World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 every year. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is caused by the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection

It is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite, learn, and show support for those living with HIV infection or those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses and advocate for increased efforts to prevent new infections

Symptoms

Common symptoms include fever, chills, rashes, muscle aches, sore throats, and mouth ulcers

Other symptoms also include hairy leukoplakia on the tongue, diarrhoea, weight loss, oral yeast infection, and pneumonia

These symptoms may persist for many days or for several weeks. Some people also do not have any symptoms during the early stages of HIV

Prevention

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), HIV is spread through unprotected sex, contact with the blood of an infected person, infected mother’s milk, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluid, and vaginal fluid

To avoid this, one should always practice safe sex (condoms and other barrier methods), test for HIV at regular intervals, and avoid any contact with the blood of an infected person

One may also be able to take advantage of HIV prevention medicines such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

On this day, individuals learn about HIV transmission, prevention, testing, treatment, and the stigma and discrimination experienced by persons who are infected

The day was established to provide a platform for governments, organisations, and individuals to raise awareness and take action against HIV/AIDS