Stage 1 or Category C is where you have a confirmed positive test result for the antibody to H.I.V. which is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or a positive test for the virus itself with no associated symptoms. That is, a positive test with no symptoms.

Stage 2 or Category B is where you have clinical evidence of the disease with associated positive testing. This stage includes early signs of swollen glands, weight loss, sweats, tiredness and thrush. These symptoms can revert back to Stage 1 with associated relapses.

Stage 3 or Category A is the final stage of the disease. Kaposi’s Sarcoma, the purple discoloured growths on the skin and inside the mouth, nose or anus may appear. Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia can and generally does appear in the lungs. The patient or sufferer loses all ability to resist infection particularly in the bowel with the production of intractable diarrhoea. Brain involvement producing a form of dementia can also happen. Stage 3 or Category A is the final stage with death the end result from infections against which there is no immune defense.

As there is no cure for AIDS at present, the only way of stopping the spread of AIDS is prevention. The following points are important :