AIDS
Cause and Symptoms
AIDS - Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is an immunological disease cause by human
Immunodeficiency virus (AIDS)
Virus is transmitted through direct contact of body fluid like vaginal fluid, preseminal
Fluid, breast milk, blood, transmission can occur to child through infected mother during
Pregnancy childbirth, breastfeeding, other are oral sex, anal, vaginal sex,
Infected needle prick.
Symptoms - In healthy person normal bacteria, parasite, viruses, fungal, infection are controlled
By immune system, but AIDS virus destroy immune system.
So this opportunistic infection affects every organ, AIDS patient also have risk of
Cancers such Kaposi’s sarcoma, lymphomas. Other symptoms includes fever,
Sweating, weakness, swollen glands.
Cause - HIV is a retro virus infects CD4 cells lead to loss of cellular immunity. In absence of
Antiretroviral treatment progression from HIV infection to AIDS takes nine to ten years
Misconcept - Some misconcepts regarding are, it spread through casual contacts, sex with virgin will
Cure AIDS, infect only to homosexual and drug users, as these concepts are not true.
Diagnosis - By presence of symptoms and signs with many classifications and with HIV test
.
Prevention - Prevent unprotected sex i.e. use condoms, body fluid exposure i.e. blood by
Contaminated needle, mother to child i.e. breastfeed and by giving people health education
Treatment - Antiviral therapy (abacavir) and symptomatic treatment