Aids

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

is a disease spectrum of the human immune
system cause by infection with human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Following initial infection, a person may
experience a brief period of influenza-like
illness. This is typically followed by a prolonged
period without symptoms. As the infection
progresses, it interferes more and more with
the immune system, making the person much
more susceptible to common infections
like tuberculosis, as well as opportunistic
infections and tumors that do not usually affect
people who have working immune systems.
The late symptoms of the infection are referred
to as AIDS. This stage is often complicated by
an infection of the lung known as pneumocystis
pneumonia, severe weight loss, a type of
cancer known as Karposi's sarcoma, or other
AIDS-defining conditions.

HIV is transmitted primarily via unprotected

sexual intercourse(including anal and oral
sex), contaminated blood
transfusions,hypodermic needles, and from
mother to child during pregnancy, delivery,
or breastfeeding. Some bodily fluids, such
as saliva and tears, do not transmit HIV.
Prevention of HIV infection, primarily
through safe sex and needle-exchange
programs, is a key strategy to control the
spread of the disease. 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. While antiretroviral treatment
reduces the risk of death and complications
from the disease, these medications are
expensive and have side effects.
Without treatment, the average survival
time after infection with HIV is estimated to
be 9 to 11 years, depending on the HIV
subtype. The second most frequent mode of
HIV transmission is via blood and blood
products. HIV can be transmitted from
mother to child during pregnancy, during

delivery, or through breast milk. This is the

third most common way in which HIV is
transmitted globally. In the absence of
treatment, the risk of transmission before
or during birth is around 20% and in those
who also breastfeed 25%.
The symptoms of AIDS are primarily the
result of conditions that do not normally
develop in individuals with healthy immune
systems. Most of these conditions
are opportunistic infections caused by
bacteria, viruses,fungi and parasites that
are normally controlled by the elements of
the immune system that HIV
damages. These infections affect nearly
every organ system.

People with AIDS also have an increased

risk of developing various cancers such
as Kaposi's sarcoma, cervical cancer and
cancers of the immune system known
as lymphomas. Additionally, people with
AIDS often have systemic symptoms of
infection like fevers, sweats(particularly at
night), swollen glands, chills, weakness,
and weight loss. The specific opportunistic
infections that AIDS patients develop
depend in part on the prevalence of these

infections in the geographic area in which

the patient lives.

Protection
Consistent condom use reduces the risk of
HIV transmission by approximately 80%
over the long term. When condoms are
used consistently by a couple in which one
person is infected, the rate of HIV infection
is less than 1% per year. Programs to
prevent the vertical transmission of HIV
(from mothers to children) can reduce rates
of transmission by 9299%. This primarily
involves the use of a combination of
antiviral medications during pregnancy and
after birth in the infant and potentially
includes bottle feeding rather
than breastfeeding.
As of 2012 there is no effective vaccine for
HIV or AIDS.