HIV is an infection by the human immunodeficiency virus that can be transmitted through sexual contact, contact with infected blood, or during birth from mother to child. It weakens the immune system and the infection can lead to other illnesses at which point it is called AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
HIV is an infection of the human immunodeficiency virus. Most people become infected by having unprotected sexual intercourse. The infection can also spread by sharing needles, contact with blood, or during birth from mother to child. New cases of infection are high amongst men who have sex with men and drug users. The virus infects the immune system and can lead to further infections or even cancer years after the initial infection. At this stage the disease is called AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
After infection because of risky sexual contacts (e.g. "unsafe sex" without using a condom, anal sex, semen or blood inside the mouth), or a needle stick injury with an infected needle, there are usually little symptoms. Typical symptoms are those of flu, with fever, sore throat, aching limbs, as well as swollen lymph nodes that occur for about 1-6 weeks after the infection. After that, the symptoms fade away. There are various tests that can show whether a person got infected, a few weeks after an infection. An HIV infection is very burdensome for the patient and his surroundings. Today's therapy options can postpone the break-out of AIDS for a long time, and patients can attain an almost normal life span. The following recommendations should be followed to reduce the risk of an HIV infection as much as possible: Always use a condom when having sex, no blood or semen inside the mouth as well as being careful when handling blood or syringes. Special arrangements are made for pregnant ladies (treatment of mother and child with medication, birth via C-section, no breastfeeding), to avoid an infection of the child.
If there is a risk that an infection occurred, a specialist doctor should be consulted (a doctor specializing in infectiology or internal medicine) to discuss further steps. An accurate measurement of blood levels is always necessary to determine the start of the therapy with special medication. This is necessary to stabilize the body's immune deficiency and to prolong the outbreak of AIDS (e.g. infections or tumors caused by the immune deficiency). Unfortunately, HIV/AIDS is not curable yet, but with an ideal therapy it is possible to attain an almost normal life span.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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