World AIDS Day

Today, on December 1st, World AIDS Day is celebrated in many countries of the world, and this is a unique opportunity to unite people around the world to fight HIV, as well as to express support to people living with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV / AIDS), and recall those who died from this dangerous disease.

The history of this disease has about 35 years. Thus, in 1981, AIDS was first registered in the United States of America, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (immune deficiency) in humans (HIV). For the first time, the day to combat the deadly syndrome was celebrated in 1988 and became the first global day of health. Today, science has made great progress in treating HIV infection, and there are laws that protect people living with HIV / AIDS. But despite this, many people still do not know how to protect themselves and others from HIV, and misunderstanding and discrimination remain a reality for many people living with HIV.

World AIDS Day is important in order to remind the public and authorities that HIV has not disappeared and there is still a huge need in the world to raise funds to combat this terrible viral disease that makes the human body vulnerable to serious infections, as well as raising public awareness, defeating prejudice and improving education.

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

AIDS comes from the English phrase Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which means acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, which infects the cells of the immune system. AIDS is actually the most severe and final (death) stage of HIV infection or a group of diseases that occur because of seriously damaged immune system. HIV infection weakens the human immune system as a result of which the patient’s body loses the ability to defend itself against infections and tumors and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) gradually develops.

How is HIV transmitted?

From HIV infection to the onset of AIDS syndrome, it can take about 10 years on average. During this time, there is a chance that a person will not have any symptoms of the disease and will feel very good and look completely healthy. However, all this time, he unwittingly can transmit the virus to other people.

HIV can be transmitted in three main ways: it is present in the blood, semen and vaginal secretion of an infected person. There are enough quantities of it to infect other people.

If you know a person infected with the HIV virus, or are afraid to get it from an unfamiliar person, then it is important to know how HIV infection is not transmitted. HIV virus is NOT transmitted:

- at household
- with a kiss
- with a handshake
- when sneezing and coughing
- through tears and saliva
- through insect bites
- through animal bites
- when using a shared toilet
- through cutlery
- when swimming together in the pool