|
|
|
|
|
What is HIV? What is AIDS?
The term “HIV” stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus weakens the body's immune system, the system responsible for defending the body from diseases. Although an HIV infection cannot be cured, it can be treated with a combination of medication called 'Antiretrovirals' (ARVs).
An HIV-positive person (i. e. someone living with HIV) can live for many years without major health problems. However, if remained untreated, HIV can weaken the immune system so severely that it cannot fight certain diseases, and the HIV-positive person may eventually develop AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
AIDS is a syndrome. In other words, it may be a collection of one or more (uncommon and rare) illnesses that are specifically associated with a deficient immune system. They are often referred to as 'AIDS-defining illnesses'.
HIV and AIDS do not mean the same thing.
HIV is the virus that weakens the immune system.
AIDS is the syndrome that results from a very weak immune system.
Worldwide, AIDS has taken some 20 million lives, created 15 million AIDS orphans and caused enormous personal, social and economic losses. HIV infection is now a major cause of disease and death among persons aged 25-44. Among young people aged 15 to 24, some 10 million are currently living with HIV/AIDS, and every day, some 6,500 new infections – half of all new infections - occur among people in this age group. Also, only a fraction of the young people currently living with HIV are aware of their HIV-positive status.
The lack of information and/or misinformation about HIV and AIDS, in particular about modes of transmission of HIV, fuel a great deal of prejudice, causing individuals to fear contact with people living with HIV - whether those are strangers, members of their community, friends or relatives.
The stigma and discrimination attached to HIV and those living with it, not only raise questions of human rights, but they also discourage people from being tested and knowing their HIV status. This contributes to the spread of the virus, and delays treatment that can reduce the suffering of persons living with HIV or AIDS.
What are STIs?
Sexually Transmitted Infection, or "STI", is a general term for infectious diseases that are spread through sexual contact. HIV/AIDS can be regarded as an STI. Other major STIs are syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Worldwide, the highest rates of STIs are usually found in the 20-24 age group, followed by the 15-19 age group.
STIs spread rapidly, in great part because the majority of infections either do not produce any symptoms or signs, especially in females, or produce symptoms so mild that they are often disregarded. Some STI symptoms even disappear over time, creating the false impression that the disease, too, has disappeared. Finally, many adolescents do not know the difference between normal and abnormal conditions and therefore do not know when to seek medical care. Even when they suspect they have an infection, many young people do not seek the medical care they need. This is especially true when services are too far away or too expensive, or when teens fear they will be judged, punished or exposed.
Over 100 million new sexually transmitted infections, excluding HIV, occur each year among young people under 25 years of age. STIs greatly facilitate HIV transmission between sexual partners, so treating and preventing them is an important step in breaking the HIV chain of infection. |
|
|
|
The Organization
