also be tested for HIV. This ensures that, if HIV positive, a woman can take medications to lower the chance of passing HIV to her child before, during, or after birth. Sans medical treatment, an infected mother`s child has a 25 percent chance of being born with HIV. Medical treatment with AZT (also known as zidovudine or Retrovir) during pregnancy and labor dramatically reduces the risk of transmission from mother to baby.
Saliva and Other Tests
Besides blood tests, urine and saliva tests are also used to detect HIV. Some doctors voice reservations about the efficacy of saliva tests contending that although saliva contains some virus components, these may not be sufficient for transmission. The marketers of the saliva kit, however, claim that a study by the Thai Red Cross found that results of blood tests and saliva-kit tests were identical. Besides, the kits are said to be popular amongst a majority of American states as they are easy to use, cheap, portable and call for minimal training of employees. The biggest advantage these kits have over blood tests is the safety of medical personnel, since they obviate the use of needles and the drawing of blood.
In terminal illnesses such as cancer and AIDS, hospice care centers are indispensable. In fact, hospice care is an ancient concept practiced under ayurveda for millennia. The prime aim is to provide a sanatorium-like ambiance for patients, which facilitates a life free of prejudice and discrimination. Patients at a hospice care center can avail of subsidized or free medicines depending on their pecuniary status.
With its comprehensive array of medical and social services, hospice strives to meet each patient`s unique physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs, as well as the special needs of the patient`s family and close friends. The goals of hospice are to keep the patient as comfortable as possible by relieving pain and other discomforting symptoms; to prepare for a death that follows the wishes and needs of the patient; and to reassure both patient and family members by helping them to understand and manage what is happening. This support assists patients and families through the process of facing, understanding and accepting death.
Lotta words for the little SPAMMING link at the end in your sig