HIV/Aids

According to a new study, a saliva test used to diagnose the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is comparable in accuracy to the traditional blood test.

Overview

Aids is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV is mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse, but can also be passed down from mother to child, acquired via blood transfusion with infected blood, or other methods. Once a person is infected, the virus remains in the body for life. There is no cure for Aids, but there are drugs that help control the virus, enabling people with HIV to live full and healthy lives. There are also various methods to help prevent the spread of the disease. An estimated 5.6 million South Africans are infected with HIV/Aids, making it one of the countries worst affected by HIV/Aids in the world.