We all know that chronic illnesses and lifestyle diseases are indisputable when seniors are in question. There are lots and lots of health concerns which plague senior citizen and it all starts from the early age of 50. As the age accumulates, so do health issues. But, no matter how many diseases a senior may acquire as they grow old, AIDS has never really made it to their typecasting.
When we talk about AIDS or HIV infection, it is almost always gays and addicts. What we don’t know, there are victims somewhere between these stereotypes which we will never acknowledge. There are kids born to moms with AIDS; victims of straying partners; nurses who accidentally jabbed themselves by infected needles while caring for AIDS patients and other unfortunate events which are beyond our control. AIDS is real as sex and sex is natural; as long as humans engage in sex, there is AIDS and nobody is really safe from it—promiscuous or not.
If anybody can contract AIDS even if they are maintaining a decent sex life, then what will set senior citizen aside then? They are just about as human as everybody else and they enjoy a good sex every now and then. Some even maintained a regular sex life even if they are way beyond their expected age. Also, let’s not forget all those necessary medical treatments which expose them to AIDS as much. Unfortunately, it was found out that cases of seniors contracting HIV are steadily increasing since last year.
These figures don’t imply as your average senior going sex-crazed and it is nowhere near that notion as well. Lack of formal information for seniors would be the number one cause of these rising numbers since anti-AIDS campaigns are primarily focused to teenagers and younger adults. Most of seniors don’t practice safe sex because they just don’t believe in it and are not fully aware of the risks. Years ago, the only way a senior could catch HIV was through blood transfusion but now, even engaging in heterosexual contact can be very dangerous to seniors, no matter how long they know their partners. Drug abuse can also bring about HIV and a handful of seniors are now enjoying this kind of lifestyle, never minding its health risks and complications.
Sadly, AIDS in seniors can be overlooked due to other health issues since AIDS symptoms are more or less similar to other diseases. The usual HIV symptoms are dry cough, fatigue, cold sores, and swollen glands—all natural occurring to an aging senior. Another thing to consider is their doctor’s perspective. More often than not, a geriatric doctor would not suspect AIDS to a senior patient. It will almost always something other than AIDS and usually after so many hits and miss, by now the AIDS is already full blown and it will be too late for any kind of treatment.
AIDS is a terrible disease caught by engaging in either sex or drugs but sufferers should not be discriminated in any way especially seniors who need strong support system with or without HIV infection. AIDS, just like any other lifestyle diseases out there, will not spare anyone. Would you condemn someone obese just because he ate too much? Of course not.
