lymph glands, weakness, skin lesions, and weight loss. People are diagnosed with AIDS when their CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells/mm or if they develop certain opportunistic illnesses. People with AIDS can have a high viral load and be very infectious. More than 700,000 people in the United States with an AIDS diagnosis have died since its discovery, with 1,744 deaths in 2020, in spite of the advances in treatment. The following are risk factors that can affect anyone at any age and regardless of status . ● Having sex with someone without being 100% sure of their HIV status. Remember, 13% of people are unaware of their infection. ● Injecting drugs or sharing needles. This can include steroids, hormones, and insulin. ● Acquiring any sexually transmitted disease, hepatitis, or tuberculosis. HIV often travels with other infectious diseases, so if you have contracted another virus, there is a heightened chance that you could have also contracted HIV. ● Having sex with someone who has any of the above risk factors. Don’t forget, when you put yourself at risk, you put all of your future partners at risk as well. that, with each sexual or drug use encounter, they are placing themselves at heightened risk of contracting the virus. Furthermore, the different demographic, social, and economic factors of each distinct community can further contribute to the level of risk. These factors can include income, education, geographic region, or even prevalence of stigma and discrimination. 2019, the rate for males (21.0) was 5 times the rate for females (4.5). ● By HIV transmission category : The annual number of HIV infections in 2019, compared with 2015, decreased among males with transmission attributed to male-to-male sexual contact, but remained stable among all other transmission categories. In 2019, the largest percentages of HIV infections were attributed to male-to-male sexual contact (66% overall and 81% among males). In 2019, among females, the largest percentage of HIV infection was attributed to heterosexual contact (83%). Despite the level of risk based on ethnicity, gender, and lifestyle, everyone can take precautions to help reduce their risk and maintain an HIV-negative status. By learning about prevention strategies and standard precautions, we can reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and lessen the devastation resulting from the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Stage 3: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) AIDS is the most severe phase of HIV infection . People with AIDS have badly damaged immune systems, leading to an increasing number of severe illnesses, called opportunistic illnesses . Without treatment, people with AIDS typically survive about three years. Common symptoms of AIDS include chills, fever, sweats, swollen
WHO IS AT RISK?
Anyone who engages in behaviors that place them in contact with blood, semen, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk may be at risk for getting HIV. Even if you are in a long-term, monogamous (one partner) relationship, it is important to confirm your HIV status to be sure that you and your partner remain healthy and HIV-negative. According to the CDC, everyone aged 13 to 64 should include HIV testing at least once as part of their health care routine, even if they do not feel they are at risk.
High-risk groups In the U.S., HIV is most commonly spread through sexual intercourse, be it anal or vaginal, and by sharing drug-use equipment (or works) with someone who is carrying the virus . While these risks are the same for everyone, HIV continues to devastate some risk groups more than others. Certain populations are at greater risk because there are higher rates of HIV infection within their communities or population groups. This means Key points: HIV incidence ● The estimated number of new HIV infections in 2019 was 34,800, showing a decline of 8% from 2015, after a period of general stability. The rate was 12.6 (per 100,000 people) . ● By age group: The annual number of HIV infections in 2019, compared with 2015, decreased among persons aged 13–24 and persons aged 45–54, but remained stable among all other age groups. In 2019, the rate was highest for persons aged 25-34 (30.1), followed by the rate for persons aged 35–44 (16.5). ● By race/ethnicity : The annual number of HIV infections in 2019, compared with 2015, decreased among persons of multiple races, but remained stable for all other races/ethnicities. In 2019, the highest rate was for Blacks/African Americans (42.1), followed by Hispanic/Latinos (21.7), and persons of multiple races (18.4). ● By sex at birth : The annual number of new HIV infections in 2019, as compared with 2015, decreased among males, but remained stable among females. In
PREVENTION AND PRECAUTIONS
National HIV/AIDS Strategy The federal government’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy (2022‑2025) “provides stakeholders across the nation with a roadmap to accelerate efforts to end the HIV epidemic
in the United States by 2030.” At the same time, the strategy aims to support people with HIV and reduce illness and death related to the virus.
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