Q. Why Do I Need to Know About HIV infection and AIDS ?
Ans. Unlike many diseases, HIV infection and AIDS are preventable. While it can be disturbing to think about AIDS and consider your risk, getting up-to-date information is the first step toward protecting yourself. An estimated 800,000 to 1.2 million people in the United States are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This virus damages cells in the immune (defense) system that fight off infections and diseases. As the virus gradually destroys these important cells, the immune system becomes less and less able to protect against illness . Typically, HIV lives in an infected person's body for months or years before any signs of illness appear. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is the last stage of HIV infection. People with AIDS experience certain life-threatening infections and cancers which make them very sick and can eventually kill them.