AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a serious medical condition that is contracted through exposure to HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS affects the immune system, inhibiting the body's ability to fight off infection, leaving the host open to dangerous opportunistic diseases, such as pneumonia, toxoplasmosis and certain types of cancer. Although there is no cure for AIDS, many types of treatment are available and can greatly improve quality of life for individuals living with this disease.
Prevalence
According to Avert, an AIDS advocacy and education group, more than 34 million people worldwide are living with HIV or AIDS. The prevalence of AIDS in Africa is especially high—as much as 10 percent of the adult population of some countries in the southern part of that continent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that, as of 2006, there were 1,106,400 people in the United States living with HIV infection—and it's possible that up to 20 percent of those people are not aware they have the virus.
Testing
The most common way to test for the HIV virus is through a serum antibody test, which detects antibodies the body produces in response to exposure to HIV. It is important to note that some individuals might not produce antibodies for six weeks to three months after they have contracted the virus. Where a test is given after suspected exposure and comes back negative, it is recommended that the individual repeat the test after three months. HIV testing is available through public health clinics and agencies and private doctor's offices.
Transmission
The HIV virus is spread only through direct blood-to-blood contact with an infected person. It cannot be contracted through any type of casual contact, such as hugging or sharing a swimming pool. The most common means of transmission are unprotected heterosexual; homosexual male sex; shared needles among drug users; and from a pregnant mother to baby during childbirth or while breastfeeding.
Prognosis
Although there is no cure for HIV infection, treatment can greatly improve the quality of life for those who are living with the disease and, in many cases, postpone the progression of the disease to full-blown AIDS. Ultimately, HIV/AIDS is a live-threatening condition. However, most deaths from AIDS result from opportunistic infections, such as pneumonia. Many people with HIV live for years without developing any complications provided that they carefully follow a prescribed treatment regimen.
Treatment Options
According to Avert, treatment for HIV involves taking antiretroviral medications that prevent the virus from replicating or from entering body cells. There are several different types of antiretrovirals, which can be taken individually or in combination. One common type of therapy is HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy), which consists of several different medications that are taken each day. HAART has proven effective in preventing the individual with HIV from becoming resistant to one specific antiretroviral.
