What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AIDS is a
medical condition. A person is diagnosed with AIDS when their immune system is
too weak to fight off infections.
Since AIDS was first
identified in the
early 1980s, an unprecedented number of people have been affected by the global AIDS epidemic. Today, there are
an estimated 34 million people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide.
What causes AIDS?
AIDS is caused by HIV.
HIV
is a virus that gradually attacks immune system cells. As HIV progressively damages these cells, the body
becomes more vulnerable to infections, which it will have difficulty in
fighting off. It is at the point of very advanced HIV infection that a person
is said to have AIDS. If left untreated, it can take around ten years before
HIV has damaged the immune system enough for AIDS to develop.
What are the symptoms of AIDS?
A person is diagnosed with AIDS when they have developed an AIDS
related condition or symptom, called an opportunistic
infection, or an AIDS related
cancer. The infections are called
‘opportunistic’ because they take advantage of the opportunity offered by a
weakened immune system.
It is possible for someone to be diagnosed with AIDS even if they
have not developed an opportunistic infection. AIDS can be diagnosed when the number of immune system cells (CD4
cells) in the blood of an HIV positive person drops below a certain level.
Is there a cure for AIDS?
Worryingly, many people think there is a 'cure' for AIDS - which
makes them feel safer, and perhaps take risks that they otherwise wouldn't.
However, there is still no cure for AIDS. The only way to stay
safe is to be aware of how HIV
is transmitted and how to prevent HIV infection.
How many people have died from AIDS?
Since
the first cases of AIDS were identified in 1981,
more than 30 million people have died from AIDS.
An estimated 1.8 million people died as a result of AIDS in 2010 alone.
Although there is no cure for AIDS, HIV infection can be prevented,
and those living with HIV can take antiretroviral drugs to prevent or delay the
onset of AIDS. However, in many countries across the world access to prevention
and treatment services is limited. Global leaders have pledged to work towards universal
access to HIV
prevention and care, so that millions of deaths can be averted.
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