As nations reflect on UN World AIDS Day, SBS takes a closer look at the virus that remains one of the world's most deadly diseases.
WHAT IS HIV/AIDS?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects the cells within the immune system. An infection leads to the gradual deterioration of the immune system, which destroys the body's ability to protect itself from other diseases.
Acquired immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) is the most advanced stages of HIV. According to the World Health Organisation, AIDS refers to the occurrence of more than 20 opportunistic infections or related cancers.
SYMPTOMS OF HIV/AIDS
It is difficult to reliably know if someone has been infected with HIV because sufferers can function normally for years without realising they have the disease. Often, many won't start feeling sick until they have AIDS. Therefore, it is important to be properly tested for HIV.
Early Stages
In the first 2-4 weeks of infection, people may experience acute retroviral syndrome (ARS), also known as the “the worst flu ever”.
• Fever
• Chills
• Rash
• Night sweats
• Muscle aches
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Ulcers in the mouth
During these early stages, those infected are very contagious as there are higher levels of the virus in the body.
Chronic Phase
When the patient is over the initial infection stage, the virus will be less active and they may no longer display symptoms. This period, which is called the “chronic” or “ latency” phase, could last up a decade.
Final Stage: AIDS
Most symptoms of AIDS will come from opportunistic illnesses that the body's immune system can longer defend. Other than that, AIDS sufferers may also experience fatigue, vomitting, nausea, diarrhoea and fevers.
HOW PREVALENT IS HIV/AIDS?
In 2011, 34 million people were living with HIV, reports UNAIDS. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region in the world, and accounts for 69 per cent of all people living with HIV. Almost one in every 20 adults (4.9%) living in the region have HIV.
Efforts to lower HIV rates have been inconsistent. While infections in 25 countries have decreased by at least 50 per cent since 2001, other regions such as the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Central Asia have seen an increase in HIV rates.
For example, infections in countries such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Kazakhstan and Georgia have risen by more than 25 per cent.
• According to the 2012 UN AIDS report, the prevalence of HIV is consistently higher in sex workers in the capital city than the general population (around 23%).
• Of the estimated 16 million drug users, around 3 million are said to be living with HIV.
• In capital cities, men who have sex with men (MSM) are 13 times more likely than the general population to contract HIV.
• Mother-to-child transmissions are on the decline. In 2011, 330,000 children acquired HIV which is a 43 per cent decrease since 2003.
All in all, the worldwide number of people who are newly infected continues to fall. In 2011, 2.5 million adults and children acquired HIV, 20 per cent lower than in 2001. Furthermore, 1.7million people were recorded to have died from AIDS-related causes, 24 per cent less than in 2005
