. If you have troubling problems like these between office visits, contact your HIV provider. Physical changes or medical problems that may seem minor to you can signal a serious condition or may indicate poor control of HIV. Such problems may be side effects of your HIV drugs that your provider can address.
One of the HIV physicians who responded to our survey wrote, “I usually tell my patients to let me know if they develop symptoms that are outside the range of their prior experience — either more severe, longer lasting, or new symptoms entirely.”
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