We all should know about AIDS

By Sabitri
AIDS was first reported in the United States in 1981 and has since become a major/Worldwide epidemic. AIDS is a condition brought about by a virus (HIV), which causes the body's immune system to become deficient. It leaves the sufferer exposed to infection. A subspecies of chimpanzees native to went equatorial Africa, had been identified as the original source of the virus named HIV Researchers believe that HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) was introduced into the human population when hunters become exposed to infected blood.

Causes of HIV infection:
· Having sex without using condoms with an infected partner.
· Sharing needles or other contaminated injection or skin piercing equipment.
· Blood and blood products through infected transfusion and organ or tissue transplants.
· Transmission from infected mother to child in the womb or at birth and breast-feeding.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
-Acquired means that the disease is not hereditary but develops from contact with a disease – Causing Virus.
-Immune deficiency means that the disease is characterized by a weakening of the immune system.
-Syndrome means that refer to group of symptom that collectively indicate or characterize a disease.

HIV destroys a certain kind of blood cell (CD4 +Tcells), which is crucial to the normal function of the human immune system. By killing or damaging cells of the body's immune system, HIV progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers.

Studies on families of HIV infected people have shown clearly that HIV is not spread through casual contact such as sharing of food, utensils, towels and bedding, telephones or toilet seats.

Biting insects such as mosquitoes or bedbugs does not spread HIV. HIV is not transmitted by day-to-day contact on the work place, school or social setting. HIV is not transmitted through shaking hands and hugging. HIV is not an air borne or food borne virus and it does not live long outside the body. HIV can only be found in the blood, semen or vaginal fluid of an infected person.

HIV is a virus that infects humans and thus cannot be transmitted to or carried by non-human animals. The only exception to this is a few chimpanzees. Because HIV is not found in animals it is not possible for HIV to be transmitted from an animal bite, such as from a dog or cat.

The first symptoms of HIV infection can resemble symptoms of common cold or flu, some people, who contact HIV, experience very strong symptoms but other experience none at all. Those who do have symptoms generally experience fever, fatigues and often rash. Other common symptoms can include headache, swollen lymph nodes and sore throat. These symptoms can occur within day of weeks of the initial exposure to the virus. Because of the non-specific and symptoms associated with primary or acute infections, symptoms are not a reliable way to diagnosis of HIV infection testing of antibodies is the only way to know.