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About 2.6 million children under 15 are living with HIV/AIDS.

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It's estimated that 37 million people are living with AIDS: approximately 1 in 200 people in the world today. More than 2.6 million children under 15 are currently living with HIV and AIDS. That's why Save the Children has prevention programs to stop the spread of AIDS and protection programs to help children who have been orphaned or are vulnerable due to the infection.

A growing body of evidence demonstrates how children living with or affected by HIV and AIDS are especially vulnerable to issues of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Save the Children works to prevent the spread of HIV and ensure children affected by AIDS get the help they need. With the support of donors and partners, we help communities to care for sick and vulnerable children, as well as provide education, emotional support, nutritious food and much more.

Save the Children envisions a world where children and families can live free of HIV infection and in which families that are affected by HIV and AIDS can live positively and productively without stigma and discrimination.

Drawing on our global experience, Save the Children supports hundreds of thousands of children and young people at risk for, and affected by, HIV. Save the Children takes on a comprehensive approach in addressing HIV and AIDS, focusing on orphans and other vulnerable children; young people most at risk in the epidemic; and efforts to combat Pediatric AIDS including mother-to-child transmission prevention programs.

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Save the Children supports lifesaving and life changing programs for children affected by HIV and AIDS. Whether orphaned by the disease or fighting infection, children are faced with heartnreaking struggles every day. learn more and find our what you can do to help

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~ Use comdoms during sexual activity
~ Don’t share needles

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The Basics of HIV Prevention

Last Reviewed: October 30, 2018

How is HIV spread?

The person-to-person spread of HIV is called HIV transmission. HIV is transmitted (spread) only in certain body fluids from a person who has HIV:

HIV transmission is only possible if these fluids come in contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or are directly injected into the bloodstream (from a needle or syringe). Mucous membranes are found inside the rectum, the vagina, the opening of the penis, and the mouth.

In the United States, HIV is spread mainly by:

Having anal or vaginal sex with someone who has HIV without using a condom or taking medicines to prevent or treat HIV

Sharing injection drug equipment ("works"), such as needles, with someone who has HIV

HIV can also spread from a woman with HIV to her child during pregnancy, childbirth (also called labor and delivery), or breastfeeding. This spread of HIV is called mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

In the past, some people were infected with HIV after receiving a blood transfusion or organ or tissue transplant from a donor with HIV. Today, this risk is very low because donated blood, organs, and tissues are carefully tested in the United States.

You can't get HIV from casual contact with a person who has HIV, for example from a handshake, a hug, or a closed-mouth kiss. And you can't get HIV from contact with objects such as toilet seats, doorknobs, or dishes used by a person who has HIV. Use the AIDS info You Can Safely Share...With Someone With HIV infographic to spread this message.

How can I reduce my risk of getting HIV?

Anyone can get HIV, but you can take steps to protect yourself from HIV infection.

Get tested and know your partner's HIV status. Talk to your partner about HIV testing and get tested before you have sex. Use this testing locator from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to find an HIV testing location near you.

Have less risky sex. HIV is mainly spread by having anal or vaginal sex without a condom or without taking medicines to prevent or treat HIV.

Use condoms. Use a condom correctly every time you have sex. Read this fact sheet from CDC on how to use condoms correctly.

Limit your number of sexual partners. The more partners you have, the more likely you are to have a partner with HIV whose HIV is not well controlled or to have a partner with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Both of these factors can increase the risk of HIV transmission.

Get tested and treated for STDs. Insist that your partners get tested and treated too. Having an STD can increase your risk of becoming infected with HIV or spreading it to others.

Talk to your health care provider about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is an HIV prevention option for people who don't have HIV but who are at high risk of becoming infected with HIV. PrEP involves taking a specific HIV medicine every day. For more information, read the AIDSinfo fact sheet on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

Don't inject drugs. But if you do, use only sterile drug injection equipment and water and never share your equipment with others.

I am HIV positive but my partner is HIV negative. How can I protect my partner from HIV?

Take HIV medicines daily. Treatment with HIV medicines (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. ART can't cure HIV infection, but it can reduce the amount of HIV in the body (also called the viral load). A main goal of ART is to reduce a person's viral load to an undetectable level. An undetectable viral load means that the level of HIV in the blood is too low to be detected by a viral load test. People with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative partner through sex.

Here are some other steps you can take to protect your partner from HIV:

Use condoms correctly every time you have sex.

Talk to your partner about taking PrEP.

If you inject drugs, don't share your needles, syringes, or other drug equipment with your partner.

Are HIV medicines used in other situations to prevent HIV infection?

Yes, HIV medicines are also used for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
PEP is the use of HIV medicines to reduce the risk of HIV infection soon after a possible exposure to HIV. PEP may be used, for example, after a person has sex without a condom with a person who has HIV or after a health care worker is accidentally exposed to HIV in the workplace. To be effective, PEP must be started within 3 days after the possible exposure to HIV. PEP involves taking HIV medicines each day for 28 days. For more information, read the AIDSinfo fact sheet on Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
Women with HIV take HIV medicines during pregnancy and childbirth to reduce the risk of passing HIV to their babies and to protect their own health. Their newborn babies also receive HIV medicine for 4 to 6 weeks after birth. The HIV medicine reduces the risk of infection from any HIV that may have entered a baby's body during childbirth. For more information, read the AIDSinfo fact sheet on Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV.

How can I learn more about preventing HIV?

Browse through the following information. This fact sheet is based on this information.

From CDC:

From the Department of Health and Human Services:

Recommendations for the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs in Pregnant Women with HIV Infection and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States:

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The Basics of HIV Prevention Understanding HIV/AIDS

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Last Reviewed: October 30, 2018 How is HIV spread? The person-to-person spread of HIV is called HIV transmission. HIV is transmitted (spread) only in certain body fluids from a person who has HIV: HIV transmission is only possible if these fluids come in contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or are directly injected into the bloodstream (from a needle or syringe).

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~ Acute illness
~ asymptomatic period

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HIV is a virus that affects the immune system, specifically the CD4 cells. The CD4 cells help protect the body from illness. Unlike other viruses that the immune system can normally fight off, HIV can't be eliminated by the immune system.

The symptoms of HIV can vary greatly from person to person. No two men with HIV will likely experience the exact same symptoms. However, an HIV infection in men will generally follow this pattern:

acute illness

asymptomatic period

advanced infection

Acute illness

Approximately 80 percent of people who are infected with HIV experience flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks of becoming infected. This flu-like illness is known as acute HIV infection. It's the primary stage of the infection and lasts until the body has created antibodies against the HIV virus.

The most common symptoms of acute HIV include:

Less common symptoms may include:

Symptoms typically last 1 to 2 weeks. If you have several of these symptoms and suspect you may have been infected, schedule an appointment with your doctor and get tested.

Asymptomatic period

After the initial symptoms disappear, HIV may not cause any other symptoms for months or years. During this time, the virus replicates within your body and begins to weaken your immune system. You won't feel or look sick, but the virus is still active. You can easily transmit it to others. This is why early testing, even when you feel fine, is so important.

Advanced infection

It may take some time, but HIV may eventually break down your immune system. Once this happens, HIV will progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is the last stage of infection. At this point, your immune system is severely damaged, making you more susceptible to opportunistic infections.
Learn more: Common HIV opportunistic infections "
Opportunistic infections are conditions that the body would normally be able to fight off, but that can be life-threatening to people who have HIV. You may notice that you frequently get colds, flus, and fungal infections. You might also experience the following AIDS symptoms:

nausea

vomiting

persistent diarrhea

chronic fatigue

rapid weight loss

cough and shortness of breath

recurring fever, chills, and night sweats

rashes, sores, or lesions in the mouth or nose, on the genitals, or under the skin

prolonged swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpits, groin, or neck

memory loss, confusion, or neurological disorders

Learn more: HIV vs. AIDS "
As HIV progresses, it attacks and destroys enough CD4 cells that the body can no longer fight off infection and disease. When this happens, the HIV infection can lead to AIDS. The time it takes for HIV to progress to AIDS may be anywhere from a few months to 10 years or even longer.

However, not everyone who has HIV will develop AIDS. HIV can be controlled with medication called combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The medication combination is also sometimes referred to as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

This type of drug therapy can prevent the virus from replicating. While it can usually slow the progression of HIV and improve quality of life, treatment is most effective when it's started early.
Read more: Understanding the "AIDS cocktail" "
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 1.2 million Americans have HIV, and the prevalence of infection is on the rise among men. In 2015, the estimated number of HIV diagnoses in the United States was 39,513. Approximately 81 percent of those diagnoses were among men ages 13 and older.

HIV can affect people of any race, gender, or sexual orientation. The virus passes from person to person through contact with infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. Having unprotected sex with an infected partner greatly increases the risk of contracting HIV.

Take action and get tested

Ask your doctor for an HIV test if you're sexually active or have ever shared needles, especially if you notice any of the symptoms presented here. The CDC recommends yearly testing for people who use intravenous drugs, people who are sexually active and have multiple partners, and people who have had sex with someone who is infected.

Testing is quick and simple and only requires a small sample of blood. Many medical clinics, community health centers, and substance abuse programs offer HIV tests. You can also order a home HIV test kit online, such as the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, which doesn't require you to send the sample to a lab. Simply test yourself and see results in 20 to 40 minutes.
Read more: HIV home testing with the rapid HIV test "
You may feel anxious or scared about getting tested for HIV, but know that a prompt diagnosis is critical.

There's no cure for HIV. However, getting treatment early can slow the progression of the disease and significantly improve your quality of life.

A 2013 study found that people with HIV might have a near-normal life expectancy if they start treatment before their immune systems are severely damaged. Additionally, a study by the National Institutes of Health found that early treatment helped people with HIV reduce their risk of passing the infection on to their partners.

The CDC estimates that, in the United States, 1 in 8 people living with HIV don't know that they have it. In the last several years, the number of people living with HIV has increased, while the annual number of new HIV infections has stayed fairly stable.

It's crucial that you watch out for your own health by being aware of the symptoms of HIV and by getting tested as soon as you suspect you may have been infected. You should also take steps to prevent HIV infection by avoiding exposure to potentially infectious bodily fluids.

You can reduce your risk of HIV by taking preventive measures:

Practice safe sex: Use a condom during vaginal and anal sex. When used correctly, condoms are highly effective at protecting against HIV.

Avoid intravenous drugs: Never share or reuse needles. Many cities have needle exchange programs that provide sterile needles.

Take precautions: Always assume that blood might be infectious. Protect yourself by using latex gloves and other barriers.

Get tested for HIV: Getting tested is the only way to know whether or not you have HIV. If you test positive for HIV, you can get treatment and take steps to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others.

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HIV is a virus that affects the immune system, specifically the CD4 cells. The CD4 cells help protect the body from illness. Unlike other viruses that the immune system can normally fight off, HIV can't be eliminated by the immune system. The symptoms of HIV can vary greatly from person to person.

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~ Skin rashes/ Skin sore
~Swollen Glands

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Early symptoms of HIV infection may be mild and easily dismissed. But even without noticeable symptoms, an infected person can still pass the virus to others. That's one of many reasons why it's important to know if you have the disease.

If you're a woman, you may wonder how HIV symptoms for you might differ from those for men. Many HIV symptoms are the same for men and women, but not all. Here's a list of 10 common symptoms, including those that are specific to women.
Read more: Find out who's at higher risk of getting HIV "
In the early weeks after becoming infected with HIV, it's not uncommon for people to be without symptoms. Some people may have mild flu-like symptoms, including:

Often, these symptoms go away within a few weeks. In some cases, it may take as many as 10 years for more severe symptoms to appear.

Most people with HIV develop skin problems. Rash is the most common symptom of HIV. In a person with HIV, the skin can become extremely sensitive to irritants and sunlight. A rash may appear as a flat red patch with small bumps, and skin may become flaky.

Sores, or lesions, may form on the skin of the mouth, genitals, and anus, and may be difficult to treat. People with HIV are also at increased risk of herpes and shingles. With proper medication, skin problems may become less severe.

We all have lymph nodes throughout our bodies, including the neck, back of the head, armpits, and groin. As part of the immune system, our lymph nodes fend off infections by storing immune cells and filtering for harmful substances. As the HIV infection begins to spread, the immune system kicks into high gear. The result is enlarged lymph nodes, commonly known as swollen glands. It's often one of the first signs of HIV. In people infected with HIV, swollen glands may last for several months.

HIV makes it harder for the immune system to fight off germs, so it's easier for opportunistic infections to take hold. Some of these include pneumonia, tuberculosis, and hepatitis C. People with HIV are more prone to infections of the skin, eyes, lungs, kidneys, digestive tract, and brain. It may also be more difficult to treat common ailments like the flu.

Taking extra precautions, including frequent hand washing and taking HIV medications, can help prevent some of these illnesses and their complications.

People infected with HIV may experience long periods of low-grade fever. A temperature between 99.8°F and 100.8°F (37.6°C and 38.2°C) is considered to be a low-grade fever. Your body develops a fever when something is wrong, but the cause isn't always obvious. Because it's a low-grade fever, those who are unaware of their HIV-positive status may ignore the symptom. Sometimes, night sweats that can interfere with sleep may accompany fever.

Women with HIV can have changes to their menstrual cycle. Your period may be lighter or heavier than normal, or you may not have a period at all. You may also have more severe premenstrual symptoms.

Bacterial and yeast infections may be more common in women who are HIV-positive. They may also be harder to treat.

HIV also increases your risk of getting STIs, including:

If you have genital herpes, your outbreaks may be worse and happen more often. Also, your body may not respond as well to your herpes treatment.

PID is an infection of your uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. PID in HIV-positive women may be harder to treat. Also, symptoms may last longer than usual or return more often.

As HIV progresses, symptoms can include:

In the later stages, HIV can lead to:

The most advanced stage of HIV is called acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). At this stage, the immune system is severely compromised and infections become increasingly hard to fight off. Certain cancers mark the transition from HIV to AIDS. These are called "AIDS-defining cancers" and include Kaposi sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. They also include cervical cancer, which is specific to women.

The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested. It's easy and you can do it anonymously. You can get tested at your doctor's office, go to a local testing site, or do an at-home test. Check out the AIDS.gov website for more information.

HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids. This can happen through sharing needles during drug use or through sexual intercourse. Key ways to reduce the risk of HIV infection include the following:

If you use intravenous drugs, don't share needles.

Unless you have a single sexual partner who is HIV-negative (and as long as you are their only partner), always use a condom and use it properly.

Don't douche after sex. It provides no protection against transmission of HIV. Also, douching can alter the natural bacterial balance of yeast in the vagina, increasing the risk of HIV and STDs, or making an existing infection worse.

If you have any of these symptoms and are concerned that you have HIV, a good first step is to talk to your doctor. Most HIV symptoms can also be caused by other factors, and your doctor can help determine if something else is causing your symptoms. They can also guide you in getting tested for HIV, and help devise a treatment plan for your symptoms, whatever their cause turns out to be.

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Early symptoms of HIV infection may be mild and easily dismissed. But even without noticeable symptoms, an infected person can still pass the virus to others. That's one of many reasons why it's important to know if you have the disease. If you're a woman, you may wonder how HIV symptoms for you might differ from those for men.

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About 36.7 million people are living with HIV and 30% don’t know their status

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2018 global HIV statistics

HIV continues to be a major global public health issue. In 2018 an estimated 37.9 million people were living with HIV (including 1.7 million children), with a global HIV prevalence of 0.8% among adults. Around 21% of these same people do not know that they have the virus. 1

Since the start of the epidemic, an estimated 74.9 million people have become infected with HIV and 32 million people have died of AIDS-related illnesses. In 2018, 770,000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses. This number has reduced by more than 55% since the peak of 1.7 million in 2004 and 1.4 million in 2010. 2

The vast majority of people living with HIV are located in low- and middle- income countries, with an estimated 68% living in sub-Saharan Africa. Among this group 20.6 million are living in East and Southern Africa which saw 800,000 new HIV infections in 2018. 3

Reaching the 90-90-90 targets

While there has been progress towards UNAIDS' 90-90-90 targets for prevention and treatment, year-on-year reductions this appears to be stalling and at current rates the targets will not be achieved by the 2020 deadline.

The first 90
In 2018, nearly four out of five people living with HIV (79%) knew their status.

The second 90
Among people who knew their status, four out of five (78%) were accessing treatment.

The third 90
And among people accessing treatment, four out of five (86%) were virally suppressed. West and Central Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions need urgent action if they are to reach the targets.

New infections

There is renewed concern that the annual number of new infections among adults has remained static in recent years. In 2018, there were roughly 1.7 million new HIV infections - an insignificant improvement on 2017 (1.8 million). 4

In the past eight years, global new HIV infections have declined by just 16%, from 2.1million in 2010. Although this is nearly half the number of new infections compared to the peak in 1997 (2.9 million), the decline is not quick enough to reach the target of fewer than 500,000 by 2020.

While new HIV infections among children globally have also declined, from 280,000 in 2010 to 160,000 in 2018 - a 41% reduction - reports indicate that this is far less progress being made than previously thought and there is much more that needs to be done to improve knowledge of HIV and HIV testing among adolescents and young adults.

In 2018, more than half of new HIV infections globally were among key affected populations and their partners. Moreover, they accounted for more than 95% of new HIV infections in Eastern Europe and Central Asia; 95% of new HIV infections in Middle East and North Africa; 88% of new HIV infections in Western and central Europe and North America; 78% of new HIV infections in Asia and the Pacific; 65% of new HIV infections in Latin America; 64% of new HIV infections in Western and central Africa; 47% of new HIV infections in the Caribbean and 25% of new HIV infections in eastern and southern Africa. 5

Young women are especially at risk, with around 6,200 new infections each week among young people aged 15-24 occurring among this group. 6 In sub-Saharan Africa, four in five new infections are among girls aged 15-19 years and young women aged 15-24 years are twice as likely to be living with HIV as men.

More than one third (35%) of women around the world have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at some time in their lives. In some regions, women who experience violence are one and a half times more likely to become infected with HIV. 7

Yet the tide may be slowly changing for women, as new global HIV infections among young women aged 15-24 years were reduced by 25% between 2010 and 2018. 8

The reduction in new HIV infections has been strongest in the region most affected by HIV, East and Southern Africa, where new HIV infections have been reduced by 28% since 2010. However, in 2017 new HIV infections rose in around 50 countries. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia the annual number of new HIV infections has doubled, and new HIV infections have increased by more than a quarter in the Middle East and North Africa over the past 20 years. 9

We are sounding the alarm. Entire regions are falling behind, the huge gains we made for children are not being sustained, women are still most affected and key populations continue to be ignored. All these elements are halting progress and urgently need to be addressed head on.

- Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS

Treatment

Despite challenges, new global efforts have meant that the number of people receiving HIV treatment has increased dramatically in recent years, particularly in resource-poor countries. In 2018, 62% of all people living with HIV were accessing treatment. Of those, 53% were virally suppressed.

This equates to 23.3 million people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) in 2018 - up from 7.7 million in 2010. However, this level of treatment scale up is still not enough for the world to meet its global target of 30 million people on treatment by 2020. 10

Significant progress has been made in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). In 2018, 82% of all pregnant women living with HIV had access to treatment to prevent HIV transmission to their babies - an increase of more than 90% from 2010. 11 12
HIV and tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, accounting for around one in three AIDS-related deaths. In 2016, 10.4 million people developed TB; of those 1.2 million were living with HIV.
Funding
At the end of 2018, US$ 19billion was available for the AIDS response. This was the first year global resources made available for the AIDS response declined - dropping from 19.9 billion in 2017.

Around 56% of the total resources for HIV in low- and middle-income countries in 2018 were drawn from domestic sources.

UNAIDS estimates that US$ 26.2 billion will be required for the AIDS response in 2020.

While considerable progress has been made, there is a risk that we will lose momentum. If the world is to be on track to end AIDS by 2030, there must be adequate and predictable financing for development. But, for the first time since 2000, the resources available for the AIDS response globally have declined. Ending AIDS is a life-saving investment that pays for itself many times over.
- Gunilla Carlson, Former UNAIDS Interim Executive Director (July, 2019)

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HIV continues to be a major global public health issue. In 2018 an estimated 37.9 million people were living with HIV (including 1.7 million children), with a global HIV prevalence of 0.8% among adults. Around 21% of these same people do not know that they have the virus.

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In 2005 people effected by HIV/AIDS would most likely die at he age of 52.

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By Marcus Low

The recently published outputs of the Thembisa mathematical model of HIV in South Africa paint a remarkable picture of the history of HIV in this country. For the period from 1990 to 2015, we've plotted five graphs below using the estimates published on the Thembisa website. For all the graphs, a solid line indicates data which have been 'matched' against available survey data, while a dashed line represents data that are more uncertain as they are the Thembisa model's projections or 'best guesses' based on previous trends in the data.

1. Life expectancy

This graph shows life expectancy at birth in South Africa. It shows a dramatic drop to 53.6 as the HIV epidemic grew to its peak in 2005. The impressive increases since then has been attributed to the wide rollout of ARVs by the state (see next graph). This graph also makes it clear that, impressive as these increases are, they are mostly just a recovery to pre-HIV levels. Life expectancy in 1995 was 62; 20 years later in 2015 it was estimated to again be 62.

2. Antiretroviral treatment (ART)

This graph shows the total number of people in South Africa receiving antiretroviral treatment. Comparing this to the previous graph, notice how dramatically life expectancy increased as antiretrovirals (ARVs) became more widely used from the mid-2000s.

3. Number of new infections and HIV deaths

The blue line on this graph shows the number of new HIV infections in South Africa by year. The good news is that the rate of new infections is decreasing from its peak of around 570 000 per year at the turn of the century. The red line represents HIV deaths per year and shows that yearly deaths peaked in 2005 at around 280 000 and then started declining (note the similar time that ARVs became more widely used in the previous graph). Notice how the red line is lower than the blue line - in other words, more people are becoming newly infected with HIV than people are dying of HIV. The result of this, as we will see in the next graph, is that the number of people living with HIV in South Africa is increasing. (Not shown on the graph: by 2015 a total of around 3.5 million people have died of HIV-related causes in South Africa.)

4. Number of people living with HIV

This graph shows the number of people living with HIV in South Africa. That this number is continuing to increase is both a bad and a good thing. As we can see from the previous graph, this effect is driven by the still high rate of new HIV infections (bad) and by the fact that people living with HIV are living longer and no longer dying at the same rates as before (good).

5. HIV prevalence

This graph shows HIV prevalence in South Africa. It is worth including here since HIV prevalence figures are often quoted in the media. Prevalence in this case is an indication of the percentage of the population who are living with HIV in a particular year. Prevalence is driven by the same forces driving the total number of people living with HIV (shown in the previous graph). The one key difference is that it also factors in that the total population of South Africa is growing. If you extend the model's predictions into the future, HIV prevalence is expected to peak in 2016 and 2017 at 12.8% and then starts coming down slowly - but the total number of people living with HIV is only predicted to reach a peak of around 7.9 million during 2030.

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HIV in SA: Five graphs that tell the story * Spotlight

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By Marcus Low The recently published outputs of the Thembisa mathematical model of HIV in South Africa paint a remarkable picture of the history of HIV in this country. For the period from 1990 to 2015, we've plotted five graphs below using the estimates published on the Thembisa website.