| |
| The following are known as risk factors
that might cause an HIV infection. If your answer is yes to
any of these questions, then it is recommended that you seek
counseling and testing. |
- Have you shared / reused needles or syringes with anyone
to inject drugs, or for body piercing, tattooing. Or any
other reasons.
- Have you had unprotected (sex without condom) vaginal,
anal or oral sex with multiple partners?
- Have been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis, tuberculosis
(TB), or a sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
- Have you had unprotected sex (sex without condom) with
someone who would answer yes to any of the above questions?
|
| If you plan to become pregnant, counseling
and testing is important. If a woman is infected with HIV, medical
interventions are available to lower the chance of passing HIV
to the infant before, during, or after childbirth (breast feeding).
|
| |
| With regards to HIV, ignorance is definitely
not bliss. |
| |
| Not knowing your HIV status can be very
dangerous If you test positive, knowing your status as early
as possible puts you in the best position to protect your health,
as well as that of your partner(s). |
| |
| Effective medications and good health care
are enabling many HIV-positive people to live healthy and fulfilling
lives. Not knowing your HIV-positive status means you are not
getting the health care you need to stay well. You might be
also putting others in your life at risk. |
| |
| If you test negative, it can serve as incentive
for you to consistently practice safe behaviour that will help
you to remain HIV negative. It will also spare you a lot of
unnecessary worrying and stress that often occurs when someone
is uncertain about their status. |
| |
| The HIV-antibody test is the only way to
tell if you are infected. You cannot tell by looking at someone
if he or she is infected with HIV virus (HIV-positive). Someone
can look perfectly healthy and still be infected. |
| |
| When HIV enters the bloodstream, it begins
to attack certain white cells called T4 lymphocyte cell (helper
cells). The immune system then produces antibodies to fight
off the infection. Therefore, the presences of antibodies to
HIV result from HIV infection. Testing can tell you whether
or not you have developed antibodies to HIV. |
| |
| The test commonly used to detect HIV infection
actually looks for antibodies produced by your body to fight
HIV. Most people will develop detectable antibodies within 3
weeks to 3 months. During the time between exposure and the
test, it is important to avoid any high-risk behaviour that
might result in exposure to blood, semen or vaginal secretion,
i.e. high-risk behaviour. |
| |
| Many places in Malaysia now offer HIV testing
including all government clinic ('klinik kesihatan'), government
hospitals, private doctors' offices and independent lab. No
matter where you choose to go for a HIV test, make sure that
the place provides pre and post test counseling about HIV and
AIDS. The doctors, nurses and counselors can and should answer
any questions you might have about the test. They will also
help you to understand the meaning of the test results. They
will also educate you about risky behaviour and ways you can
protect yourself and others in future from getting infected
with HIV and STD. |
| |
| You could also call the MAC Partner
Organizations counseling lines for further information on
testing. |
| |
| If you test positive, immediate make an
appointment to see a doctor. If you tested in any government
clinic or hospital, you would be referred to the specialized
doctor who treats HIV positive in that particular hospital or
hospital nearest to you. |
| |
| If you test positive in a private clinic
or lab, it's best to make an appointment with the specialized
doctor treating HIV, who is mainly based at the government hospital. |
| |
| Seeking immediate medical follow up and
practicing a healthy lifestyle will help you stay well. There
are now many medication that have been proven to be very effective
in keeping HIV-positive people alive longer and healthier. |
| |
| Many HIV positive people lead a healthy
and active life with medication, prompt treatment and care. |
| |
| Well, it is really good news to know that
you are not infected with HIV. But you must remember that a
HIV test only shows your status at the time of test and it does
not protect you from the virus. It is your behaviour that puts
you at risk of getting infected. |
| |
| It is important to make sure that you stay
away from risky behaviors. |
| |
