HIV/AIDS in Thailand
HIV/AIDS in Thailand
HIV/AIDS in Thailand (pronunciation: /ˌeɪdz/ or /ˌeɪtʃaɪˈviː/ in Thailand) is a significant public health concern that has shaped the social and economic fabric of the country since the first case was reported in 1984.
Etymology
The term HIV/AIDS is an acronym for Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The term Thailand is derived from the ethnic group native to the central part of the country, the Thai people, and means "land of the free."
Definition
HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help the immune system fight off infections. If left untreated, HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells in the body, making the person more likely to get infections or infection-related cancers. Over time, HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
AIDS is the most severe phase of HIV infection. People with AIDS have such badly damaged immune systems that they get an increasing number of severe illnesses, called opportunistic infections.
HIV/AIDS in Thailand
The first case of HIV/AIDS in Thailand was reported in 1984. Since then, the country has experienced one of the most severe HIV/AIDS epidemics in Asia. However, Thailand has also been recognized for its proactive response to the epidemic, becoming the first country in the developing world to provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) to all who need it.
Related Terms
- Antiretroviral therapy: Treatment that slows the rate at which HIV multiplies in the body.
- Opportunistic infection: An infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems, such as those infected with HIV, than in people with healthy immune systems.
- CD4 cells: A type of white blood cell that fights infection.
- T cells: A type of white blood cell that is of key importance to the immune system and is at the core of adaptive immunity, the system that tailors the body's immune response to specific pathogens.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on HIV/AIDS in Thailand
- Wikipedia's article - HIV/AIDS in Thailand
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