HIV
HIV is the etiologic agent that causes acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is the last stage of HIV infection.
HIV infects and eventually destroys cells of the immune system
so that the body is susceptible and/or unable to fight against
other viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and diseases. AIDS is the
resulting syndrome where the body is depleted of its ability to
defend against these secondary or "opportunistic" infections. If
left untreated, these secondary illnesses are usually the cause of
death for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Today HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan
Africa and the fourth largest cause of death in the world. An
estimated 14,000 people/day (5 million persons/year, including
600,000 children less than 15 years of age) become infected with
HIV, with more than 95% of them living in underdeveloped regions of
the world. At the end of 2007, the global number of adults and
children living with HIV/AIDS was estimated by WHO/UNAIDS to have
reached approximately 33 million with an estimated 1.8 to 2.3
million HIV-infected persons (adults and children) dying every year
from the disease.
