Aids: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
Aids was first reported
just over 20 years ago. The pandemic struck just when there was
considerable progress being made in the health front and is set to reach catastrophic
proportions. It has exposed all the limitations, weaknesses and prejudices concealed
within the health care system and in the entire social structure itself.
Aids is caused
by immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A wide spectrum of clinical features
follow HIV infection ranging from asymptomatic infection to full blown AIDS.
It is not known whether all the persons infected with HIV will eventually
develop symptomatic disease. In some cases there appears no progress in the infection
while in others full blown aids develop either through stages or
directly within an incubation period ranging from 6 months to
more than 10 years after the acute HIV infection.
The first
HIV Sero- Positive individual in India was detected in 1986 among the prostitutes
of Madras city and the first case of Aids was reported in May 1986. This
patient was infected by a blood transfusion during coronary bye-pass surgery
in USA. Since then serological studies of various groups screened has shown
that HIV prevalence rate has grown tremendously.
Transmission:
Homosexuals, Intravenous drug users, Heterosexual Promiscuity & Perinatal,
Signs:
Minor: Persistent cough for longer than one month
Generalized
itching and dermatitis
Recurrent
Herpes Zoster
Fungus infection
in the throat and mouth
Chronic
progressive and disseminated Herpes Simplex,
Generalized
Lymphadenopathy
Major: Weight loss
Chronic
Diarrhea for longer than one month
Prolonged
fever for longer than one month (Continuous or intermittent)
Mode of Transmission:
Blood,
Semen,
Cervical fluids,
Saliva
Breast milk,
Cerebrospinal fluid,
Skin,
Lungs and
Brain and Nerves.
High Risk Groups:
Male homosexuals and bisexuals with multiple partners,
Heterosexual partners (including Prostitutes),
Intravenous drug abusers,
Transfusion recipients of blood and blood products ,
Hemophiliacs ,
Clients of prostitutes,
Prisoners.
Predominant modes of HIV Transmission :
Sexual intercourse: Vaginal , Anal
Blood borne: Transfusion, Injective drug Abuse, Others(tattoos)
Perinatal : Mother to foetus-intrauterine transmission
During labor and delivery to infant if the mother harbours
the HIV
Post natal transmission :
Through breast milk
Others: BY
Organs transplantations,
Artificial inseminations,
Haemodialysis,
Cornea and bone marrow transplants
While providing First Aid :
Mouth to mouth Resuscitation
While attending Bleeding injuries
Not effected through
Sharing of food utensils, drinking cups, beds,
bathing facilities, toilet seats, telephone receivers , towels,
second hand clothes etc,
Casual contacts like shaking hands, dry kissing, hugging,
dancing or swimming
Bites of insects like mosquitoes, bedbugs or flies as the virus
cannot replicate or survive for long periods of time in anthropods.
Sneezing or coughing
Presence of other sexually transmitted diseases as a contributing factor
(Syphilis,Chancroid, and Genital Herpes )
Parenternal Transmission:
Infected blood and blood products
Any part of skin piercing with needles infected with HIV
Sharing razor blades, and tooth brushes of HIV infected people.