What is HIV?
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the primary cause of the chronic, potentially fatal disease known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (HIV). HIV interferes with your body’s capacity to fight disease and infection by weakening your immune system.
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Additionally, it can be transferred through sharing needles, injecting illegal substances, and coming into contact with infected blood. During pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, it can also be passed from mother to child. Without treatment, it can take years for HIV to progressively impair your immune system to the point where you develop AIDS.
HIV/AIDS has no known cure, however, drugs help manage the infection and stop the disease’s progression.
Symptoms
The symptoms of HIV and AIDS vary, depending on the phase of infection.
Primary infection (Acute HIV)
Within 2 to 4 weeks of the virus entering the body, some HIV-infected individuals have flu-like symptoms. Primary (acute) HIV infection is a condition that might last for a few weeks.
Possible signs and symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and joint pain
- Rash
- Sore throat and painful mouth sores
- Swollen lymph glands, mainly on the neck
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Cough
- Night sweats
You might not even be conscious of these symptoms because they can be so subtle. However, the viral load in your blood at this time is rather significant. As a result, during the initial infection rather than the next stage, the virus spreads more readily.
Clinical latent infection (Chronic HIV)
HIV is still present in the body and white blood cells at this stage of infection. Infections or symptoms may not be present in many people during this period, though.
If you are receiving antiretroviral therapy, this stage may last for several years (ART). Some persons experience an earlier onset of more severe disease.
Symptomatic HIV infection
As the virus continues to multiply and destroy your immune cells — the cells in your body that help fight off germs — you may develop mild infections or chronic signs and symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes — often one of the first signs of HIV infection
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Oral yeast infection (thrush)
- Shingles (herpes zoster)
- Pneumonia
- Progression to AIDS
- Even in nations with limited resources, the prevalence of superior antiviral therapies has significantly reduced AIDS-related fatalities globally. The majority of HIV-positive individuals in the U.S. today don’t develop AIDS thanks to these life-saving treatments. HIV usually progresses to AIDS if left untreated in 8 to 10 years.
- Your immune system has been severely compromised when AIDS strikes. You’ll be more susceptible to illnesses that a person with a strong immune system wouldn’t typically get. These are referred to as opportunistic cancers or opportunistic infections.
- The signs and symptoms of some of these infections may include:
- Sweats
- Chills
- Recurring fever
- Chronic diarrhea
- Swollen lymph glands
- Persistent white spots or unusual lesions on your tongue or in your mouth
- Persistent, unexplained fatigue
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- Skin rashes or bumps
In the present
HIV/AIDS is a major global public health concern, having claimed the lives of 40.1 million [33.6-48.6 million] people to date. In 2021, 1.5 million [1.1-2.0 million] people contracted HIV, and 650 000 [510 000-860 000] people died from HIV-related causes.
New HIV Infections—In 2021, 1.5 million people worldwide were predicted to have contracted HIV, a 32% decrease from 2010. In contrast to the number of people who are officially diagnosed with HIV each year, new HIV infections, also known as “HIV incidence,” refers to the estimated number of persons who first contracted HIV over a specific time frame, such as a year. (Some persons may not be aware that they have HIV.) With regard to the 1.5 million new HIV infections:
- 1.3 million were among adults
- 160,000 were among children (<15 years old)
HIV Testing—In 2021, 85% of all HIV-positive individuals knew their status. 5.9 million of the remaining 15% (or persons) needed access to HIV testing services because they were unaware of their HIV status. A key entry point for HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support services is HIV testing.
HIV Treatment Access—As of the end of 2021, 28.7 million people with HIV (75%) were accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) globally. That means 9.7 million people are still waiting. HIV treatment access is key to the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat. People with HIV who are aware of their status, take ART as prescribed, and get and keep an undetectable viral load can live long and healthy lives and will not transmit HIV to their HIV-negative partners through sex.
Perinatal Transmission—In 2021, 81% of HIV-positive pregnant mothers had access to ART to prevent HIV from spreading to their unborn children and to safeguard their health.
AIDS-related Deaths: Since the peak in 2004, there has been a 68% decrease in AIDS-related deaths. Worldwide AIDS-related deaths peaked in 2021 at about 650,000, down from 2 million in 2004 and 1.4 million in 2010.
Regional Impact—Low and middle-income nations are home to the great majority of HIV-positive individuals. In 2021, there were 20.6 million HIV-positive people (53%) in eastern and southern Africa, 5 million (13%) in central and western Africa, 6 million (15%) in Asia and the Pacific, 2.3 million (5%), and 2.3 million (5%), respectively.
