What is AIDS?

Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. It is a pandemic disease.

AIDS cannot be compared to disease like malaria and cholera which
claim more live in country currently. It has a greater impact than other
disease. The treatment options are still in the initial stages and are
prohibitively expensive. There are instances of quacks taking
advantage of the situation. This has compounded the misery of AIDS
patients.

History of HIV AIDS

It was first noticed in USA in 1981. The American and French scientist
independently identified the AIDS virus 1984. The virus first named as
HCLV III (Human cell leukemia virus III). The name (Human cell
leukemia deficiency virus) is now preferred. It now seems that HIV first
passed into human from chimpanzees by eating butchered chimps.
10% of the people, who get AIDS virus infection, actually develop full
blown AIDS.

Causes of AIDS
The main cause of AIDS is a disorder of cell mediated immune system
of the body. The disorder is characterized by a reduction in the number
of helper. T-cell which stimulate antibody production by B-cells. This
result in the loss of natural defense against viral infection.
 Transmission of AIDS Virus
It is only transmitted by a direct contact of infected cells - containing
blood of patient to the blood of a healthy person as in -

1) Sexual intercourse with an infected partner if there is tissue injury to

permit blood contact.

2) Use of contaminated needles and syringes to inject drugs or

vaccines.

3) Use of contaminated razors, needles for boring pinnae.

4) Transfusion of infected blood or blood product.

5) Organ transplant.

6) Artificial insemination.

7) Parturition from mother to baby due to rupturing of blood vessels.

Note: The sexual of transmission account for over 75% of infections.

AIDS is not a contagious disease. It does not spread by casual

contact, such as handshake, body contact in crowded places, working
or playing together, sharing clothes, eating food cooked by infected
person, using same toilet, swimming pools. It is also not and ribovirin
seem most promising. A drugs named zide vuidine prolongs the life of
many AIDS patient. However some patients AIDS virus have already
mutated to zidovudine resistant forms.
Symptoms of aids
 INTRODUCTION OF AIDS VIRUS
It is 100 to 140 nm. In diameter and has a cylindrical core. It is found in
blood and semen and to a lesser extent in milk tears and saliva. It is a
retrovirus, i.e. its genetic material is - RNA (single stranded linear)
which can make a DNA copy of itself with the help of the reverse
transcriptase enzyme. The virus bind specifically to a surface receptor
on a helper T-cell and introduce its RNA and reverse transcriptase
enzyme into the cells here it multiplies and the release of new virus
destroys the cell. AIDS occurs when the helper T-cell falls too low to
fight the disease.

Screening Test of AIDS

AIDS Patient generally has circulating antibodies which can be
detected. In many countries this test is done as a routine on blood,
donor, screening may prove harmful to victims. Persons found to be
HIV positive become depressed and suicidal and are denied insurance,
evicted from their houses, fired from their jobs only small minorities of
such persons are likely to develop full blown AIDS. However the
infected persons may spread infection to others.
Today ELISA test is done identify this pandemic disease (AIDS).

Manifestation of AIDS
Manifestation: - It can manifest in two major ways -
i) Maligent tumors in connective tissue
ii) Viral, bacterial, protozoan and fungalin-fection of any system of the
body. There are destruction of WBCS, damage to brain,. unexplained
fever, unexplained loss of appetite, unexplained loss weight over a
short time, chronic diarrhea, cough, night sweats, enlargement of
lymph glands, shortness of breath, weakness.

AIDS Treatment: - Medical treatment of AIDS consists of:

i) Antiviral therapy against the causative agent
ii) Immuno simulative therapy to increase the number of resistance -
providing cells in the body or both. However no specific treatment has
been found so far and the mortality from AIDS is virtually 100%. A
victim of full blown AIDS dies with in 3 year from infection of many
drugs tried, azithmidine transmitted by blood sucking insects such as
mosquitoes, AIDS virus has been found in urine, tears saliva, breast
milk and vaginal secretions, but is seems not to transmitted by these
fluids unless it gets a cut.

PREVENTIONS FROM AIDS

Following steps may help in controlling this dreaded disease.

i) People particularly those in high risk group should be educated about

AIDS transmission.
ii) High risk group should refrain from blood donation.
iii) Disposable needles and syringes should be used.
iv) Sexual habits should be changed immediately.
v) Before receiving blood, ensure that it has been screened for HIV.
vi) Routine screening may be done in
a) Blood Donors,
b) Organ Donors
c) Donors of semen and growth hormone,
d) Patient receiving haemodialysis
e) Females in high risk group, who are pregnant or contemplating
pregnancy.
Chastity, lifelong monogamy, and a clean needle for each injection are
the only ways to prevent the spread of AIDS. These measures will
succeed only in persons not already infected.

Major causes
Reasons of spreading AIDS among world people

More than 90% of the infected persons are belong to developing

countries.
REASONS:-
(i) Low-level of socio-economic development.
(ii) Low health consciousness and facilities
(iii) A growing unmarried youth population due to delayed marriage
(iv) High rate of labour migration.
(v) Low level of literacy among high-risk groups.
(vi)High incidence of sexuality transmitted diseases and reproductive
tract infections among men and women.

Steps taken to prevent the spreading of

AIDS :
(i) National AIDS programme of south East Asian countries are
beginning to yield encouraging results. The 100% condom use
programme in Thailand and the Sonagachi project in Calcutta, a model
peer education programme among sex workers, have helped bring
down AIDS infection and also reduced the incidence of STD.
(ii) Non-government organizations have brought Baptist interest
litigations against such cases of discrimination and the courts have
pronounced the rights of such peoples. This has helped alleviate the
misery of affected persons.

CONCLUSION
After studying the cause and effects of AIDS from different views, we
conclude that it is a pandemic disease. It is mainly spreading sexually
and person of the age group of 25-45 years are the most affected
group. There are some methods like Antiviral Therapy and Immuno
Simulative therapy which bring some hope that even then no specific
treatment has been found so for and morality form is virtually 100%.
So only prevention in the test medicine care.

OBSERVATION
AIDS immersed as pandemic disease. It is nondurable. It is more
common in developing countries. Now every day 1000 peoples are
going to become HIV infected in world. This is mainly due to blood
transfusion & Sexual contact. In whole world about 3 crore 30 lakhs
people are HIV +ve & in India 3 lakh 70 thousands are HIV +ve. The
number of HIV +ve persons is higher in Tamilnadu Bombay, Calcutta
and Kerala and Manipur.
PROBLEMS FOR PATIENT
AIDS cause disease of Immune system of body. The HIV causes
damage to T & B cell. Thus this is becoming a threatening problem of
today and of future.

HYPOTHESIS
AIDS is non curable due to its nature of pathogen. It also damage
immune system of the body. Therefore any medicine (Antiviral) drugs
are not effective against HIV virus. Ignorance and lack of knowledge
about this disease is the root cause of wide spread of this disease.