December 1, the World AIDS Day

 December 1 is recalled as the World AIDS Day. It is a method to educate the people about AIDS so that we can concentrate on the fight against AIDS and have the future planning to fight against it and find a solid solution to delete it from our planet earth.

What is AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)? It is a disorder of cell mediated immune system of the body. There is a reduction in the number of cells called helper T-cells which stimulate antibody production by B-cells. This result in the loss of natural defense against viral infection.

AIDS-Related Complex (ARC) It is a mild form of AIDS. Its symptoms are swollen lymph nodes, fever, sweating at night and weight loss. Patients with ARC have a high possibility of early development of AIDS. ARC is also known as a predromal AIDS.

Discovery of AIDS
AIDS was first noticed in USA in h-o-m-o-s-e-x-u-a-l-s in 1981. Virus of AIDS was isolated and identified by Prof. Luc Montagnier in France in 1983 and almost the same time by Prof. Robert Gallo in USA. AIDS infections were detected in India for the first time in prostitutes of Chennai in 1986.

The AIDS virus may have passed from a monkey host into human population in Africa during 1960s.

Pathogen (Causative Agent)
The virus was identified and named as HCLV III (Human cell leukemia Virus III), but now the name of the virus is changed to HIV (Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus). Structure of AIDS virus: it consist of glycoprotein cost, double layer of lipid membranes and two protein coats. It contains RNA and reverse transcriptase enzyme.


Incubation Period
The incubation period of HIV is between 15-27 months. Average incubation period is 28 months.
Diagnosis:
AIDS can be diagnosed by ELISA test and WESTERN BLOT test (year 2004).
Treatment: No specific treatments of AIDS have been found so far (year 2004) and the mortality from AIDS is 100%. Still two treatments are tried:

• Antiviral therapy-against pathogen (HIV)
• Immuno-stimulative therapy to increase the number of resistance-providing cells in the body. A drug named Zidovudine prolongs the life of AIDS patients.

Reason for AIDS

AIDS virus is transmitted only via:

• Blood
• Semen
  

Therefore the main causes for AIDS are the following:
Transmission of infected blood or blood products.

• Use of contaminated needles and syringes to inject drugs or vaccines.
  
• Use of contaminated razors.
  
• Use of contaminated needles.
  
• Having s-e-x with an infected partner without a c-o-n-d-o-m.
  
• Parturition from mother to baby due to rupturing of blood vessels.
  
• Artificial insemination.
  
• Organ transplant.
  

Precaution against AIDS
At present we don’t have a perfect treatment to cure AIDS because no vaccine has been prepared so far against AIDS virus but a lot of precautions have been suggested. Following are the most important measures that may help in preventing the AIDS.

• Use c-o-n-do-m while having s-e-x with such a partner about whom your knowledge is limited. Best is you should not maintain s-e-x-u-a-l relations with more than one partner. And a message to boys (men), have respect for girls (women), have s-e-x you’re your beloved/wife only don’t use them as s-e-x gadget.
  

• Pay attention while donating blood for any purpose, Disposable needles and syringes should be used. Used needles and syringes must be destroyed.
  

• Use your own blade and shaving razor and don’t share it with anyone, anyone means not even your family members.
  

• Pay attention while taking treatment from a doctor, for example dentist should use sterilized equipments.
  

• Take all precautionary First Aid measures while treating a wound or injuries i.e. wear hand gloves to prevent a direct contact with blood of the patient.
  

Myths about AIDS, it cannot be acquired by the following:

• AIDS does not spread through air, water and normal physical contact.
  

• It does not spread through insect bites like mosquito bites.
  

• It does not spread through k-i-s-s-i-n-g, shaking hands, coughing and sneezing.
  

• It does not spread through sharing towels, utilities, telephone, swimming pools and toilets.
  

• If a husband or wife is suffering from AIDS then it is not necessary that its partner too have the disease.
  

• It is not necessary that a mother suffering from AIDS will always give birth to a child suffering from AIDS, new born babies can be protected by giving proper treatment.
  

Our Social Duties
AIDS cannot be removed from the earth unless we understand our social duties. To fight against AIDS we should perform these duties:

• A person suffering from AIDS should not maintain s-e-x-u-a-l relations with anyone.
  

• A person suffering from AIDS should take proper medical treatment when get injured and prevent any one to come in direct contact with the HIV infected blood.
  

• We should not hate the AIDS patients instead increase their moral to a normal social life.
  

• We should follow the necessary medical precautions listed above to live along the HIV infected person.
  

• We should educate the people about AIDS like this or any other means.
  

AIDS reference centers in India

In India, four reference centers have been established (2004)

• AIIMS, New Delhi
  
• National Institute of Communicable Diseases, New Delhi
  
• National Institute of Virology, Pune
  
• Centre for Advanced Research on Virology, CMC, Vollore.
  

“HATE AIDS NOT THE PATIENT”