Question

Nowadays, HIV is more of a chronic disease than the death sentence it was when it first emerged in the 1980s. In addition to lifesaving medications, education and testing has also lowered the number of new cases annually. This means that in general ____.

A. incidence and prevalence are both increasing
B. incidence is decreasing and prevalence is increasing
C. incidence and prevalence are both decreasing
D. prevalence is decreasing and incidence is increasing

Answer 1

The incidence of HIV is decreasing due to effective treatments and prevention strategies, while the prevalence of HIV is increasing because individuals are living longer with the disease. The correct answer to the question is B. incidence is decreasing and prevalence is increasing.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of HIV as a chronic disease, we're discussing the difference between incidence and prevalence. Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disease that occur within a given period, while prevalence refers to the total number of cases, both new and existing, at a certain point in time. With the advent of antiretroviral treatments, HIV has transformed from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic condition. This advancement, along with improved education and testing, has led to a decrease in the incidence of new HIV infections. However, because individuals with HIV are living longer, the prevalence of the disease—that is, the total number of people living with HIV—is increasing. This dynamic suggests that answer B, incidence is decreasing and prevalence is increasing, is correct.