GETTING TO ZERO

This AIDS day (December 1, 2013) we are
discussing one of the most critical diseases of
human race. Till now there is no known
treatment for this disease which makes it
utmost important to know about the causes
and prevention of AIDS. Scientifically AIDS is
not a disease because there are no clear signs
of AIDS and hence it is a syndrome. AIDS
stands for Acquired immune deficiency
syndrome which is cause by HIV (Human
Immunodeficiency Virus), it is quite clear for
the name that it is acquired form someone else
and it attacks our immune system. The HIV
virus does not directly affects the human body
but it weakens our Immune system which
make our immune system more vulnerable to
infections and diseases.
World AIDS Day 2013 Theme – Getting to
Zero
The main difference between symptoms and
sign is that, the sign can be seen or
experienced by other people apart for the
patient but the symptoms can only be felt by
the infected person. Signs are rash, swelling
and change in skin colour and Symptoms are
headache, fatigue, or dizziness.
Transmission
There are three main causes of transmission of
AIDS i.e. sexual contact, exposure to infected
body
fluids or tissues, and from mother to child
during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding
(known as vertical transmission).
However saliva, feces, sputum, sweat or tears
does not carry HIV virus so if exposed with
these of infected person transmission of AIDS
is not possible but these must not be
contaminated with blood.
Treatment
Till now there is no treatment of AIDS however
with certain measures an infected person can
live long.
Precautions
Precautions can be taken in form of having
safe sexual contact, HIV test of mother before
pregnancy as with sophisticated medical aids
child could be protected from getting infected.
Infected person must go to doctor for every
small disease or disorder.
Test
To detect weather a person is suffering form
HIV or AIDS is done combination of two tests
for HIV antibodies. Initially by ELISA method
and then by Western blot method which
determines the size of antigens. During initial
period infected people develop specific
antibodies, detection of aids during that period
is done by measuring HIV-RNA or p24 antigen
this initial period is known as window period
when no change is detected.
How to behave with a person suffering
from AIDS ?.
If you do know any person suffering form
AIDS/HIV then you must not behave differently
with him as he/she is just suffering form a
disease which anyone could suffer so our
behavior must be normal with that person.
Shaking Hands, Using the same toilet, sharing
cutlery, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation,
sneezing, dry kissing and hugging doesn’t
causes HIV virus to spread. Person suffering
form HIV needs a lot of social help and you
must try make his life happy.