Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

HIV/AIDS

Today due to the advancements in medical industry many new drugs and treatment methods are available to combat the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the consequent Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). But still this deadly disease poses many challenges for the health care systems and providers in every corner of the world.

HIV is a virus that occurs only in humans causing deterioration of immune system due to Microscopic agents. It gradually hampers the body’s immunity to fight diseases. An AIDS person gets symptoms from external sources that exhibits less or absent protection to combat diseases. HIV positive patient’s CD4+ T which is a type of defensive white blood cell count drops below 200cells/mm due to the virus’s penetration and multiplication in the cells. The concentration of virus in blood is checked to determine the stage of the disease. Eventually, the body develops the likelihood to get Opportunistic Infections (OIs), Cancers, TB, Hepatitis etc.

The symptoms of AIDS are typically the presence of HIV in the body. In some individual, initial stage is symptom less and some individual shows acute viral syndrome like flue, fever, headache, body ache etc., other symptoms like deficient immune system and opportunistic infections like TB, cancer, Kaposi’s Sarcoma, Pneumocyctis Cannii Pneumonia (PCP), Lymphoma.

The virus is transmitted through human to human blood transmission (mostly in hemophilia); organ transplantation; sharing of needle or syringe which was used by HIV +ve patient, or injecting drug use; HIV +ve pregnant women to their babies during pregnancy, delivery and through breast milk; in healthcare worker through open cuts like eyes or inside the nose, tattoo piercing. In most of the cases it is transmitted sexually through people having multiple sex partners and so it is also known as Sexually Transmitted Disease(STD). Body fluids play a very important role in transmission of this virus that comprises blood; semen; vaginal fluid; breast milk; Cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord; Synovial fluid surrounding bone joints; and Amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus. This virus is not transmitted by air, water, insects, social kissing, saliva, tears and sweats.

It is very important to be proactive and take necessary precautions against this disease, like wearing gloves during contact with virus infected blood or other body fluids; applying bandages to cuts, sores, breaks to the HIV patient’s bare skin; washing hands and other parts of the body immediately after contact with HIV patient; not using HIV patient’s toiletries; not using syringes or needles used for HIV patient; using HIV tested blood or other body fluid for transmission; using condoms for sex.

This virus can be detected by carrying out various types of diagnostic tests like Rapid test for HIV 1/HIV 2, Rapid multidot HIV test for HIV 1 & HIV 2, Western blot test (WB) (Antigen-Antibody test or serum/plasma test or ELISA test), Line Immuno Essay (LIO’s), Peptide HIV 1 & HIV 2 ELISA test, HIV 1 Urine EIA, HIV 1 Urine Western blot (ELISA), HIV p24 antigen ELISAs (to check to progress of disease). The

AIDS disease is incurable and the Antiretroviral treatment available can only in some cases save person from getting ill for many years by