Know About Aids. Review on AIDS Awareness

AIDS-Acquired immuno deficiency syndrome is the late stage of infection with the HIV.AIDS can take around 7-10 years to develop after infection with HIV.HIV is transmitted through semen and vaginal fluids, infected blood and blood products, infected mother to her baby-before birth, during birth or through breast milk.

Causes of AIDS:-

1.Infected Blood, 2.Infected needles, 3.Multiple partners.

HIV is not spread by:-

1. Drinking water or eating food from the same utensils-cups, glasses, plates, used by infected person.

2.Sharing toilets.

3.Shaking hands, hugging or kissing.

4.Donating blood.

5.Working with people who are HIV infected.

6.Swimming in pools used by people with HIV/AIDS.

7.Through mosquito bite.

8.Socialising or casually living with people with

HIV/AIDS.

How to avoid AIDS

1.Use Condoms, 2.Use disposable Syringes, 3.Avoid Multiple Partners.

Diagnosis:-HIV infection is diagnosed on the basis of blood tests using 3 different ELISA/Rapid tests using different antigen preparation. Western Blot test is used for confirmation of diagnosis of indeterminate ELISA tests.

Process of Infection:- The AIDS virus causes a weakness of the immune system.When it infects the body, it prefers to attack certain cells of our defense system.These cells are called Helper T cells which are a fundamental part of our immune system.The AIDS virus almost fully specializes on these white blood cells since these helper T cells have CD4 molecules on the surface to which the AIDS virus binds.

The AIDS virus, to put it simply, consists of genetic information on the inside and a protective outer shell of proteins and glycoproteins.Since viruses use the host cell's resources for reproduction, they don't need to contribute much themselves.That's why they are much smaller than the host cells, e.g. helper T cells.In the host cell's nucleus, there are more than 100, 000 times as much genetic information stored than under the protein shell of the AIDS virus. However, there is no way for the host cell to stop the virus once the cells has been infected.

* FAQs Q.How can children and young people be protected from HIV?

Ans:-** Children and adolescents have the right to know how to avoid HIV infection before they become sexually active.As some young people will have sex at an early age, they should know about condoms and where they are available.Parents and schools share the responsibility of ensuring that children understand how to avoid HIV infection, and learn the art of tolerance, compassion and non-discriminatory attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS.

Q.How does a mother transmit HIV to her unborn child? Ans:-An HIV infected mother can infect the child in her womb through her blood.The baby is more at risk if the mother has been recently infected or is in a later stage of AIDS.Transmission can also occur at the time of birth when the baby is exposed to the mother's blood and to some extent transmission can occur trough breast milk.Transmission from an infected mother to her baby occurs in about 30% of cases.

* Q.Can injections transmit HIV infection?

Ans:-**Yes.If the injecting equipment is contaminated with blood containing HIV.Avoid injections unless absolutely necessary.If you must have an injection, make sure the needle and syringe come straight from a sterile package or have veen sterilised properly;a needle and syringe that has been cleaned and then boiled for 20 minutes is ready for reuse.Finally, if you inject drugs, of whatever kind, never use anyone else's injecting equipment.

* Q.Is it safe to work with HIV infected people?

Ans:-**Yes.Most workers face no risk of getting the virus while doing their work.If they have the virus themselves, they are not a risk to others during the course of their work.

* Q.What about working every day in close physical contact with an infected person?

Ans:-**There are no risks involved.You may share the same telephone with other people in your office or work side by side in a crowded factory with other HIV infected persons, even share the same cup of tea, but this will not expose you to the risk of contracting the infection.Being in contact with dirt and sweat will also not give you the infection.

This review should serve as an eye opener for all the mouthshut members who are looking for some info on aids.

For further detailed information, please visit the website.

https://naco.nic.in wherein you'll get the complete information about AIDS.