A SMALL TALK ON THE WORLD AIDS DAY

1st December.
We are celebrating the 22nd World Aids Day.
After it was conceived in August 1987, the first observation of the event happened in December 1st of 1988.From 2005 to 2010 the annual theme is “STOP AIDS.KEEP THE PROMISE”, with a yearly sub theme.Conferring the AIDS statistics published by UNAIDS we can see that 33. 4 million of the total world population is living with AIDS (2008 statistics).Even though this result suggest that, less than half of the world population is affected by AIDS it’s important that we should be made aware of this pandemic disease. Each individual should be made aware. Because by the same statistics we can see that per year 2.7 million people are newly infected.
So let’s try to understand AIDS.

WHAT IS AIDS???

AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a disease that affect human immune system, Its caused by HIV Virus (Human Immuno deficiency virus).This disease reduces our immunity and thus the affected individual fall prey to opportunistic diseases.

WHAT CAUSES AIDS???

The HIV virus causes AIDS. But in the initial stages the affected person will not know that he/she is affected. When the HIV virus enters our body it destroys the T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells thereby affecting the immune system. Gradually the immune system is fully damaged to the extend that the affected person will die because of otherwise non dangerous types of diseases.

HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED???

• Sexual Transmission
• Exchange of body fluids
• Needle sharing
• Blood transfusion (Transmission through this method is fairly low in developed countries)
• Tattoos and body piercing.
• From affected mother to child

HOW CAN AIDS BE DIAGNOSED???

Can be detected by the HIV test. The venous blood is tested, in the fourth generation screening test, for the presence of anti-HIV antibody and HIV Antigen. The presences of HIV antigen or antibody suggest that the person is HIV positive. Further tests are done to confirm this result. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is very effective as it can detect infection in initial stages itself. However a routine checkup is always putting us in the safe side.

HOW CAN IT BE PREVENTED???

• Protected sex reduces the chance of HIV infection in the heterosexuals and homosexuals
• Do not share needles
• For people who can come in contact with affected persons body fluids (doctors, nurses etc) should take necessary precautions.
• HIV is transmitted from mother to child in the last months of pregnancy and during child birth, giving birth by cesarean section prevents this.
• Avoid breast feeding if mother is affected and child is not.

TREATMENT FOR AIDS

At present no cure is available for AIDS. However antiviral therapy helps the affected to lead a some what normal life for 4-12 years. But once this treatment is stopped treatment resistant virus can get formed. These medicines are costly and have some very unpleasant side effects, but still it is the only alternative to an early death. In the absence of antiviral treatment, in the absence of anti retroviral therapy the time for progression from HIV infection to AIDS is 9-10 years and the survival time after developing AIDS is only 9.2 months.

AIDS DO NOT SPREAD

• By casual contacts
• By sharing clothes Etc used by the affected and
• By kiss that does not cause any oral injury.

AIDS is not a disease that affects homosexuals and drug users.

“EACH OF US IS SUSCEPTIBLE”

SO LETS WORK TOGETHER AGAINST THIS PANDEMIC

“HATE THIS DISEASE, BUT NOT THOSE AFFECTED”