AIDS/HIV

What is HIV/AIDS? 

AIDS is a chronic, life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging or destroying the cells of your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to effectively fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease. This makes you more susceptible to opportunistic infections your body would normally resist, such as  pneumonia and meningitis , and to certain types of cancers.

The virus and the infection itself are known as HIV. The term AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is used to mean the latter stages of HIV infection. But both the terms HIV and AIDS refer to the same disease.

HIV is most commonly spread by sexual contact with an infected partner. It can also spread through infected blood and shared needles or syringes contaminated with the virus. Untreated women with HIV also can pass the infection to their babies during pregnancy, delivery or through their breast milk.

Sadly, almost everyone in the human community has been or will be touched in some way by HIV/AIDS. In the nearly two decades since the first reports of the disease, AIDS has become a global epidemic. Worldwide, more than 36 million adults and children are now living with HIV. Since the epidemic began, 21.8 million people have died of AIDS, 4.3 million of them children. According to recent estimates by the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), 5.3 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2000 alone and AIDS-related deaths reached a record 3 million. Of those who died, 500,000 were children.

The impact of the AIDS epidemic is greatest in sub-Saharan Africa where AIDS has become a crisis with enormous social and economic consequences. But the largest increase in HIV/AIDS has been in the Russian Federation. In the year 2000, more new HIV infections were recorded there than in all previous years of the epidemic combined. In developed countries, such as the United States, the news is less grim. Yet the epidemic is far from over.

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 800,000 Americans are living with HIV/AIDS. That is partly the result of improved treatments. Since 1995 the number of medications available to treat AIDS has more than tripled. Powerful combinations of newer antiretroviral drugs have helped reduce serious complications of the disease and prolong life. But the positive news about treatment means that there is also a growing complacency about AIDS. And unfortunately, high risk behavior already seems to be increasing in some communities.

Signs and Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
When to Seek Medical Advice
Screening and Diagnosis
Complications
Treatment
Prevention
Self Care
Coping Skills
Complementary and Alternative Medicine