HIV/AIDS is a life-threatening condition. It affects the health of a sufferer, and can cause many other diseases and illnesses that the person wouldn’t otherwise contract. Understanding what HIV/AIDS is, the symptoms, and how it affects work can help you get a legal claim.
HIV causes AIDS. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It’s a virus that attacks the immune system, which makes the body less able to ward off serious diseases and illnesses.
Causes of HIV/AIDS
People contract HIV/AIDS through sexual intercourse or infected blood in the case of a mother giving it to her offspring. Many years ago, HIV/AIDS was also transmitted through blood transfusion; however, that no longer poses a threat due to advanced blood testing.
Symptoms of HIV/AIDS
Once infected, it can take several years for it to affect the individual enough to make them extremely ill. When people have HIV/AIDS, they feel as though they have the flu. They may experience:
- Fever
- Sore muscles
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Diarrhea
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
- Weakness
These symptoms can make it impossible for someone to work. The sore muscles can make it impossible to move in ways that the sufferer did before the disease took over, and the fatigue and pain can distract attention from working with machinery that can cause serious injury.