WHAT IS HIV AND AIDS?
What is HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) belongs to a group of viruses called retroviruses, which copy their genetic material into the genetic material of human cells. This means that infected cells stay infected.
HIV prevents the immune system from working properly. Normally, the body's immune system would fight off infection, but HIV is able to infect key cells, called CD4 cells, which co-ordinate the immune system's fight against infection. Many CD4 cells are actually destroyed by being infected or they no longer work properly. Once you have HIV in your body, you are said to be HIV positive.
What is AIDS?
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the result of extensive damage by HIV infection to the immune system. A damaged immune system is unable to protect the body against opportunistic infections (infections that take advantage of weaknesses in the immune system) and tumours. Examples of opportunistic infections which are considered to be AIDS-defining include tuberculosis (TB); pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), the most common opportunistic infection that attacks the lungs in persons with HIV; and different forms of cancer, e.g. Kaposi's sarcoma. Unlike most other conditions, different people with AIDS may experience different clinical symptoms, depending on which specific opportunistic infections they develop. This is known as a syndrome, i.e. a collection of different signs and symptoms that are all part of the same underlying medical condition.
Statistics on the HIV and AIDS epidemic
- In South Africa, which has the largest number of HIV infections in the world (5.5 million at the time of this information being published), an estimated 1.8 million people have died of HIV-related disease since the start of the epidemic.
- South Africa's National Department of Health estimates that 18.3% of adults between the ages of 15 and 49 were HIV positive in 2006. More than half (55%) of these cases reside in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng.
- In 2012, HIV prevalence amongst pregnant women was 31%.
While there have been many advances in HIV/AIDS research in recent years that have dramatically improved the quality of life of people living with HIV, and more people are living longer with HIV than what used to be possible; there is still no known cure for HIV and AIDS.
Reference
1. METROPOLITAN FOUNDATION. 2009. B the Future cellbook. South Africa.