AIDS

AIDS is the leading cause of death worldwide for people aged fifteen to fifty-nine. What
started out as a disease that impacted a small segment of society has ballooned into an
epidemic that affects people of all backgrounds throughout the world. The impact of AIDS
not only includes ill health and death for those afflicted, but it also has resulted in economic
crises, food shortages, and poverty in several countries.

One of the reasons AIDS severely impacts the world is due to the numbers of people infected.
According to UNAIDS 2009 report, worldwide some 60 million people have been infected,
with some 25 million deaths, and 14 million orphaned children in southern Africa alone since
the epidemic began.

Today an HIV-positive person with access to treatment has much greater hope than infected
people in the 1980s. With proper medical treatment, HIV-positive people can live relatively
normal lives working, playing, and raising families for decades.

AIDS is caused by HIV, a very fragile RNA type of retrovirus, which like any other
microorganism lives inside the living cells of the body. Outside body it doesn’t survive for
more than half and hour.

There are two types of HIV virus, i.e. HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is present all over the world
and in India more than 80% people are affected by it. HIV-2 is mainly found in Africa and
also presents in India. Some people are infected with both the viruses. People only infected
with HIV-2 live longer than those infected with HIV-1 and chances of transmission of HIV-2
from mother to child are very rare.

Once in body, HIV attacks CD4 type of White Blood Cells (WBCs) in blood and gradually
kills them. These CD4 type of WBC helps us to fight against various infections. Once they
are destroyed our body’s resistance to fight infections goes down and person suffers from lots
of infections. This end stage of HIV infection is called AIDS. It takes many years for AIDS
to develop and till that time infected person usually remains healthy.

"It is estimated that by the end of 20th century there were 40 million people infected with
HIV all over the world and India has been leading with highest number of cases (ranging
from 10-20 million). We may not be infected but will definitely be affected indirectly by it.
Hence it is a duty of every citizen of India to have detailed knowledge about this disease".

Due to lack of knowledge about AIDS people have fear in their mind against the victims of
this disease. Because of fear of social boycott, AIDS patients and their relatives hide their
HIV status. Many doctors (due to fear of getting infection) also refuse to treat these patients.
There is danger of AIDS for everybody and only thing that can save us is to be completely
informed.
HOW DOES HIV SPREAD

Infected person’s blood and fluid are rich in HIV. However tears, saliva, sweat or urine do
not pose any danger.

HIV is transmitted by

• Unprotected sexual contact with infected person

• Infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, birth process and through breast –
feeding
• Use of infected needles and instruments without sterilization or sharing of needles and
syringes by HIV drug addicts

HOW HIV CAN BE DETECTED

You can not tell by looking at person’s face whether he or she is infected with HIV. The
infected people look perfectly healthy and feel well for years. The infection can only be
detected by doing a blood test i.e. ELISA HIV antibody test. If someone is found to be
positive by ELISA and confirmed by second test the person is said to be seropositive.

SPOT TEST:

This is simple rapid test for finding out the HIV status of a person in which the result can be
given to the patient within half an hour. Rarely there are chances of a false positive report and
hence a positive report should be confirmed by doing ELISA test.

WESTERN BLOT (WB) TEST:

Specialized and costly confirmatory test for HIV. Done only to confirm a positive ELISA or
SPOT test report. Ever since the standard of ELISA and SPOT test has improved the role of
this test seems to be very little in diagnosis of HIV infection.

CD4 AND VIRAL LOAD TESTING:

Very costly tests and done only in those affording patients who are willing to start anti-HIV
(antiretroviral) drugs.

It is mandatory to do pre-test and post-test counselling of all the patients before and after the
test respectively.
CARE OF HIV / AIDS PATIENT

GENERAL CARE:

• Sympathetic attitude, family and public support

• Patient should be advised to take adequate rest and diet rich in proteins and vitamins
• Patient should be advised not to donate blood or organs
• Patient should be advised to use condom with any sexual partner
• As far as possible patient should avoid eating outside food
• Patient should be encouraged to give up all habits i.e. smoking, alcohol or chewing
pan or tobacco
• Patient should drink boiled water
• Patient should be advised to do regular exercise or yoga

If patients follow above general care tips they can live 1-2 year longer.

SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT:

• Early treatment of common problems like fever, cough, diarrhea etc. from family
doctor
• Early detection and treatment of opportunistic infections like TB etc.

SPECIFIC ANTI-HIV TREATMENT:

Many new anti-HIV drugs which prevent the spread of the virus and can postphone various
complications are now available at selected places in market and few of them are also
manufactured in India. These medicines can prolong the life of the patient but not cure him.

PRVENTION IS THE ONLY CURE FOR HIV / AIDS

Prevention is simple easy and the only answer we have got today unless we find some cure.
HIV can be easily prevented by adopting simple measures such as:

SAFE SEX .SAFE BLOOD, SAFE NEEDLES and SAFE MOTHERHOOD

How to Help AIDS Patients

• We should sympathise and empathise with them

• We should Provide them family and social support
• We should Allow them to be a part of the family as he / she was prior to disclosure of
the infection
• We should Allow them to get back to their work as soon as soon as he / she is
physically fit, since HIV infection doesn’t require special rest
• We should Keep them engaged in some activity, as an empty mind is a devil’s
workshop
 • We should Make efforts to reduce their stress
• We should Encourage them to exercise and meditate as these help prolong the life
span
• We should Provide them with a high protein, high vitamin diet and clean potable
water (boiled)
• We should Convince them to stop all addictions such as tobacco cigarettes, alcohol or
other psychotropic / recreational drugs
• We should Register them with a health care facility for regular checks and follow up
• We should Take immediate steps to treat even minor ailments. However, it is not
necessary to disclose their HIV status to their family physician
• We should Purse them at any appropriate time, to make a will
• We should Provide foster care to their children
• We should Help them to fight against discrimination meted out to them by hospitals ,
doctors and employers
• We should educate family members and friends about HIV / AIDS, if they already
know the HIV status of the patient.

CONCLUSION

AIDS does not discriminate caste, creed, race, religion, educational or social status.
Prevention of AIDS is our joint responsibility. Education and awareness is the only weapon
in our hand. Let us accept the challenge to fight against AIDS. We must support and care for
the people with AIDS with compassion and understanding.