The global challenge of HIV/AIDS remains one of the most pressing public health issues today. According to the latest data from UNAIDS, around 38.4 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS, underlining the need for not only medical intervention but also comprehensive awareness, education, and social change. Despite the significant strides made in treatment and prevention, the confusion surrounding the relationship between HIV and AIDS still persists.

Young people have become influential advocates in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Research from UNICEF shows that youth-led initiatives can lower HIV transmission rates by as much as 45% in targeted communities. These young activists utilize digital platforms and peer-to-peer education to dispel myths, promote safe practices, and foster supportive environments for those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Dr Gowri Kulkarni, an expert in Internal Medicine, explains that while the terms HIV and AIDS are often used interchangeably, they are distinctly different. "HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system, whereas AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a condition that occurs when HIV severely damages the immune system," she clarifies. To understand the implications of these differences, it's important to explore the fundamental distinctions between the two.

1. HIV is a Virus; AIDS is a Syndrome

HIV is the virus responsible for attacking the body’s immune system, specifically targeting CD4 cells, which are crucial for the body’s defense against infections. As HIV progresses, it destroys these cells, weakening the immune system over time. If left untreated, this continuous damage can lead to AIDS.

AIDS, on the other hand, is a syndrome, not a virus. Dr Kulkarni further elaborates that AIDS is a collection of symptoms and illnesses that emerge when the immune system is severely compromised due to prolonged HIV infection. It represents the most advanced stage of HIV, and is characterized by very low CD4 counts or the onset of opportunistic infections like tuberculosis, pneumonia, or certain cancers.

2. Not Everyone with HIV Develops AIDS

A key distinction to remember is that not everyone with HIV will progress to AIDS. Thanks to advancements in medicine, particularly antiretroviral therapy (ART), individuals living with HIV can manage the virus and maintain a healthy immune system for many years, or even decades, without ever developing AIDS. ART works by suppressing the virus to undetectable levels, effectively preventing the damage HIV would otherwise cause to the immune system.

Without treatment, however, HIV progresses through three stages:

- Acute HIV Infection: This stage occurs shortly after transmission and may include symptoms like fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

- Chronic HIV Infection: Often asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, the virus continues to damage the immune system but at a slower rate.

- AIDS: This is the final stage, marked by severe immune damage and the presence of infections that take advantage of the compromised immune defenses.

3. HIV is Transmissible; AIDS is Not

Another key distinction between HIV and AIDS is the way in which they are transmitted. HIV is highly contagious and can be transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. It is primarily spread through unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles, or from mother to child during childbirth or breastfeeding.

AIDS, however, is not transmissible. It is not a disease that can be passed from one person to another. Rather, AIDS is the result of untreated, advanced HIV infection and is a direct consequence of the virus’s damage to the immune system.

4. Diagnosis Methods Differ

HIV and AIDS are diagnosed through different methods. HIV is diagnosed through blood tests or oral swabs that detect the presence of the virus or antibodies produced by the immune system in response to the virus. Early detection of HIV is crucial, as it allows for timely intervention and treatment, which can prevent the virus from progressing to AIDS.

AIDS, on the other hand, is diagnosed using more specific criteria. Dr Kulkarni notes that the diagnosis of AIDS is made when the individual’s CD4 cell count falls below 200 cells/mm³, or when opportunistic infections or certain cancers (such as Kaposi's sarcoma or lymphoma) are detected. Diagnosing AIDS involves a more thorough assessment of the individual’s immune function and overall health, as opposed to just the detection of HIV.

5. Treatment Goals Are Different

The treatment goals for HIV and AIDS differ significantly, although both involve antiretroviral therapy (ART). For HIV, the primary treatment goal is to suppress the virus to undetectable levels, thus maintaining a strong immune system and preventing further transmission of the virus. People living with HIV can often live long, healthy lives if they adhere to ART.

For individuals diagnosed with AIDS, the treatment plan becomes more complex. While ART remains an essential part of managing the virus, treatment for AIDS also focuses on addressing the opportunistic infections and secondary health complications associated with severe immune suppression. The goal of treatment for AIDS is not only to manage the HIV virus but also to improve the quality of life and extend survival by treating these secondary health issues.

Role of Community Engagement in Combatting HIV/AIDS

While the medical community has made great strides in managing HIV, the battle to curb its transmission is also a social and cultural issue. Dr Daman Ahuja, a public health expert, highlights that HIV/AIDS awareness and education are vital to reducing transmission rates and supporting those affected by the virus. "Young people, especially, have become key advocates in the fight against HIV/AIDS," says Dr Ahuja. "Research from UNICEF shows that youth-led initiatives can lower HIV transmission rates by as much as 45% in targeted communities."

Additionally, grassroots activism plays a significant role in raising awareness and addressing stigma. As the World Health Organization reports, community-based interventions have been proven to increase HIV testing rates and improve treatment adherence, which are crucial in the fight against the pandemic.

The ultimate goal of organizations like UNAIDS is to eliminate the HIV/AIDS pandemic by 2030. Achieving this requires global collaboration, from medical treatment advancements to public health strategies, education, and advocacy. Dr Kulkarni’s insight underscores the importance of early detection, treatment adherence, and community support in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Dr Gowri Kulkarni is Head of Medical Operations at MediBuddy and Dr Daman Ahuja, a public health expert and has been associated with Red Ribbon Express Project of NACO between 2007-12.

We know it’s a bit personal — but if you're sitting on the toilet right now, reading this, it’s time to rethink your bathroom strategy. Surprisingly, grunting your way through a bowel movement may be doing you more harm than good. Medical experts are now warning that the all-too-common habit of straining with sounds may actually make it harder for you to "go."

But if grunting doesn’t work, what does? Recent research is shining a light on an “interesting” — and more effective — position that could finally make bathroom time easier and healthier. Here’s everything you need to know.

While it might feel natural to push and grunt when you're struggling, studies show it’s not actually helping. In fact, releasing air and sound while straining reduces internal pressure, which is crucial for moving stool along.

When you grunt, you’re essentially letting out the very force that should be helping you pass stool. It's like trying to blow up a balloon with a leaky hole — the energy escapes instead of building pressure where it's needed most. This subtle loss of abdominal pressure means the effort you're making is, ironically, working against you.

A UK report even found that about a third of people are habitual loo-grunters. While it’s not going to cause immediate damage, it certainly won’t make things any easier.

How Your Pooping Position Changes Everything?

The conversation around healthy pooping habits took off globally with the introduction of devices like the Squatty Potty — a footstool designed to help you squat rather than sit during bowel movements. The buzz wasn’t just marketing hype; there’s real science behind it.

Humans, after all, were not designed to defecate while sitting. Evolutionary biology suggests that squatting is the body's natural position for elimination. When we sit, the puborectalis muscle — which wraps around the rectum like a sling — stays partially tense, creating a bend (like a kink in a garden hose) between the rectum and anus to prevent unwanted accidents. Squatting relaxes this muscle fully, straightening out the digestive tract and allowing for smoother, more complete bowel movements.

In other words, sitting keeps your "hose" bent; squatting straightens it out and lets everything flow.

A study published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences by researcher Dov Sikirov measured the time and effort needed for bowel movements in different positions. The findings were clear:

• Subjects who squatted completed their business in about one-third the time compared to those who sat.
• Squatters reported a much easier, more satisfying experience with significantly less effort.
• X-rays also show that the rectum straightens more when squatting, and pressure inside the abdomen is lower — meaning you're straining less and emptying more fully.

The benefits aren’t just about convenience either. Straining during bowel movements is a known contributor to constipation, hemorrhoids, and even pelvic floor issues. Cultures where squatting toilets are the norm, such as in parts of Asia and Africa, report lower rates of these problems, although diet may also play a role.

What Is Squatty Potty?

The Squatty Potty and similar products are simple footstools designed to elevate your knees above your hips while you're seated. This change mimics a squat position, relaxing the puborectalis muscle and straightening out the colon.

While you could technically squat without buying anything — simply by bending deeply at the knees and hips — the stool makes the position much easier to achieve, especially for older adults or those with mobility issues.

And yes, evidence shows it works. People using posture-changing devices report less straining, faster bathroom visits, and a greater sense of “full evacuation.” If you’ve ever left the toilet feeling like you weren’t quite done, a squat stool might be your solution.

Sit vs. Squat: Why the Right Position Matters for Your Health

Western toilets prioritize comfort and decorum over functional anatomy. But if you find yourself frequently constipated, straining, or dealing with hemorrhoids, your toilet posture might be part of the problem.

Squatting isn't just about easier elimination — it’s about long-term digestive health. By relieving pressure during bowel movements, you can potentially lower your risk for common and painful conditions like:

• Constipation
• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissures
• Pelvic floor dysfunction

When waste moves out of the body more easily, it also means less trapped stool, less bloating, and potentially better gut health overall.

4 Reasons You Should Squat, Not Grunt

If you're still not convinced, here’s why adopting a squatting posture could change your bathroom experience for good:

Reduces Straining: Prevents excessive pushing and lowers the risk of hemorrhoids.

Unkinks Your Colon: Straightens the rectal canal for a smoother passage.

Increases Full Evacuation: Helps you feel more empty after using the bathroom.

Relaxes Your Body Naturally: Aligns with the body's natural anatomy for easier elimination.

Next time nature calls, skip the grunt-fest and rethink your position. Whether you invest in a Squatty Potty or simply use a low footstool to prop up your legs, small changes can lead to big relief.

Modern toilets may have revolutionized hygiene, but when it comes to the natural way to poop, a little squatting can go a long way toward improving your gut health and making every bathroom trip a whole lot easier.

If you've heard the chatter about weight loss jabs and injections like Ozempic showing up in pediatrics, you're not alone — and you're likely full of questions. Are they safe for kids? Are they really effective? Or are we rushing into something without knowing the risks?

While childhood obesity rates continue to rise in the U.S., parents and doctors are looking at all possible ways to help kids with weight issues and that now includes GLP-1 receptor agonists, a type of medication first developed for adults with type 2 diabetes. Before making assumptions, though, it's worth taking a closer look at what the latest studies actually report about prescribing these medications to children and adolescents.

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels worldwide, threatening the health of millions of young lives. With conventional interventions proving to be of limited value, the question on everyone's mind is: might highly effective weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic (semaglutide) be a safe option for children? As researchers investigate this potential, a heated controversy has erupted, balancing the promise of pharmacological intervention against its deep uncertainties.

Rates of obesity among youth have risen astronomically in the last several decades. Since 1975, global rates of obesity have increased threefold, while childhood and adolescent rates have risen nearly fivefold, as reported by the World Health Organization. In the United States alone, close to 20% of children aged under 18 have obesity—a condition that has been linked with a plethora of lifetime health dangers, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and severe mental illness.

Likewise, in the UK, data from the NHS in 2022 reported that 15% of children aged between 2 and 15 were considered obese. If not treated, projections by the World Obesity Federation estimate that 250 million children worldwide may be suffering from obesity by 2030. It's not only medical but also economic—lifetime healthcare expenses for addressing childhood obesity in the U.S. can be as much as $20,000 more than their healthy-weight peers.

Is It Safe or Just a Quick Fix for Kids?

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists such as Ozempic and Wegovy have transformed the treatment of adult obesity. These drugs simulate a natural hormone that slows down gastric emptying, enhances sensations of fullness, and suppresses appetite. In adults, GLP-1 treatments have shown impressive advantages not just for weight loss but also for diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even Alzheimer's disease, potentially.

As a result of their success in adults, researchers have been looking to see if such benefits can translate to children. A landmark study in 2022 in the New England Journal of Medicine enrolled 201 teens between the ages of 12 and 17. Following 68 weeks of once-weekly injections of semaglutide plus lifestyle intervention, 62% of those enrolled lost at least 10% of their weight, whereas only 8% of those receiving a placebo did. More than half had lost 15% or more of their weight, highlighting the efficacy of the drug.

Worried About Side Effects?

It is to be expected that parents would worry about adding medications such as GLP-1 agonists — including Ozempic — to their child's treatment regimen. Recent research has determined that while GLP-1 injections are very effective in helping adolescents who have obesity lose weight, they do have side effects. The most often reported are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Fatigue and dizziness are also experienced by some children as their body adapts to the medication.

Studies in medical literature point out that although these side effects are usually tolerable, the long-term effect of GLP-1 administration in young, developing bodies is still under assessment. Clinical trials to date indicate that the majority of side effects are mild to moderate and decrease over time. Nevertheless, serious but rare risks such as pancreatitis and gallbladder disease have been reported, emphasizing the need for continued medical monitoring.

Official Guidelines for Using GLP-1 Drugs in Children With Obesity

Regulatory agencies are gradually embracing these findings in the wake of this. Ozempic itself is not yet approved for pediatric use, but a higher-dose formulation of semaglutide called Wegovy was approved by the FDA in 2022 for adolescents 12 years and above with obesity.

Canada recently revised its national guidelines, suggesting that children as young as 12 might be candidates for GLP-1 therapies if lifestyle interventions alone are not enough. The new guidelines, developed by more than 50 experts and including feedback from families with obesity, focus on a comprehensive approach: integrating behavioral strategies with pharmacologic or surgical approaches when needed.

Are Weight Loss Injections the Right Choice for Managing Childhood Obesity?

Despite growing enthusiasm, the use of Ozempic in young populations remains highly controversial. Critics argue that the long-term safety of GLP-1 agonists in children is unknown. Studies to date have been limited in scope, largely industry-sponsored, and have not adequately measured potential psychological side effects, including risks of disordered eating and body dissatisfaction.

Youngsters and adolescents are especially at risk. The body changes of adolescence, along with strong social demands, make adolescent weight control tricky. Specialists alert that medicalizing weight loss at this pivotal time of development potentially has unforeseen mental health costs, including increased vulnerability to eating disorders, worry, and despondency.

Additionally, there are no long-term data on the effects of these drugs on growth, hormonal development, or future fertility. In recognition of these uncertainties, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has suggested against the routine use of weight-loss medications in children due to a lack of evidence of long-term safety.

How is Obesity In Kids Treated Currently?

Structured lifestyle interventions—focusing on diet, exercise, and behavioral modification—are currently the first-line management of childhood obesity. They are only abandoned when these prove unsuccessful, and more intrusive measures, such as pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery, are then sought. Conventional methods have found it difficult to achieve success, though, considering the environmental and socio-economic determinants affecting a child's capacity for a healthy way of living.

Obese adolescents are frequently bullied, stigmatized, and subject to systemic barriers that reinforce their condition. These events not only complicate weight loss but also contribute to severe mental health issues, such as self-injury and suicidal thoughts.

What Pediatricians Want Parents to Know About Ozempic and Childhood Obesity

When managing childhood obesity, pediatricians emphasize that weight loss injections such as Ozempic are not meant to be a magic pill. Specialists highlight that Ozempic is intended to complement not substitute for improved eating habits, more physical activity, and emotional balance.

Pediatricians encourage parents to understand that obesity is a complex, chronic illness that is typically driven by genetics, environment, and behavior. Weight loss shots can be a useful tool for kids with severe obesity, particularly when standard therapies have failed. But physicians warn that unless the underlying causes — including diet, screen time, and mental health — are tackled, the rewards of Ozempic may not last long.

Although GLP-1 receptor agonists represent an exciting new agent for the treatment of pediatric obesity, their introduction should be carefully considered. Physician experts recommend scrupulous selection of patients, thorough counseling, and regular follow-up to confirm that medications form part of an overall supportive plan of care to meet physical as well as psychologic needs.

Additional independent, long-term research is essential to truly appreciate the consequences of prescribing drugs such as Ozempic to children. As the situation continues to change, clinicians, families, and policymakers need to weigh the imperative to treat the obesity epidemic against the moral obligation to protect children's future health.

In the meantime, the application of Ozempic and other such drugs to adolescents is a promising but complicated territory one that requires cautious deliberation, intense study, and an unwavering commitment to placing children's health interests above all else.

Swimmer's itch is a rash caused by an allergic reaction to the larvae of microscopic parasites that are found in both fresh and saltwater. These parasites commonly live in snails, which secrete larvae into the water, per the CDC.

Swimming in contaminated water for even a short period of time can cause swimmer’s itch, and after you come in contact with the larvae, “when the skin dries off, those parasites burrow under people's skin and cause an itchy rash,” says Dr. Christina Boull, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and pediatrics at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center. Read on to learn what symptoms to look out for and precautions you can take to prevent this uncomfortable summertime rash.

What Is Swimmer's Itch?

You can identify swimmer’s itch, also known as cercarial dermatitis, from the little red dots that appear on your skin after you’ve been exposed to the parasites, Boull says. The rash will likely manifest on skin that was directly exposed to the water as opposed to skin protected by your bathing suit. For this reason, your arms and legs are particularly vulnerable to swimmer’s itch, she says.

These dots typically appear 12 hours after exposure, and over the next day or two, some people may experience a more severe reaction with welts and blisters. “One of the main risk factors of complications from this rash would be a secondary bacterial infection.” If you scratch the rash, there’s a possibility of staph bacteria getting under your skin, leaving your body vulnerable to developing staph infections such as impetigo or cellulitis, she says.

What Can Be Mistaken For Swimmer's Itch?

When it comes to swimming in the ocean, seabather’s eruption is a rash that presents similar symptoms to swimmer’s itch. In terms of identifying whether your rash is swimmer’s itch or sea bather’s eruption, the latter tends to develop under a swimsuit, Boull explains. Comparatively, swimmer’s itch is more likely to appear in areas that are not protected by a swimsuit, she reiterates. Additionally, because swimmer’s itch presents as small red bumps, it is also commonly mistaken as bites caused by small bugs, such as gnats or mosquitoes, Boull says.

How Do You Get Rid Of Swimmer's Itch?

"The good news is that it spontaneously resolves," Boull says. Because people are the preferred hosts of the mites, they don’t live in the skin very long. Typically, the rash and itch significantly improve over the course of a week, although it's possible for it to last as long as three weeks, she says.

To quell the itching of the rash, Boull suggests 1% hydrocortisone, an over the counter topical steroid cream. She also recommends taking an oral antihistamine. In cases of severe itch, prescription oral prednisone and oral cortisone medicines can help relieve itch and inflammation.

If your swimmer’s itch has developed into blistering, open sores, and you’re experiencing fever, it could be signs of a secondary bacterial infection. In this case, it’s essential you see a doctor who can prescribe you oral antibiotics, Boull says.

Does Showering Kill Shower's Itchh?

The parasites that cause swimmer’s itch can only burrow into your skin after you’ve dried off. “So, it's really important after getting out of a lake or areas where you're swimming that would have snails, that you take a towel and really wipe the water off your skin.” Showering after you’ve gotten out of the water can also help prevent the parasites from getting underneath your skin.

Does chlorine damage hair? Here’s how to protect your hair this swim season.

Snails tend to prefer warm, shallow water, so avoiding these areas can limit the possibility of exposure to the parasites. Finally, take note of no-swim zone signs that may indicate whether there are pathogens in the water.