What is AIDS?

(Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome)

No other word generates as much ear, revulsion, despair and a feeling of utter helplessness as AIDS. Though, a lot of work has been furnished to increase AIDS awareness, the terror and prejudice still persists. AIDS in fact, scribbled a different medical history by declaring a 'fought to lost' battle against mankind.. With 40 million deaths forecast in this millennium, statistics tell their own sordid tale.

The first recorded sample of HIV was discovered in 1959 in a blood specimen obtained at Leopoldville (now Kinshasa) in the Belgian Congo. This was the first known death chalked up by AIDS. The HIV is thought to have originally affected chimpanzees. The crossover of the virus from animals to humans may have occurred in the 1950s through an accident or a bite. However, other theories of its origins have been advanced during the ongoing process of AIDS research.

• Theory I - The disease traced to a single viral ancestor that could have emerged between 1910 and 1950. Through an AIDS research analysis done at the Los Alamos National Lab in New Mexico, Korber contends that the pandemic may have come from one or more infected humans around 1930.
• Theory II - Americal philospher Louis Pascal spelt out the most controversial but plausible theory - that all the early AIDS cases originated in Central African State of Congo where over 3 lacs local tribal had been made subject to live polio vaccine. Dr Pascal argued that the vaccine might have been the virus carrier since the vaccine was grown in tissue culture obtained from chopped chimp kidneys. May be, the batch of used kidneys was contaminated. The most horrid fact which supports the theory of Dr Pascal is - Monkeys harbor SIV or simian immunodeficiency virus or SV-40 which is assumed to be the ancestor of HIV.

Since its onset or discovery, male homosexuals have always been highly prone to AIDS.

Statistics- Within last two decades, more than 55 milion people globally have been infected. About 25 million died due to AIDS. About (+) 17000 people are infected by AIDS every day. Till date, there is no definite or guaranteed cure for AIDS and the only way to prevention is more and more AIDS awareness - the safeguards & precautions and social acceptance of AIDS patients.

Out of two major categories of HIV - HIV-1 and HIV-2, HIV-1 is the most common amonst human and astonishingly, the only type detected in all the HIV patients in US. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), after accessing the human body, initially provokes an infection, which destroys the body's immune system. AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is the advanced stage of this disease, when the immune system becomes irreparably damaged, engendering multiple infections and cancers. A person is considered HIV positive when he is tested positive for any of the 26 diseases (Kaposi's sarcoma, lymphoma, pulmonary tuberculosis, recurrent pneumonia within a 12-month period, wasting syndrome and other indicators) that can easily invade the body during our immune system's nonfunctionality.

On invading the body, the virus specifically attacks T-cells. A core part of the human defence system, they mobilize other cells to seek and destroy contagious foreign elements besid es leading the immune system's fight against infections. T-cells are targeted because the AIDS virus parasitizes the CD4 molecules on their surface.With a protective outer shell of proteins and glyco-proteins, the AIDS virus contains genetic information on the inside. Although substantially smaller than the host T-cells—the virus reproduces by sponging off the host's cellular resources! Our body fights back by producing up to two billion new T-cells to replace the infected ones, stabilizing the T-cell count temporarily. Yet from day one, the T-cells fight a losing battle.

The genetic information of the AIDS virus, which is encoded as RNA (ribonucleic acid), needs to be reverse transcripted—which the intruder accomplishes with the help of the host cell itself! The now legible DNA is thereafter randomly transferred into the nucleus. All this is accomplished barely a dozen hours following the infection. By this time, the aggressor begins to substantially weaken the host cell, which eventually dies, eroding the immune system and making the body vulnerable to diseases. Although HIV targets T-cells and other cells in the body, it thrives mainly in the lymph nodes—another important part of the immune system. Each lymph node has a netlike structure inside it that acts as a protective filter by trapping virus and infected T-cells. But as healthy T-cells move through contaminated lymph nodes, they are infected by HIV. Particularly during the early stage of the disease, lymph nodes contain more infected cells than the blood.

Symptoms- Initially, mild flu and swollen glands are typical. But the symptoms are often unmistakeable when full-blown AIDS develops. Loss of appetite, weight loss, constant fever, prolonged fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, changing bowel patterns, swollen glands, chills coupled with excessive sweating, especially at nights, lesions in the mouth, sore throat, persistent cough, shortness of breath, tumours, skin rashes, headaches, memory lapses, swelling in the joints, pain in various parts of the body, vision problems and a regular feeling of lethargy and ill health make up the litany of symptoms.

With immune systems out of kilter, HIV-positive persons are susceptible to several types of cancer, particularly Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), an uncommon form that occurs under the skin and in the mucus membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth. Affected persons have lesions that appear as dark-coloured raised blotches. Though the lesions are painless, once KS spreads to the lungs, lymph nodes and digestive tract, the victim experiences difficulty in breathing, gastrointestinal bleeding and painful swelling around the lymph nodes, especially in the legs. HIV is transmitted primarily by sex (anal, vaginal or oral sex with an infected partner), by injections (sharing contaminated needles for drug use or accidental piercing with a contaminated needle), or from infected mother to child through pregnancy or breast-feeding. Infected semen and vaginal fluids, infected blood and blood products lead to the transmission of HIV. Drug abuse with unsterilized needles is another high-risk activity. Unprotected sex with multiple partners is the primary cause of infection. During unprotected sex, the infected fluid could enter the bloodstream through a tiny cut or a sore. Anal penetration has a higher risk of transmission, which is why a high percentage of homosexuals develop the disease. Bleeding during sex also raises the chances of infection. Therefore unprotected sex during menstrual periods and anal intercourse are best avoided. An HIV positive mother may be a carrier of HIV virus and transmit it to her offsprings - pre or post birth. Though traces of HIV have been detected in body fluids (saliva, urine, faeces and tears) there is no evidence that HIV spreads through these fluids. Nor is it water-borne, air-borne or transmitted through mosquitoes and other insects.

Some HIV-infected patients can remain healthy for 10 years or more. Between initial infection and full-blown disease, a middle phase called symptomatic HIV infection, or AIDS-related complex (ARC), occurs, prompting symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, and swollen lymph glands. Variation in health statistics of various patients has been found to be a genetic trend pattern. The greatest predictor for HIV seroconversion among both male and female IDUs was high-risk sexual behavior. Study findings revealed that male injection drug users who reported recent homosexual activity were four times more likely to become infected with HIV.Among females, indicators of high-risk heterosexual activity outweighed needle-sharing behaviors as independent predictors of HIV seroconversion. HIV incidence was more than two times higher among women who reported recently having sex with another injection drug user.Another common predictor of HIV seroconversion among both male and female IDUs was younger age. IDUs who aged 30 or younger were more than twice as likely to seroconvert than those aged 40 or older. The highest amount of HIV is found in blood and semen. HIV is present in smaller amounts in vaginal and cervical fluid (especially if a woman has a vaginal or cervical infection). Recent studies show that pre-cum does contain HIV although it is debated whether it is enough to transmit AIDS. There are no studies of the amount of HIV in female ejaculate. Very little HIV is present in saliva, sweat and tears these almost certainly cannot transmit AIDS. Anal and vaginal intercourse account for most documented cases of sexually transmitted AIDS. While oral sex accounts for a few cases. Other activities have not been show to cause AIDS, but theoretically could present some risk, because they can allow HIV-containing body fluids to get from one person to another. Studies show that HIV may be absorbed directly by cells in the mucous membranes. The safest activities are those that avoid any way in which HIV-infected blood semen or vaginal fluid can get from one person’s body to another person’s mucous membranes or bloodstream.

Preventions- While AIDS is a high-risk disease it can be prevented if proper precautions are taken and greater awareness meted out to those who are ignorant of the virus and its repercussions on the human body. Here we have listed a few measures which can be adopted by everyone inorder to stave off the insidious entry of HIV.

• Prevention is still the best bet. Promiscuous sexual behavior can leave a person highly susceptible to contracting the virus. Where abstinence is not possible, always use latex condoms. The female condom can also help protect both partners. Use only water-based lubricants. Oil lubricants (such as Vaseline) might even tear latex condoms. Use spermicidal (birth control) foams and jellies in addition to condoms. By themselves, spermicides may not be effective in preventing HIV.

• Avoid alcohol or drugs during sex, you might lose control of your senses and engage in unsafe sex. Stick to safer sex practices at all times and avoid having multiple partners. Practice monogamy. If this is a tall order, serial relationships are a lesser evil than multiple ones.

• High-risk sexual behavior should be avoided at all costs. These include: oral genital sex involving contact with semen or vaginal fluids, oral anal sex, vaginal sex without a condom, anal sex sans a condom (active or passive), fisting or manual anal intercourse, the sharing of sex toys, using saliva for lubrication and blood contact of any kind during performance. If unable to resist oral sex, use a dental dam. If a woman is infected, avoid sex during the menses as menstrual blood is infectious

• For transfusions, use disposable syringes and needles. Ensure you get blood that is screened and certified as HIV-free. Better still, get blood from close family members rather than professional donors whose medical antecedents are nebulous.

• The presence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) increases the risk of contracting HIV from an infected partner. STDs could cause breaks in the skin of the vagina, penis or anus permitting the virus to enter your bloodstream. If you ever contract an STD of any kind, ensure you get prompt treatment.

• An HIV-positive woman should not breast-feed her baby. The infant should be given AZT for the first several weeks to substantially reduce the risk of infection

Misconceptions & AIDS- 'AIDS' and dozen per coin misconceptions are synonymous.

• Only gays and intravenous drug users are not the only culprits. Hetrosexual transmission has leaped much ahead to score the figures.
• Touch, kiss, hug, massage, sharing toilet seats, sharing drinks or eatables, socialising cannot cause AIDS.
• Taking precautions before repeated sex with infected person dont cause AIDS.
• Donating blood do not cause AIDS unless the attendant came from MARS.
• Mosquito bite do not cause AIDS.

Ways to easy access to AIDS

• Unprotected oral/anal/vaginal sex.
• Sharing needles for intravenous drug use.
• Sharing implements that draw blood (whips, knives).
• Sharing sex toys.

Who's at risk?
Anyone can get HIV - young and old, men and women, straight, gay and bisexual, rich and poor, and all racial and ethnic groups - but not everyone faces the same risk. Your risk comes from what you do, and who you do it with - that is, how likely it is that the person you have sex or share needles with is infected. But even if you are part of a community with a high infection rate, you can avoid getting HIV. Staying uninfected takes thinking, planning and follow-through. Often it means talking about things that may make you uncomfortable. It can help to "practice" talking with people you can trust or who are going through the same thing.

Making choices
In the age of HIV/AIDS, most kinds of sex involve some level of risk. Instead of labeling every form of sexual expression as "safe" and "unsafe," it's more realistic to think of sex as a range of risks, from less risky to more risky. Sex is also something you have with another person, so you might want to think about how you make decisions with a partner. Think about what you find pleasurable about sex, where, and with whom. Consider what risks are involved, and whether those will worry you later. Then try to think about how you might lower the risks while holding on to the pleasure. Some people have decided not to have sex with people they don't know well, or made certain kinds of sex off limits. Some have reduced the number of their sexual partners. Only you can decide what risks are worth taking and what risks are not.

Staying safer-Tools of the trade
Clean needles and bleach. Using a new, clean needle is by far the best protection against the virus if you are shooting drugs. Some states, including New York, have needle exchange programs (where you can get free, clean needles) or needles for sale in drugstores. If you do not get your set brand-new and sealed from a needle exchange or pharmacy, clean it before you use it.

Latex condoms ("rubbers") prevent HIV infection. Using a condom may not always be easy, but it can save your life or someone else's. When used right, condoms seldom break, tear, or slip. You can also use a dry condom, or a flavored one, for oral sex, or cut a condom to the center and open it up to use for oral-anal or oral-vaginal sex. Never re-use a condom.

Plastic wrap and dental dams stop HIV when used for oral sex on a woman or for oral-anal sex. Dental dams are latex squares available in medical supply stores and from some adult shops. Some people find it easier to use a large sheet of plastic wrap. Be sure the dam or plastic wrap covers the entire vulva (clitoris and vaginal opening) and that you hold it at both edges. Be careful not to turn the dam or plastic wrap inside-out while you use it.

The "female condom" is a plastic sheath that women can insert in their vaginas and use for protection against HIV. The female condom can be inserted up to 8 hours before sex, has rings at both ends to hold it in place, and can be lubricated with oil-based lubricants that stay wet longer. This kind of condom takes practice to use, and is more expensive than a latex condom. Some men have also used the female condom for anal sex, though it has not been tested or approved for this use.

To test or not to test
It can be scary to consider, but taking the HIV test is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Finding out that you have HIV can be an important step toward taking care of your health and planning for the future. Learning that you are HIV negative, too, can help you to figure out how to stay that way. It is most helpful to take the test in a situation where the test is voluntary, anonymous, or confidential, and where counseling is offered before and after the test.

How does the HIV test work?
Standard HIV tests look for HIV antibodies, which are cells the body makes after HIV enters the blood. It can take up to three months to make enough antibodies so that they will show up on the test, although in most cases, infection can be detected in four weeks. If an infected person tests too soon during this "window period", the HIV test may not find infection, but the person can infect others. There are different kinds of blood tests, including a new test that can give you quicker results and an oral test that looks for HIV antibodies in the mucosal fluid in your mouth.

Where can I get tested?
In many states, public clinics offer a free, anonymous test, which means they do not take your name. Private clinics and doctors also give the test, and they can promise to keep your name "confidential" or allow you to use a name without showing identification. "Confidential" means that while they are required to tell their local health departments the names of all persons who test HIV-positive, they will not otherwise release your name without your consent. Some clinics and "home tests" offer "immediate results," but be warned - that's only if you are HIV-negative. To confirm that you have HIV, your blood has to be drawn for another test.

What about treatment?
People with HIV or AIDS can do a number of things to stay healthy, which is why it's important to know your status. Although there is no treatment that cures HIV, drugs are now available that can prevent AIDS-related pneumonia and other serious diseases; other medications help the body fight the virus itself. However, many of these drugs may have unintended, harmful side-effects.

Rights of people with HIV/AIDS
It is against federal law to discriminate against people who have disabilities, including people with HIV/AIDS. That means it is illegal for people to discriminate concerning jobs, housing, medical care, and in most businesses that are open to the public. Many states and cities have other specific protections against discrimination, as well as laws that prevent your doctor or your employer from telling people that you have HIV.