HIV/AIDS

HIV Facts - Facts About AIDS

HIV is a virus that gradually weakens the body’s immune system, till the body can no longer fight off infections.
HIV Facts - Facts About AIDS
The first case of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) was identified among gay men in the United States, in 1981. Later however, scientists found evidence that the disease existed in the world much earlier. This evidence was provided from the blood sample of a Bantu man who had died of an unidentified illness in the Belgian Congo in 1959.

AIDS is a condition that is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV kills the cells of the immune system, thus, destroying the body’s ability to fight against certain cancers and infections. A person who has been diagnosed with AIDS is always at risk of getting life-threatening diseases, called opportunistic infections. These infections are caused by microbes, which do not usually harm healthy people.

HIV Facts

HIV is transmitted by:
* Unprotected sexual intercourse with a person who is HIV-infected
* Sharing the same needles or syringes that are used by an HIV-infected person
* Blood transfusions, if the donor is HIV-infected
* Mother-to-infant transmission, where the HIV is transmitted during pregnancy, breast-feeding and childbirth

HIV is not transmitted by:

* Kissing or coughing
* Hugging
* Sharing the same toilet and washing facilities
* Insect bites caused by mosquitoes or other insects
* Eating food and using utensils, which have been handed out by someone who has HIV
Early symptoms of HIV-infection
Only some people suffer symptoms a month or two after they have been exposed to HIV. The symptoms they go through are:
* Fever
* Headache
* Loss of appetite
* Rash
* Pain in the joints and muscles
* Enlargement of the glands

Later symptoms of HIV-infection
It usually takes around 8 to 9 years from the time of infection to the appearance of later symptoms. This scenario varies from one person to another. These symptoms indicate that the immune system of the person is weakening. All those who suffer from HIV infection do not necessarily develop further symptoms. For the few, who do, the symptoms are:
* Sweating at night
* Extreme tiredness
* Loss of weight
* Pain in the bones
* Vision gets blurred
* Fevers that occur very frequently
* Slight loss in memory
* Infections-viral, bacterial or fungal
* Sores around the genitals
* Oral infections and mouth lesions
* Chronic diarrhea
Diagnosis
Early HIV infection can be detected by testing a person’s blood. Along with blood samples, HIV testing may also be performed on urine and saliva samples. A person who has been exposed to HIV should be tested as soon as possible. There are two different antibody tests, ELISA and Western Blot that are used. If both these tests are negative, the doctor may test for the presence of HIV virus itself in the blood.
Treatment
There are a few treatments that are used to treat HIV infection and AIDS. Some of the drugs that are available have been manufactured to treat the opportunistic infections and illnesses that affect people with HIV/AIDS, while the others seek to prevent HIV from reproducing and causing harm to the body’s immune system.
Cure
Unfortunately, there is no cure for AIDS, but thankfully, there are new drugs that are being manufactured to help people with HIV/ AIDS live longer and healthier lives. Researchers are still in the process of finding a cure for AIDS.

HIV/AIDS

HIV and AIDS Facts
FAQ and fast facts about HIV/AIDS:

* What does AIDS stand for?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
* What does HIV stand for?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
* What is the immune system?
The immune system is a collection of mechanisms within the human body that protects against disease, detecting and fighting off a wide variety of agents from viruses to bacteria.
* What is the Difference Between HIV and AIDS?
A person is said to be HIV positive if that person is infected with HIV virus. A person is said to have AIDS if the person has HIV infection and also certain signs and symptoms of AIDS disease. In short, HIV is the virus, and AIDS is the disease that it causes. Testing positive for HIV virus does not become AIDS until immune system is compromised which usually takes ten years. There are phases of HIV infection and AIDS is the final stage. Learn more on HIV infection and early symptoms of HIV/AIDS, what is HIV, what is AIDS, ways that the HIV virus is transmitted, and how does AIDS affect the body.
* What is STD?
A Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) is a disease that is passed from one person to another due to sexual activity.
* Causes of HIV infection, HIV/AIDS Symptoms, Treatment for HIV and AIDS
o See Early symptoms of HIV and AIDS article for information on first and early stage HIV/AIDS symptoms.
o See HIV and AIDS Facts article for information on causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and how is HIV/AIDS treated.
o More articles listed below on this page with information on signs and symptoms of HIV infection, what causes AIDS, HIV virus transmission, AIDS prevention, HIV testing, treatment for HIV, medications and cure for AIDS.
o See HIV/AIDS Vaccine topic.
* History of AIDS
o Where Did AIDS Come From?
o AIDS: The First 10,000 American Cases
* HIV/AIDS Statistics - How many people in the world have AIDS?
According to the current AIDS statistics published in July 2008, UNAIDS/WHO estimated that 32.9 million people were living with HIV/AIDS worldwide as of end of 2007. This is up from 29.5 million in 2001. HIV/AIDS has been a global epidemic for more than 25 years.