About HIV/AIDs
Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is a life-long infection caused the HIV virus. This infection attacks the body’s immune system or ability to fight off other infections. Without treatment, this can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDs. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 40 million people are living with HIV worldwide currently, with just under 2 million of those people being children. Most children living with HIV were born with the virus.
Impact of HIV
Now that antiretroviral (ART) therapy is widely available, HIV is a totally different disease. By taking a single pill every day, children can suppress their HIV infection and protect their immune systems. A child with HIV often looks like any other healthy child with lots of energy, joy, and curiosity. However, many of the children living with HIV are too young to understand their diagnosis and likely do not yet know about it. This can make it difficult to understand the extra doctor’s visits, laboratory testing, ad medications these children experience. To prevent stigma and misunderstandings, many children are told to hide these facts from their friends and schools.
At Camp
While kids living with HIV might not face the same physical constraints of other diagnoses, the positive impact of camp in unmistakable. Being surrounded by support and making friends who have similar healthcare experiences, allows kids to build their self-confidence and understand that their diagnosis does not have to limit them.
Meet the Expert
My name is Priya Vyas and I’m an Infectious Diseases Fellow (a doctor in training) at Colorado Children’s Hospital. I wanted to specialize in infectious diseases because I want to help take care of kids living with HIV and prevent the spread of this infection. This past summer was my first introduction to camp, and I had the best time ever, next summer can’t come soon enough! The best thing about camp is getting to spend time with all of the incredible campers outside of the hospital.
