HIV/AIDS

HIV is spread primarily by unprotected sex (including anal and oral sex), contaminated blood transfusions, needle sharing, and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. Some bodily fluids, such as saliva and tears, do not transmit HIV. Methods of prevention include safe sex, needle exchange programs, treating those who are infected, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, and male circumcision. Disease in a baby can often be prevented by giving both the mother and child antiretroviral medication. There is no cure or vaccine; however, antiretroviral treatment can slow the course of the disease and may lead to a near-normal life expectancy. Treatment is recommended as soon as the diagnosis is made. The World Health Organization and United States recommends antiretrovirals in people of all ages including pregnant women as soon as the diagnosis is made regardless of CD4 count. Without treatment, the average survival time after infection is 11 years.

AIDS was first recognized by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1981 and its cause. HIV/AIDS has had a large impact on society, both as an illness and as a source of discrimination. The disease also has large economic impacts. There are many misconceptions about HIV/AIDS such as the belief that it can be transmitted by casual non-sexual contact. It has attracted international medical and political attention as well as large-scale funding since it was identified in the 1980s. Once treatment is begun it is recommended that it is continued without breaks or “holidays”.

 

 

In 2018, about 37.9 million people were living with HIV and it resulted in over 1 million deaths. 23.3 million people were receiving antiretroviral treatment by end 2018. Most of those infected live in sub-Saharan Africa. From the time AIDS was identified in the early 1980s to 2017, the disease has caused an estimated 35 million deaths worldwide.