August 8, 2019
Do you have an STD, or a UTI?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and urinary tract infections (UTI) share very common symptoms and are misdiagnosed more often than you think.
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April 8, 2019
What is the difference between viral and bacterial infections?
It’s important to understand the difference between a bacterial and viral infection. Even though both infections can cause similar symptoms, they are treated very differently.
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January 23, 2019
Can HIV increase your risk for TB?
Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s leading infectious killer. It’s also the number one cause of death among HIV-positive people. In 2015, over 10 million people across the globe had TB disease. Of these, about one million also lived with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). If you’re wondering why these two infections often go together, and what you can do to stay free of TB if you’re HIV-positive, read on. Why HIV increases your risk for TB HIV is a virus that destroys those cells in your body that help to fight germs and infections. These are called CD4 cells. When you…
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October 22, 2018
Can you treat HIV with a tablet per week?
HIV is a human immunodeficiency virus that, if not managed correctly, can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the final and most severe stage of HIV. According to UNAIDS in 2017 over 30 million people around the world were living with HIV. If you have HIV, you should start antiretroviral treatment as soon as possible as the human body can’t get rid of HIV completely, even with treatment. HIV attacks your white blood cells and reduces the number of them in your body. White blood cells are important for keeping your immune system healthy. Without treatment, HIV slowly…
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April 20, 2018
“The cure” for HIV and other myths
About seven million people in South Africa are living with HIV. Our country has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world. HIV is a virus. If HIV is not treated and managed, it can lead to AIDS, the final and most severe stage of HIV. Having HIV also means that your body becomes weaker, since HIV kills the cells in your body that protect you from infections and viruses like the flu, colds and other diseases. However, having HIV does not mean you will automatically get AIDS. This is why it’s so important to treat and manage…
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February 28, 2018
5 celebs with chronic illnesses
From the outside looking in, celebs have the perfect life, right? But not quite. Look beyond the admirable bank accounts and luxury lives; and they may be more human than we think. Celebs get sick too. In fact, some are living with chronic conditions. Here are five celebrities faced with chronic conditions. HIV HIV can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids. HIV destroys one type of the immune system cell, called T cells; which makes it difficult for people with the virus to fight off infections. Charlie Sheen is a popular actor, most noticeably from…
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November 27, 2017
World Aids Day: How we will win this war
Can you believe that the war against HIV has been going on for 35 years!? Since the beginning of the war, we lost many battles, but we still have a good chance to win the war. Since the start of this war, 78 million people around the world have become infected with HIV and 35 million people have died of AIDS-related illnesses. In 2016, one third of all new infections in Sub-Sahara Africa came from South Africa, and the latest figures show that around 7.1 million people are currently living with HIV. If we want to take this war to…
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October 27, 2017
Frequently asked questions about ARVs
Can ARV’s cure HIV? No, ARV’s can decrease the viral load (the amount of virus in the bloodstream), but they are not a cure. Even if the viral load on a blood test is so low that it’s “undetectable”, the virus is not gone. How can a doctor tell if the ARV’s are working? The viral load should go down and the CD4 count should go up. What happens if I miss a dose of ARV’s? Take the medication as soon as you can and take the next dose at the scheduled time (except if the drug may have daytime…
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June 15, 2016
How Botswana is turning HIV on its head
What do you do when you realise that your country has the 3rd highest HIV prevalence in the world? You don’t panic. Instead, you open 650,000 voluntary testing service centres, and that’s just for starters. (more…)
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December 9, 2015
I hate using condoms!
"Why would you like them to begin with? They’re rubber/plastic, and the amount of lubricant you need to use always surprises you – and let’s not mention the price!" If you sit and think about condoms, are they really ruining your sex-life? If you said yes, then let us help you change your mind. Number 1: The biggest side-effect of sex is pregnancy Yup, you read that right. Unprotected sex between a man and woman has a high chance of turning into a pregnancy. Even with the pill or other contraceptives, there’s always a chance that a woman will fall…
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