AIDS – A Rising Menace

An estimated forty million people are living with HIV throughout the world and this number increases in every region every day. In the UK alone, more than 60,000 people are living with HIV and more than 7,000 more are diagnosed every year. Ignorance and prejudice are fuelling the spread of a preventable disease. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections caused in a human body by the damage caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

AIDS is the most severe form of infection that is caused by HIV, a retrovirus that affects the vital components of human immune system. CD4+ T cells are required by the body to develop a strong immune system. When HIV attacks the body less than 200 CD4+ T cells per microlitre are left in the body.

The only way to fight this deadely disease is to be aware of the causes . The sharing and reusing of syringes contaminated with HIV-infected blood represents a major risk for infection not only with HIV, but also with hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Needle sharing is the cause of one third of all new HIV-infections and 50% of hepatitis C infections in Northern America, China, and Eastern Europe.

Transmission from mother to child during the time of pregnancy is the biggest fear that aids can cause. Transmission can occur in utero , in labour or at the time of delivery.The transmission risk is 10 – 15 % at the time of breastfeeding. Only proper diagnosis and test during the time of pregnancy can prevent the disease.

The risk of transmission of HIV virus is highest through unprotected sexual contact. Unprotective receptive sexual acts have higher risk than insertive act. Anal intercourse transmissions are more riskier than vaginal or oral sex.

During a sexual act, only male or female condoms can reduce the chances of infection with HIV and other STDs and the chances of becoming pregnant. The best evidence to date indicates that typical condom use reduces the risk of heterosexual HIV transmission by approximately 80% over the long-term, though the benefit is likely to be higher only if the condoms are used correctly on every occasion. So every possible effort should be made to spread awareness about protective sex.

The battle can only be won if proper vaccine against the disease can be found beacause scientists are yet to find a vaccine that can cure either HIV or AIDS. The only known method is to avoid exposure to the virus or , failing that, an antiretroviral . An antiretroviral treatment is taken after significant exposure which is called post – exposure prophylaxis (PEP) . PEP has a dosage schedule of 4 weeks which can be stressful because of its side effects. The side effects that follow the trearment are diarrhoea, nausea, fatigue and malaise.

So as the saying goes a stitch in time saves nine , our protection today can give us a better tommorrow.