The full form of Aids or AIDS is Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. This type of disease or infection is caused from the damage to the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV.

Because of the presence of the HIV virus, the general immune system of the body gets affected. This results in the increased chances of human beings to catch various kinds of infections and develop tumors. HIV can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, flowing of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, seminal fluid and through breast milk. Aids can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy and childbirth.

With regard to people suffering from Aids, it has been found out that in the year 2007, an estimated 33.2 million people lived with AIDS. This disease has taken estimated 2.1 million people lives, including 330,000 children. Although a number of treatments can be done for AIDS and HIV, no complete cure or vaccination is possible.

Antiretroviral treatment can be done to reduce both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but these drugs are quite expensive and are not available in all countries. The World Health Organization or WHO has taken up extensive health campaigns and efforts to fight against Aids.

The symptoms of Aids do not normally develop in individuals with healthy immune systems. These conditions develop through infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites that are normally controlled by those elements that HIV damages.

People with AIDS have an increased risk of developing various cancers such as Kaposi’s sarcoma, cervical cancer and cancers of the immune system known as lymphomas. People suffering from Aids can also be affected by fevers, swollen glands, chills, weakness and excessive weight loss.

Thus through safe sex and not using contaminated hypodermic needles. Aids can be avoided.