December is AIDS Awareness Month.
HIV/AIDS came into general awareness in the early 80s. One theory is that it is believed to have originated during the 20s in the Congo when HIV passed from chimpanzee to human. What started out as a few hundred thousand affected with HIV became over 35 million at its peak. There were many famous faces that brought attention to the disease, and the sheer number affected was overwhelming. In the beginning, it was difficult to determine the stages that one when through when they were initially infected. Some assumed they merely had a ‘bad cold.’
Research and studies found the people developed Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) first. There were several stages discovered with one being a latent stage. This was when some people determined that they “beat” the cold. Then they found that ten years after the initial infection they developed what became known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). By this point, their immune system was severely compromised, and they became susceptible to viruses and infections. Once they were diagnosed with AIDS, they had a life expectancy of three years or less. If they developed further complications, they could be dead within a year. It was noticed first within the gay community, but it was understood that anyone could develop this disease. Man, woman or child was not safe.
Since its initial showing, scientists, researchers, and doctors from around the world worked on finding how the disease was spread and how/if it could be prevented and treated once infected. The prognosis for someone who is HIV+ now is vastly different than in the beginning. Now there are treatments available that can keep a person HIV+ without having them develop AIDS. In this case, the person, with proper diet, exercise and treatment can live a fairly normal life. There are medications available that someone can take to help them from becoming HIV+ if they are having high-risk sex.
So far there hasn’t been an effective vaccine to prevent a healthy person from becoming HIV+. There needs to be safe sex practices with the proper barriers in place and not having high-risk sex. The blood supply at blood banks is now tested before it is used. Mothers who are HIV+ are cautioned against breastfeeding because it could be passed in the milk. Also, people who use/abuse IV drugs are cautioned against sharing or re-using needles. Additionally, knowing and understanding how HIV and AIDS develop is a step in the right direction for prevention.
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