What is AIDS actually?
AIDS stands for “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome” and is the late result of an infection with the HI virus (Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The virus attacks the body’s own cells, which are responsible for defense against pathogens. Therefore, they can no longer perform their defensive functions.
AIDS is the last stage of the disease. At this point, the immune system is already severely impaired and therefore helplessly exposed to many pathogens. Most of these microbes are generally not capable of harming a healthy body. However, if the body is weakened due to illness, they can lead to serious illness and eventually death.
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
AIDS and HIV are not the same thing. On the contrary, AIDS is the final stage of HIV. That is, the disease develops from infection with the HI virus. Therefore, people infected with HIV are not automatically affected by AIDS. People infected with the HI virus often develop AIDS many years after the event.
How is HIV transmitted?
Infection with HIV is possible when the virus enters the bloodstream or mucous membranes. It can be transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluid or breast milk.
The virus is mostly transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse. Especially anal sex carries a high risk of HIV transmission.
But caution is not only necessary during sexual intercourse, the joint use of syringes can also trigger infection. The virus can survive in dried blood residues in cannulas for several days. Especially drug addicts are affected by such infections.
The virus can also be transmitted through blood transfusions. However, HIV tests are routinely performed on blood donors in Switzerland.
The virus can also be transmitted from mother to baby. This happens during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. However, with optimal conditions, the risk can be reduced to less than two percent thanks to modern medicine.
Despite all these risks, HIV is one of the pathogens that is difficult to transmit. The virus is very sensitive and cannot live outside the body. It is also not transmitted by coughing, sneezing or sharing the toilet. Therefore, living or working with HIV-infected people does not pose any danger.
How does the disease progress?
If left untreated, HIV infection goes through three stages. The duration of these stages varies from person to person.
Stage 1: primary infection and latent stage
The viral load increases rapidly shortly after infection. Therefore, the risk of transmission at the stage of primary infection is particularly high.
In the first few weeks after infection, symptoms such as the flu or a cold often occur. However, the symptoms of the disease disappear after a while. From this point on, the infection is initially inconspicuous. Patients often live without symptoms for years and do not even realize that they are infected with the dangerous virus. But the virus is spreading secretly and always strains the immune system.
Stage 2: stage with general symptoms
The immune system is weakened due to permanent exposure to the HI virus. At this point, it can no longer defend itself against all pathogens. Symptoms of this are signs of an immune deficiency such as skin diseases, swollen lymph nodes, heavy night sweats or others.
Stage 3: AIDS
The immune system is now so weak that it can no longer fight serious, life-threatening diseases. Once started, life expectancy without treatment is from a few months to three years.
How is HIV treated?
HIV is treated with a combination of different drugs. Although drugs cannot completely remove the virus from the body, they can effectively stop the virus from multiplying in immune system cells.
Timely treatment for HIV significantly improves quality of life and life expectancy. The treatment is so effective that the virus is not transmitted during unprotected sex, and children can become pregnant and born naturally.
AIDS facts and figures
Approximately 37.9 million people worldwide are living with HIV (as of 2018). 23.3 million have access to treatment, 16 million more than in 2010. 770,000 people died from AIDS worldwide in 2018, compared to 1.2 million in 2010. More than half of people living with HIV live in Eastern and Southern Africa.
About 17,000 people infected with the HI virus live in Switzerland. 425 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2018 – five percent less than in the previous year.