According to the UNAIDS, more than 33 million people around the world were diagnosed of having HIV in 2009, with 2.6 million newly infected individuals. 1.8 million people died of HIV in the same year and 16.6 million kids aged 0 to 17 years old have become orphans due to the syndrome. The occurrence of HIV is on a constant upward trend - the organization has observed that, in a period of 19 years from 1990 to 2009, the number of infected individuals rose from 8 million to 33 million.

Amongst other contents, Sub-Saharan Africa remains to have the most numbers of HIV infected individuals at 22.5 million in 2009, with a 5 percent prevalence rate. HIV was first observed in 1981 in Los Angeles and New York with patients showing rare skin tumors known as Kaposi’s sarcomas and experiencing unusual lung infections. The patients were also observed to have reduced numbers of a specific type of immune cells called CD4 T cells which helps the body fight infections. The virus rapidly spread through the United States, Europe and Africa and eventually became a pandemic and a major international health concern. There are various treatments and procedures for managing HIV and its symptoms. But medical science has not gone far enough to find a cure for AIDS. Despite all the effort, time and money being spent over finding a cure for AIDS, the means are still limited and thousands of people are dying from the disease every day.

Early Diagnoses to Prevent the Spread

Early diagnosis is key to preventing HIV from developing into full blown AIDS. Determining the signs and symptoms of HIV is difficult since these usually take a long time to manifest and become evident. Plus, their asymptomatic nature will link them to other health conditions, especially without the presence of appropriate blood testing. It is not only important to that the symptoms of HIV be recognized early in order to prevent it from developing in a serious disease but to also avoid transmitting the virus to other people.  Common knowledge tells us that the virus is typically transmitted through sexual contact which exposes the body to infected blood and other body fluids. Unprotected sex has been found to be one of the most common reasons for the transmission of the disease. The use of infected needles can also potentially transfer the virus from one person to another. Contaminated blood products transfused from an HIV patient to an unaware individual is also one of the causes. These practices increase the person’s risk of getting the virus.

The symptoms of HIV manifest after 2 to 4 weeks of getting infected but this time estimate is only accurate by up to 50 to 90 percent of HIV patients. It is easy to mistake the symptoms of HIV with other simple illnesses like flu and colds, and diagnosis of the person's real health condition may come too late. And the danger is not only to the person infected but also to the other people who may come in intimate contact with the infected person. Early diagnosis will not make treatment more effective but it will somehow decrease the risk of the disease getting transmitted. This is the reason why it advised that people take a test on a regular basis.

Bananas against the Spread of HIV?

A study conducted by a group of researchers from the University of Michigan found that lectin found in bananas can prevent the spread and transmission of HIV. This created a buzz in the medical community and details of the study were published in an issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. In their study, the researchers were able to observe that lectin inhibited the reproduction of the virus by binding to the envelope of HIV contained sugar mannose. But this observation does not mean that eating bananas can prevent the transmission of HIV nor can it protect a person from getting infected. The study was only able to gather preliminary evidence that implies that high concentrations of lectin can be beneficial in inhibiting the transmission of HIV.

According to the data provided by the UN AIDS, the most common means of transmitting HIV from person to another is through sexual contact and the use the infected needles. Parents infected with HIV can also transfer the virus to their children and thousands of children are being born carrying the disease. Researchers are looking at the potency of some herbal ingredients in combating the spread as well as in curing the disease. Different studies are being conducted to find an effective anti-HIV agent from plants and other natural sources.

In one study, researchers observed that a specific polysaccharide compound from an herb called hyssop inhibited the replication of the virus. The compound was also able to protect the cells against infection.

A related study on HIV treatment and prevention, researchers observed that the lignin extract from pine cones can reverse the cellular damage caused by white blood cells infected with HIV virus. Different other plant compounds have also been observed to inhibit the multiplication of the virus and prevent it from damaging healthy body cells. But like the study on lectin, the study was limited to preliminary evidences.

The Other Health Benefits of Bananas

Bananas are one of most widely produced fruits in the planet. They are easy to find and easier to eat. And more than the sweet taste, bananas are also a rich source of nutrients that promote good health and reduce the risk of developing certain diseases. A study in the medical journal Archives of Internal Medicine showed that eating foods rich in fiber like bananas can reduce the risk of developing heart disease. The researchers gathered information from a group of over 10,000 American adults for a period of nine years. They concluded that people who ate a minimum of 21 grams of fiber in a day had 12 percent lesser risk of developing coronary disease and 11 percent cardiovascular disease compared to other study participants who ate less fiber in a day. In addition to this, bananas are also beneficial in maintaining healthy eyes, improve bone growth, alleviate ulcer pains and promote kidney health.

Sources
avert.org
medicinenet.com
hwhfoods.com
foxnews.com