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The word aids stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome which means deficiency of
immune system. It acquired during the life time of an individual indicating that it is not a
congenital disease. Syndrome means a group of symptoms. AIDS was first reported in 1981
and in the last 25 years or so, it has spread all over the world killing more than 25 million
persons.
AIDS is caused by the Human Immune Deficiency Virus ( HIV) , a member of a group of
viruses called RETROVIRUS ,which have envelop enclosing the RNA genome . It is
important to note that HIV/AIDS is not spread by mere touch or physical contact, it spread
only through body fluid. It is , hence , imperative, for the physical and psychological well
being, that the HIV/AIDS infected persons are not isolated from family and society.
About AIDS:
AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome) is a syndrome caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency
Virus). The illness alters the immune system, making people much more vulnerable
to infections and diseases. This susceptibility worsens as the syndrome progresses.
HIV 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 (T cells) in the body, making the person more likely to get
infections or infection-related cancers. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these
cells that the body can’t fight off infections and disease. These opportunistic
infections or cancers take advantage of a very weak immune system and signal that
the person has AIDS, the last state of HIV infection.
HIV is found in the body fluids of an infected person (semen and vaginal
fluids, blood and breast milk). The virus is passed from one person to another
through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. In addition, infected pregnant women can
pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy, delivering the baby during childbirth, and
through breast feeding.
HIV can be transmitted in many ways, such as vaginal, oral sex, anal sex, blood
transfusion, and contaminated hypodermic needles.
According to research, the origins of HIV date back to the late nineteenth or early
twentieth century in west-central Africa. AIDS and its cause, HIV, were first identified
and recognized in the early 1980s.
There is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS. Treatments can slow the course of the
condition - some infected people can live a long and relatively healthy life.
Causes of HIV/AIDS:
HIV is a reterovirus that infects the vital organs of the human immune system. The virus progresses in the absence of
antiretroviral therapy. The rate of virus progression varies widely between individuals and depends on many factors
(age of the patient, body's ability to defend against HIV, access to health care, existence of coexisting infections, the
infected person's genetic inheritance, resistance to certain strains of HIV).
Sexual transmission: It can happen when there is contact with infected sexual secretions (rectal,
genital or oral mucous membranes). This can happen while having unprotected sex, including vaginal, oral and anal
sex or sharing sex toys with someone infected with HIV.
Perinatal transmission. The mother can pass the infection on to her child during childbirth,
pregnancy, and also through breastfeeding.
Blood transmission. The risk of transmitting HIV through blood transfusion is nowadays extremely
low in developed countries, thanks to meticulous screening and precautions. Among drug users, sharing and reusing
syringes contaminated with HIV-infected blood is extremely hazardous.
Thanks to strict protection procedures the risk of accidental infection for healthcare workers is low .Individuals who
give and receive tattoos and piercings are also at risk and should be very careful.
shaking hands
hugging
casual kissing
sneezing
sharing towels
sharing cutlery
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
The use of HIV medicines to treat HIV infection is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART involves taking a combination of HIV
medicines (called an HIV regimen) every day. (HIV medicines are often called antiretrovirals or ARVs.)
ART prevents HIV from multiplying and reduces the level of HIV in the body. Having less HIV in the body protects the immune
system and prevents HIV infection from advancing to AIDS.
ART can’t cure HIV, but it can help people infected with HIV live longer, healthier lives. ART also reduces the risk of HIV
transmission.
After this earliest stage of HIV infection, HIV continues to multiply but at very low levels. More severe symptoms of HIV infection,
such as chronic diarrhea, rapid weight loss, and other signs of opportunistic infections, generally don’t appear for many years.
(Opportunistic infections are infections and infection-related cancers that occur more frequently or are more severe in people with
weakened immune systems than in people with healthy immune systems.)
Without treatment, HIV can advance to AIDS. The time it takes for HIV to advance to AIDS varies, but it can take 10 years or more.
HIV transmission is possible at any stage of HIV infection—even if an HIV-infected person has no symptoms of HIV.
The person’s immune system is severely damaged as indicated by a CD4 count of less than 200 cells/mm 3. A CD4 count
measures the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood. The CD4 count of a healthy person ranges from 500 to 1,600
cells/mm3.
AND/OR
ON HIV INFECTIONS
Modeling data shows
that adding a vaccine
to the fight against AIDS
can help end the epidemic