What are the infectious diseases in Africa

When it comes to Africa, everyone is familiar with it. Some even have many ideas about it, thinking that the place is full of dangers. Therefore, people who are able to travel or work in Africa are under certain pressure psychologically and mentally. Moreover, in Africa, the environment is also a worrying issue. Bacterial infections often occur, causing many infectious diseases, such as AIDS, pneumonia, etc. So what other infectious diseases are there?

1. Is AIDS serious in Africa?

Africa is the hardest hit area by AIDS. Although Africa accounts for nearly 10% of the world's population, the number of AIDS patients and HIV carriers in Africa accounts for more than 70% of the world's total. The infection rate in women is much higher than that in men

2. What are the symptoms of AIDS?

Unexplained irregular fever above 38°C for more than 1 month

Chronic diarrhea more than 3 times a day for more than 1 month

Weight loss of more than 10% within 6 months

Recurrent oral Candida albicans infection

Recurrent herpes simplex or herpes zoster infections

Pneumocystis pneumonia

3.What is AIDS phobia?

Suspect that you are infected with HIV, or are extremely afraid of being infected with HIV and have obsessive-compulsive disorder such as mysophobia

Symptoms include depression, mood swings, severe insomnia, apathy, weight loss, and general malaise

Repeatedly calling hotlines for consultation, or repeatedly taking HIV antibody tests, and being skeptical of negative results.

If the above situation occurs, please take the initiative to seek psychological counseling from a psychologist.

4.How is AIDS transmitted?

It is mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse and exchange of body fluids. The main body fluids include: semen, blood, vaginal secretions, breast milk, etc.

5. Can mosquito bites spread HIV?

Won't

6. How to determine whether you have AIDS?

First of all, there must be a certain epidemiological history for HIV infection. Such as homosexuality, multiple sexual partners, promiscuous sex, prostitution or a history of improper or unclean sexual intercourse, a history of blood transfusion or blood product transfusion, a history of blood collection using unclean syringes (or medical supplies), etc.

In addition, the HIV antibody test in the blood was positive.

HIV-infected people can carry the virus for several years without becoming ill. It is only after 4-10 years that the clinical symptoms of AIDS appear (mainly fever, weight loss, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes, etc.), and finally the late complications of AIDS and opportunistic infections (Carinzosporiasis, liver cancer, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cryptosporococcal enteritis, oral and pharyngeal fungal infections, toxoplasmosis encephalitis, viral herpes, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, etc.). AIDS is diagnosed only after clinical symptoms appear.

7. How to treat family members infected with AIDS?

You will not be infected through daily contact with family members who are infected with HIV. Family members infected with AIDS need the care and love of their relatives. General acts of caring and loving kindness, such as talking, shaking hands, hugging, and even kissing, will not transmit HIV. Please express your concern through actions and do not let the sick member feel isolated or even abandoned. Care for the family members of the infected person and support him/her to lead a positive life with practical actions. The encouragement and love of family members are usually the most important spiritual support for patients. Without the sick member’s consent, confidentiality should be maintained. When an infected person in the family shows clinical symptoms, we should assist the patient in arranging appropriate care or treatment to reduce the mental stress of the patient.

However, in order to prevent infection, relatives who have the closest contact with the infected person must also understand the relevant AIDS protection knowledge to prevent themselves from being infected with the HIV virus. If the infected person is your spouse, you must correctly choose and use high-quality condoms every time you have sex, which can greatly reduce the chance of infection. When caring for the wounds of sick members or coming into contact with their blood, always wear rubber gloves. When treatment is complete, discard the gloves.

8. How to protect yourself from AIDS?

(1) Actively learn about AIDS and understand prevention methods.

(2) Keep oneself clean and have sexual relations with only one regular partner.

(3) Persuade your spouse or sexual partner to learn about AIDS so as to protect them from being infected by the AIDS virus. Protecting them is protecting yourself.

(4) Have a clear understanding of your sexual partner’s living background and habits. If in doubt, refuse to have sexual contact with him or insist on using condoms.

(5) Never share syringes and needles with others.

9. What is yellow fever?

Yellow fever is an acute infectious disease caused by yellow fever virus. The clinical symptoms are fever, jaundice, proteinuria, relatively slow pulse and bleeding. It has not yet occurred in my country. Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne disease. Africa is an epidemic area, so you should get a yellow fever vaccine before going to Africa. The vaccine provides protection for 10 years.

10. What should I do if acute diarrhea occurs?

"Starvation therapy" is not recommended in case of acute diarrhea. It is advisable to eat some light and easily digestible liquid or semi-liquid food, and gradually transition to a normal diet after the symptoms improve.

Dehydration is a common complication of diarrhea and can be manifested by thirst, less urine, dry, wrinkled skin, and sunken eyes. To prevent dehydration, you should drink more sugar and salt water; patients who have become dehydrated or are unable to drink water due to severe vomiting should go to the hospital for intravenous rehydration.

Many patients use antibiotics as soon as they have diarrhea. This is an incorrect practice because most cases of diarrhea do not require antibiotic treatment. The misuse of antibiotics may also lead to intestinal flora imbalance.

If the diarrhea is not serious, the condition can usually be improved within 2-3 days by adjusting diet, rest, preventing dehydration and some symptomatic treatment. If the diarrhea is severe, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time.

Patients with serious conditions should leave a stool sample and send it to the hospital for testing to find out the cause.