What happens when a person is HIV positive and what may be its evolution?

We can separate three phases that may occur after infection with HIV:

- Primary: infected people are beginning to produce anti-HIV antibodies that may be detectable with the serological test. People are then infected.

- Evolution: in a second phase of the infection, from 6 months to 10 years or more, clinical manifestations may occur in some people and in others, evolution towards AIDS (severe form of infection with HIV), while another third group can maintained without any demonstration. Among the minor symptoms of infection with HIV can be found persistent clinical symptoms, such as an increase in the volume of the nodes in various parts of the body, weight loss greater than 10% of body weight, fever and night sweats, and severe forms of herpes, Persistent diarrheic and abundant. These symptoms are not specific to AIDS because many diseases, usually benign, can cause these events. People who have a low percentage of T4 cells are at high risk of evolving into the disease.

- AIDS: People who develop AIDS, because the immune system is severely damaged, they can submit the following events:
•OpportunisticAJJInfections;
•some cancers (lymphomas and Kaposi's sarcoma);
•other conditions: neurological syndrome thinning, and so on.

However, other people may remain without symptoms. It is clear that a number of HIV positive can maintain a state of incubation for more than 10 years, but they could develop the disease later because the maximum incubation time is still unknown.

Does it cure?

The eradication of HIV in infected patients does not seem possible with current treatments. Properly speaking, today AIDS is incurable. However, many of the processes necessary to undertake the lives of AIDS patients are treated effectively. In addition, the administration of anti-retroviral drugs has led to significantly prolong survival in zero positive patients, so that the disease had become a chronic process.
Despite the extensive development that has made the investigation of this disease in recent years, still does not seem to close the availability of an effective vaccine.

AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference 3-8 August 2008, Mexico City

The XVII International AIDS Conference has ended in the Mexican capital after five days of spirited participation involving an estimated 22,000 people engaged in the global response to AIDS.

This rally brought together HIV and human rights organizations from around the world to call for vastly greater attention to human rights in the response to HIV and express support for populations at higher risk for HIV. During the rally, a copy of “Now More than Ever”, a declaration on HIV and human rights endorsed by over 500 organizations worldwide was accepted on stage by Global Fund Executive Director Michel Kazatchkine, IAS Executive Director Craig McClure and UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot. 07 August 2008
Looking to the Future--The Epidemic in 2031 and New Directions in AIDS Research

Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS took part in a Special Session co-chaired by Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, Director, Regulation of Retroviral Infections Unit, Institut Pasteur and Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet. Dr Piot spoke on the 2031 initiative: "Looking to the year 2031 and anticipating where we are likely to be in terms of the epidemic and the response."

Red Ribbon Award winners honoured

Representatives of 25 Red Ribbon Award 2008 winning communities were guests of honour at a formal Award Ceremony and Dinner held last night in Mexico City.

International AIDS Society marks 20 years

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the IAS and to commemorate the last 20 years, the IAS held a special event bringing together a number of past IAS Presidents, including Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director and UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia as well as Founding President of the IAS, Professor Lars O. Kallings.

The Lancet: Series on HIV prevention launched

The Lancet in conjunction with UNAIDS has produced a special series of six major articles on the future of global HIV prevention and held a lunchtime symposium with the authors on 5 August during the International AIDS conference Mexico City.

Special Session on the global financial architecture for AIDS

The shifting dynamics of the AIDS global financial architecture were explored in depth at a Special Session held on 5 August during the International AIDS Conference taking place in Mexico. Michel Sidibe, Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of Programmes, UNAIDS, discussed the challenges to ensuring that global standards are upheld as services are scaled up.

IAVI launches 2008 AIDS vaccine blueprint in Mexico City

With the release of its biennial AIDS Vaccine Blueprint 2008 at the International AIDS Conference today in Mexico City, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) seeks to reset both expectations and focus in the search for an AIDS vaccine.

Official opening of the Global Village at AIDS 2008

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot officially opened the Global Village at AIDS 2008, which for the coming week will be an open dialogue space where thousands of visitors will share knowledge and skills.

AIDS 2008 opens in Mexico

With great celebration and a characteristically warm Latin American welcome, the XVII International AIDS Conference opened on Sunday 3 August in Mexico City. Thousands of delegates from all over the world will spend the next week participating in conference sessions, satellite meetings, exhibitions as well as the Global Village and a wide cultural programme.

Leaders pledge to promote sexual health to stop HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean

At the conclusion of the 1st Meeting of Ministers of Education and Health to stop HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean, Ministers have signed an historic declaration committing to provide comprehensive sex education to adolescents and young people in the region.

Faith community reaches out to people living with HIV

Engaging in an act of “humility and repentance,” a world church leader began his presentation to an international ecumenical AIDS conference by washing the feet of two women living with HIV.

First Ladies and women leaders of Latin America meet in Mexico
The Coalition of First Ladies and Women Leaders of Latin America on Women and AIDS met on 2 August and approved a statement reaffirming their commitment to advocate for improved HIV services for women and ’s health.

Dr Peter Piot attends opening ceremony of Positive Leadership Forum

UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot attended "Living 2008", the 2 day Positive Leadership Forum taking place in Mexico 31 July-1 August 2008.

350 HIV-positive global leaders and advocates from 88 countries have come together to discuss a range of issues in the AIDS response impacting people living with HIV worldwide.

MSM and the global HIV epidemic
Ahead of AIDS 2008, a two day forum being held in Mexico will focus on men who have sex with men and HIV. In many parts of the world social taboos largely prevent sustained discussion on the issue and have inhibited efforts to promote safer sexual relations.

Positive Leadership Summit 2008

Ahead of the Positive Leadership Summit which will begin in Mexico City on 31 July, unaids.org asked Kate Thomson, UNAIDS Chief of Civil Society Partnerships to reflect on the changing leadership role of the global positive community and today’s outstanding issues.

Anti-stigma campaign to be launched at Mexico AIDS Conference

AIDES, the French national AIDS association, and the International AIDS Society (IAS) have joined forces to denounce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV through an awareness campaign titled “If I were HIV-positive”.

“YouthForce”: The Power of Youth at AIDS 2008

To promote and strengthen young delegates' meaningful participation in the AIDS 2008 conference, YouthForce is coordinating a three day event for approximately 250 young HIV activists.
The Life Initiative – Hotels addressing AIDS

UNAIDS and the Mexican hotel industry are launching an HIV prevention campaign entitled “The Life Initiative – Hotels addressing AIDS”. Aimed at hotel guests and staff the initiative will raise awareness about HIV prevention and non-discrimination of people living with HIV.

The XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008) will be held in México City, México from 3-8 August 2008 under the theme Universal Action Now. The International AIDS Conference is the world’s largest HIV forum, with over 20,000 participants and 3,000 international media expected and it is the first International AIDS Conference to be held in Latin America.

AIDS 2008 will provide many opportunities for the presentation of important new scientific research and for productive, structured dialogue on the major challenges facing the global response to AIDS.

AIDS 2008 is convened by the International AIDS Society (IAS) with the support of local partners such as the federal government of Mexico, the Government of Mexico City and local scientific and community leadership. UNAIDS and its cosponsors are among the international institutional partners for AIDS 2008.

AIDS Foundation of San Francisco, SFAF - United States

Communication Strategies SFAF offers programs designed to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV / AIDS and to reduce the number of new infections happens every year.