December 1 is celebrated as World AIDS Day every year all over the world and aims at creating awareness towards, Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome, is a pandemic disease caused due to the infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes damage to the immune system.
Different organisations over the world to bring attention to the HIV epidemic, endeavour to increase HIV awareness and knowledge. According to World Health Organisation, "37.9 million people living with HIV at the end of 2018, 79 percent received testing, 62 percent received treatment, and 53 percent had achieved suppression of the HIV virus with reduced risk of infecting others."
The medical sciences found treatments for HIV, and various formulas have been also taken to fight against discrimination and to safeguard HIV patients with proper treatments. Still, there are millions of HIV patients, who still do not have access to tests, treatments and medications for HIV. So it is important to observe the day. It will act as a reminder for all that HIV still
Here are a few points every person should know that would help them to predict symptoms of AIDS leading to early symptoms
- HIV can be transmitted through breast milk, vaginal and rectal fluids, blood and semen and can be detected after 12 long years.
- AIDS is considered to be the most advanced stage of HIV. However, just because a person has HIV, it doesn't mean that s/he will develop AIDS too. As mentioned above, HIV kills CD4 cells. In healthy adults, CD4 cells range from a count of 500 to 1500 per cubic millimetre. A person with HIV whose CD4 count falls below 200 per cubic millimetre will be diagnosed with AIDS.
- HIV is a complicated virus that changes over time. This makes vaccine research difficult, and it takes a long time to do the research. Researchers are closer to developing a vaccine to prevent HIV and a vaccine to treat HIV and AIDS
- An HIV which is untreated can develop into AIDS within a decade. AIDS cannot be cured and the average life expectancy after being diagnosed with AIDS is three years.
- However, AIDS treatment with antiretroviral drugs can prevent development of AIDS.