AIDS: Transmission Facts and Myths

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a medical health condition characterized by a very weak immune system and its inability to fight infections. AIDS is caused by a virus called Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that progressively attacks the immune system. The immune system functions as natural body defense against infectious bacteria and viruses. When the immune system damage caused by the HIV reaches a very weak stage to fend off infections, AIDS is said to have developed.

AIDS origin and how it developed in the human body is a subject of debates by medical scientist. Based on many studies HIV is actually an evolved form of SIV found in primate species. How SIV virus crossed to the human species and developed into HIV is still being studied, and many theories are put forward in attempt to solve this mystery.

AIDS is incurable. Although AIDS per se is not life threatening, it leaves the body open for opportunistic infections and diseases. These opportunistic infections take advantage of the opening offered by an undermined immune system. Although AIDS is incurable, antiretroviral treatments are available to inhibit or prolong the period from HIV infection to the inception of AIDS.

AIDS is considered a global epidemic. Since the first reported case of AIDS in humans in 1981, it claims 25 million lives or more. Based on World Heath Organization (WHO) AIDS statistics for 2007, there are 33 million cases in the world.

Region	HIV/AIDS Cases (in millions)
Sub-Saharan Africa	22.0
North Africa & Middle East	0.38
Asia	5
Oceania	0.074
Latin America	1.7
Caribbean	0.23
Eastern Europe & Central Asia	1.5
North America, Western & Central Europe	2.0
.

Due to the rising trend of AIDS cases in the world, global scale information and awareness drive are continuously undertaken to promote awareness to the general populace and to dispel disadvantageous and misleading misconceptions regarding the disease. Out of fear and ignorance, many myths are circulated on transmission of AIDS.

Since transmission is an important aspect of the AIDS prevention, it very important to be aware of how this disease is transferred and contacted. Here are the facts of AIDS transmission.

• Vaginal Sex – An infected person’s sexual fluids are found to contain HIV, which means seminal fluids of men and vaginal fluids of women during sex can contaminate and infect the sexual partner.
• Anal Sex – A higher risk of transmission is found on anal intercourse. Anal linings are found to be more delicate and prone to lacerations and damage during sex thus increasing the probability of HIV transmission. This is underscored by the fact that early reported AIDS in humans occurred on the gay populace where this is prevalent.
• Oral Sex – This transmission mode carries smaller risk of transmission. Seminal or vaginal fluids when enters the mouth can infect a person especially when gum and mouth sores are present.
• Injecting Drugs – This is a high-risk transmission mode prevalent on drug users. Sharing needles, syringes, and injections is considered an efficient way to transmit HIV than sexual intercourse.
• Mother-child transmission – Infected pregnant mothers transmit HIV on their unborn infants during pregnancy and delivery. Also, breastfeeding can transmit HIV on the child.
• Blood transfusions and products – This case is now very rare. Modern medical practice on blood transfusion utilizes a strict test to detect HIV and other diseases prior to these activities.
• Tattoos and piercing – This activity potentially allows blood transfusion on smaller amounts through tattoo and piercing equipments.

Transmission myths are circulated among the less-informed populace and promote unsolicited fear and panic. Among the prevalent myths about AIDS transmission are the following.

• Kissing – Is a well circulated myth on AIDS transmission. Truth is saliva does not contain HIV and that a generous quantity of virus is needed for such transmission to occur.
• Sharing Utensils, Sneezing, and coughing – It is important to be aware that the HIV virus cannot live outside its host like on the glasses, spoons, or utensils used by an infected person. Also HIV cannot survive on the air. These activities do not transmit HIV.
• Insects – Many studies show negative transmission chance on this mode. HIV cannot live on insects like mosquitoes.

The Struggles of a Person Battling Against Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a combination of signs and symptoms forming a distinct clinical image of a disorder. As it implies, it is acquired meaning it is neither congenital nor hereditary. It involves a suppression of the one’s immune system thereby increasing the risk of infections. If the immune system of a person goes down, there will be an increase in the susceptibility of that person to various infections, which has a very high probability to eventually arrive at death. Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is the causative agent of AIDS. It’s a type of retrovirus, which is also described as a slow type of virus, that is, the period between the onset of infection and the appearance of symptoms tends to be longer thereby giving an opportunity for these microorganisms to be transmitted to other hosts. The incubation period or the time between the infection and the appearance of AIDS is about seven to twelve years. A diagnostic evaluation to know whether a person really has AIDS is to obtain the CD₄ count of that person. The normal CD₄ count is around 500- 1500. This is done to  have a distinction between HIV positive individuals from individuals categorized as having AIDS. The confirmatory diagnostic test is the western blot analysis.

The signs and symptoms of an individual that is infected by HIV or has AIDS are fatigue, loss of weight for about ten percent of the total body weight, chronic cough for one month, persistent diarrhea, prolonged fever, appearance of oral thrush in the buccal cavity, nausea and vomiting, and repeated infections. The mode of transmission of these microorganisms is through sexual intercourse, transmission from a pregnant female to the fetus during pregnancy, during breast-feeding, during child birth, through blood transfusion, sharing of needles or syringes infected with HIV, and through organ donation.

As the virus enters into the body of an individual, the virus rapidly mutates thereby making it a very difficult task for the body’s immune system to recognize the foreign microorganism. Treatment is therefore, very important for the survival of an individual infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The drugs used as treatment modalities for AIDS are not actually used to treat or cure the abovementioned infection and these drugs are known as enteroviral drugs. These types of drugs inhibit the reproduction of HIV. One group of enteroviral drugs used as medical management is called Protease Inhibitors. These drugs inhibit protease enzymes, which are essential for the formation of the virus. Some of the drugs available in the market classified as Protease Inhibitors are Saquinavir, Indinavir, and Ritonavir. Another group of enteroviral drugs used as medical management for AIDS is Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors. These drugs work by inhibiting the enzyme known as reverse transcriptase, which is important in the replication of the virus. Some of the drugs available in the market classified as Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors are Didanosine, Lamivudine, Zalcitabine, Stavudine, Nevirapine, and Zidovudine.

Since AIDS had no cure up to this time, how can an individual prevent the acquisition of HIV? What are the important roles of the health care department in order to promote prevention? What is the responsibility of the government with regards to this issue? Now, given the fact that AIDS do not have a cure only emphasizes one thing and that is prevention. An individual can prevent acquiring HIV if he or she is well educated about it. This puts emphasis or highlights the roles of the health care workers. Giving awareness to the public about the modes of transmission, and the necessary precautions so as to prevent acquiring AIDS will create a big difference. Again, the key is prevention through information dissemination. Health education to the people who has HIV infected relatives or family members are also very important. Putting emphasis on not sharing personal things such as toothbrush and razor blades is essential to prevent the spread of HIV. In addition, promotion of safer health practices is also important and this can be done using  condoms. Since organ donation is one mode of transmission of HIV, it is therefore, strictly discouraged for a person with AIDS to donate his or her organs.

A person with AIDS is experiencing not only possible infections but also the shame of having it. Therefore, family support is important in the management of the condition.

AIDS: A Worldwide Concern

Each year, mortality rates for AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is constantly increasing. It has affected millions of individuals all throughout the entire globe. It affects all individuals including children. Africa is the continent mostly affected by this disease. It is said that the first recorded case was from Los Angeles and was finally traced by experts that its origin is the continent of Africa. At this time, experts are trying to discover treatments for this disease but until now there is still no known cure for AIDS.

AIDS is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. A person infected with this virus usually appears asymptomatic for a longer period of time, and it slowly suppresses the immune system of infected patients. Once the immune system of those infected with the virus becomes too weak, opportunistic infections might occur and cause further damage to the health of the patient. A patient will be considered infected with AIDS if his CD4+ T cell count lowers to 200. If the CD4+ count is above 200, it is still considered as HIV. The CD4+ count will determine the status of the patient’s immune system.

There are many ways to diagnose HIV and AIDS. The first one is the HIV antibody test. Those infected with the virus produced antibodies to HIV in the blood. If an individual who submits himself to HIV antibody test will definitely have negative results if he does this during the window period of the disease which is 21 days to 6 months. This does not mean that the patient is not infected of the virus it only shows that the body has not produced the antibodies yet. Therefore, the patient should continue taking precautions. This is not the confirmatory test for HIV. A more accurate diagnostic test is the Western Blot Test. It is a confirmatory test to HIV, which supports the HIV Antibody test. There is also a diagnostic test specific for infants; PCR or polymerase chain reaction can be utilized.

AIDS is a syndrome. Therefore, it is a mix of signs and symptoms. These symptoms are the result of the impairment in the immune system. Common signs and symptoms include sinus infection, depression, persistent diarrhea, Kaposi’s sarcoma and lymphadenopathy. There are still other signs and symptoms depending on the type of opportunistic infection that the patient has acquired after his immune system became impaired. There are treatments available nowadays that slow the progression of the disease, and it has been of great help to patients that are affected. It is very expensive though and limited in distribution that is why others are unable to benefit from these treatments. There are even celebrities who are infected with HIV and their condition did not progress to AIDS because of their treatment regimen.

There are a lot of ways to acquire the virus. The most common is through sexual intercourse, being pricked by a needle that is infected and blood transfusion. It is best for people to know and understand how the virus is being transmitted so that they will be aware on how to prevent acquisition of the disease. Pregnant women that are infected with the virus usually infect their baby with HIV. This disease is indeed highly infectious.

The world has organized programs to help solve the problem with regards to the increasing number of individuals who acquire the disease. The campaign for the awareness and maturity of people to deal with the disease is being strengthened by certain groups. Even celebrities are urging people to practice safe sex and use preventive measures to prevent the spread of the disease. It is a pandemic already and instead of discriminating persons with HIV it is best to offer them emotional support because these patients are feeling so down, and they need to be educated so that they will not engage in activities that will spread the virus. There are still millions of individuals who are not aware of this condition, and it is best to participate in programs that will help increase the awareness regarding the effects of having the disease. It might be difficult to eradicate this disease but a simple sense of responsibility will definitely cause a change.