Around half of the people who acquire HIV become infected before they turn 25 and typically die of the life-threatening illnesses called AIDS before their 35th birthday. This age factor makes AIDS uniquely threatening to children. By the end of 2001, the epidemic has left behind a cumulative total of 14 million AIDS orphans, defined as those having lost one or both parents to AIDS before reaching the age of 15.

In 2003, an estimated 700,000 children aged 14 or younger became infected with HIV. Over 90% were babies born to HIV-positive women, who acquired the virus at birth or through their mother's breast milk.” (from www.avert.org/statindx.htm.)

“Think HIV is not a big deal where you live? Wrong. HIV/AIDS is a worldwide epidemic. The numbers will surprise you.”
(http://www.staying-alive.org/en/knowfacts_02.jhtml)

Check the statistics for your particular part of the world on www.avert.org/statindx.htm – the information is arranged per continent – and specific stats relating for instance to children or to the epidemic in high-income countries.

i. The virus, the disease... the facts!

What exactly is HIV and AIDS? We know it’s a virus – HIV – that causes a disease – AIDS – for which no cure has yet been found. But what does it look like, and what does it do?

Here are some of the questions that you probably – like most of us – ask yourself:

• What exactly is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (for details of its structure, see www.avert.org/virus.htm ), in other words it is a virus that attacks your immune system – your body’s defence mechanism against disease. way)

• How does HIV affect your body?

Among the human cells that the virus attacks is a lymphocyte type called helper T-cells. These cells help direct many of the activities of the immune system. Over many years, HIV causes a dramatic drop in the number of helper T-cells in the blood.

When enough of the helper T-cells are destroyed, the immune system becomes weak, and people develop AIDS. Because their immune systems are weak, they may get many diseases such as pneumonia and cancer.

Scientists are trying to understand exactly how HIV harms helper T-Cells. When they do, that will give us a powerful weapon against AIDS. (http://www.biorap.org/br4immune.html)

See www.avert.org/hivstages.htm for a description of the various stages of HIV infection, and the symptoms you’re likely to recognise at each stage.

• What is AIDS – and what does it do to your body?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It's caused by the virus called HIV (…). Being HIV-positive is not the same as having AIDS; it means that antibodies for the virus have been detected in the bloodstream. Though it's a life-threatening illness, many HIV-positive people don't get sick for years. However, they can still spread the virus (…)

An HIV-positive person gets diagnosed as having AIDS when their immune system is so weak that the level of infection fighting cells (known as CD-4+ or T-helper cells) drops below 200, or when a person develops one or more opportunistic infections (OIs). OIs are infections that take advantage of weak immune system and can be fatal. (http://www.staying-alive.org/en/knowfacts_01.jhtml )

• What is the treatment?

There's no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are treatment options to help people with AIDS live longer, healthier lives. (http://www.staying-alive.org/en/knowfacts_01.jhtml ) www.iwannaknow.org/glossary.index.html (all the terminology you’ve wondered about)

ii. So where do this virus and disease come from and how do they develop?

We hear and read so much about HIV and AIDS that it’s sometimes difficult to seperate reality from rumours. Lots of ligitimate questions worry us, like:

• How does one get infected?
• Can I get AIDS from kissing/shaking hands/masturbating/looking after someone with AIDS/having someone sneeze on me who has AIDS/drink from the same cup?
• Will I automatically get sick if I get infected?

Again, a useful site is http://www.staying-alive.org/en/knowfacts_01.jhtml:

“You don't get HIV from a kiss or a sneeze, but you could be at risk. Learn how it's transmitted so you can protect yourself the right way.

HIV is transmitted through an exchange of certain body fluids - blood, vaginal secretions, semen and breast milk. Because HIV lives in these fluids in high concentrations, most people are infected through:

- Unprotected sex (vaginal, anal or oral) with an infected person.
- Sharing drug needles, syringes (shooting drugs) tattooing or piercing needles with an infected person.
- Pregnancy, childbirth or breast feeding when the mother is HIV positive.

HIV must get into your blood stream to infect you. That means if you're having sex and any of your partner's blood, semen (including pre-cum), or vaginal secretions come in contact with a tiny tear in the lining of your vagina, anus or mouth, even invisible ones, you are at risk of being infected.

Here's how you don't get infected with HIV: kissing, hugging, touching, sneezing, coughing, playing sports, sharing eating utensils, drinking from the same cup, or sharing a bathroom with a person who is infected with HIV. There are no documented cases of transmission through saliva, sweat or tears. Mosquitoes, fleas and other insects don't transmit HIV either.”

(You’ll notice that, in the case of unprotected sex or sharing drug needles, you can only get it from someone who is infected by HIV. Note too, however, that most HIV-carriers do not know that they are infected…)

Also see http://www.avert.org/trans.htm on “how you can and can’t be infected by HIV”.

But how can I then avoid getting HIV/AIDS?

iii. What if I’ve got it?