BASIC FACTS ABOUT HIV/AIDS
Do you really know the facts about HIV/AIDS? It’s easy to get confused by conflicting messages and an overload of information.
Understanding the basics of this disease is critical for each and every one of us.
HIV is the virus that causes Aids. It has spread right around the world and it stands for Human Immuno-deficiency Virus. If someone is infected with HIV, he or she is said to be HIV positive.
When a person is HIV positive, the virus attacks their CD4 white blood cells and as it damages these cells and multiplies, the body gets weaker until eventually they get Aids. This is a slow process and can take up to ten years if left untreated, but much longer if they receive appropriate and timeous treatment. Aids stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is the end stage of the HIV infection. An HIV positive person is said to have Aids when they have a very low white blood cell count (CD4 count).
The amount of HIV in the blood is also usually very high.
They succumb to certain other infections as a result of their weakened immune system. These are called opportunistic infections, and can typically include TB, recurrent pneumonia and thrush. Certain cancers, e.g. Kaposi’s Sarcoma and dementia may also occur.
"It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance." ~Elizabeth Taylor
The information on this page is not the view of NIC but is meant to complement the advice of your healthcare provider(s), and not to replace it. Before making any changes to your health regime, we recommend that you talk to your doctor.
