This is a chronic disease. Most infected people only show signs and symptoms of the disease after many years.

Adults:

• The average time from HIV infection to testing HIV positive is two months. Some people have a flu-like illness that ends 2-3 weeks before they test positive.
• Average time from flu-like illness to AIDS is 10 years in developed countries, but is thought to be shorter in developing countries.
• Average survival following a full-blown AIDS condition is 2-3 years.

Babies:

• About 30% of babies born to HIV infected mothers become infected unless specific interventions are used to reduce transmission.
• About 20% of infected infants become rapid progressors with an average life span of about 3.5 years. The other 80% become slow progressors with a life span of about 9.5 years. Survival is shorter where poorer health and care occurs (Steinberg et.al., 1999).

TEENAGERS, YOUNG ADULTS AND STREET CHILDREN

Universally, adolescents have been identified as a group at high risk for HIV-infection. In South Africa, persons 20-29 years of age account for a significant proportion (24,5%) of all known AIDS cases. Given the median latency period of 8-10 years, many of the young adults must have been infected during their teenage years (Richter & Swart-Kruger, 1995).

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE

Many health workers are exposed to HIV infections on a daily basis.

REFERENCES

Richter, L.M. & J. Swart-Kruger 1995: AIDS-risk among street children and youth: implications for intervention. South African Journal of Psychology, 25:1, 31-5.