A Growing Problem
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a part of a group of retro viruses and usually results in the development of AIDS. This infection can affect people of any gender or age. It can cripple a person's immune system and leave one defenseless to opportunistic infections. There are currently, over 34 million people living with HIV worldwide(8). HIV can be transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids via unprotected intercourse, blood transfusions, infected needles and from mother to child during childbirth. Although all of these can cause transmission, each poses a different probability of the individual getting the infection. For example the chance of infection through a blood transfusion is 90%, whereas for a contaminated needle it is merely 0.67%(8). Another factor that ties into transmission is something called viral load, which is a measurement of how much of the virus is in the infected person’s bloodstream. If someone comes in contact with the bodily fluids of a person that has been infected for about 3 months, they have a 12 times greater chance of contracting the disease. Later stages of infection have a lower viral load meaning a lower chance of infection(8). A mother passing the virus onto the child is about 20%. Although when accompanied with proper care and medication this can be brought down to a 1% chance of transmission(8). |
Different Stages of HIV/AIDS
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