AIDS or the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome comes about as a result of the contraction of HIV; the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. What HIV does is undermine the immune system by infecting its CD4 positive T cells, these cells are an important part of the cellular immune system. As these cells are destroyed, the immune system’s ability to defend the body is compromised, making the infected person more susceptible to various other viruses, malignance and opportunistic infections.

HIV is contagious and can be passed though contact with bodily fluids like breast milk, semen, vaginal fluids and blood from an infected source. People are most vulnerable to contracting the virus from unprotected anal, oral and vaginal sex, blood transfusions and the use of contaminated needles. There is a disproportionately high HIV infection rate among commercial sex workers, homosexual men and intravenous drug users. HIV can also be passed down from mother to child.

The campaign to increase awareness of the virus has had some success; great strides have been made in reducing HIV infection passed down from mother to child. According to the 2007 UNAIDS report, there was a 24% improvement in the number of pregnant women infected with HIV that received the antiretroviral treatment. Almost 3 million people in poorer countries are receiving some sort of treatment. Many countries now provide free HIV treatment, however the cost of testing, treating other resulting infections and transportation is a prohibitive issue in acquiring the drugs.

Additionally, because antiretroviral treatment & drugs are now more accessible, AIDS related deaths have decreased over the past two years. Countries in some of the worst affected regions such as Botswana, Namibia, Brazil and South Africa have achieved great gains in the battle to contain the spread of the virus. The WHO (World Health Organization) reported that in 2007 Botswana administered treatment to about 90% of all those who needed it.

In the face of all the strides and improvements made in the fight against AIDS it should be noted that in 2007, for every 2 people that received treatment for the infection, 5 new people contracted HIV. There is the need for greater awareness about the AIDS virus and how it is transmitted and the need to educate people about the importance of getting tested.

In most cases, there are no initial symptoms of the virus; some people may however experience Acute Retro viral Syndrome, during the first 6 week period when the body is developing antibodies to the virus. This reaction causes enlarged lymph nodes, rash, joint pain and fever. As the virus progresses and the body’s defenses weaken, symptoms of the infection start to become more obvious.

There are four distinct stages of the HIV infection, the first is the period with not many symptoms, only the reaction to antibodies, the second displays decrease in weight and continuous upper respiratory infections. The third stage brings about the onset of pulmonary tuberculosis, severe bacterial infections, chronic diarrhea, thrush and constant fever. The final stage of the progression of the virus; clinical stage 4 occurs when 22 of the cancers (like Lymphomas, Kaposi’s sarcoma and cervical cancer) and infections (like Esophagitis, Cryptosporidiosis and Toxoplasmosis,) deemed associated with the HIV virus, have manifested themselves in the infected person.

Tuberculosis, a respiratory infection exhibited often in HIV infections is the leading cause of death among infected persons in lesser developed and underdeveloped countries. Those infected with HIV tend to develop a resistance to treatment for the disease. In addition to this, as the infection progresses the tuberculosis infection begins not only acts as a pulmonary disease but also begins to affect the liver, bone marrow, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and lymph nodes; it becomes systemically disruptive.

The actual onset of AIDS occurs in the last two phases of the virus’ progression, when the person has at least 20 of the sited opportunistic infection and cancers or the CD4 positive T cell count is below 200 per mm3 of blood. Antiretroviral medication can be used to slow the virus; however, there are still no known vaccines or cures.

HIV has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, it is estimated by UNAIDS officials that approximately 33 million people are infected with HIV globally. With the greater access to antiretroviral treatment, the numbers have slowed in some countries; however infections in other areas such as Sub Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, East Asia and Latin America are still considerably high.