AIDS

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Somali: cudurka difaac-yaraanta la-helay) is the designation for the most advanced stage of HIV infection. HIV attacks the body's immune cells, particularly CD4 lymphocytes. When the count of these cells falls, the body cannot defend itself against certain infections and some cancers.

The distinction between HIV and AIDS is important: HIV is the virus, while AIDS is a medical condition diagnosed when a person with HIV develops certain symptoms or infections, or when their CD4 cell count falls below a defined threshold. A person with HIV who takes consistent treatment can live for many years without developing AIDS.

How the virus is transmitted

HIV is transmitted through certain body fluids: blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk. Common transmission routes include unprotected sexual contact, needle sharing, transfusion of unscreened blood, and mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. HIV is not transmitted through touch, air, food, or insect bites.

Stages and symptoms

In the weeks following infection, many people experience flu-like symptoms: fever, rash, and fatigue. This is followed by a long period with few obvious symptoms, but the virus continues to replicate and damage the immune system. AIDS is recognised by opportunistic infections such as thrush, a particular type of pneumonia, fungal infections, and severe weight loss.

Testing and treatment

Testing relies on blood tests that detect immune cells responding to the virus or viral material itself. Treatment uses antiretroviral therapy (ART), which stops the virus from replicating. When medication is taken consistently, viral load in the blood drops to undetectable levels, reducing transmission risk and slowing disease progression. No cure has been approved to date.

Prevention and public health

Prevention methods include condom use, early testing and treatment, medications called PrEP that prevent infection, clean needles, and programmes to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Health systems also emphasise reducing stigma, since community fear may deter people from seeking testing and treatment.