Panacea To HIV/AIDS Pandemic

In our generation, one of the devastating and most dreaded diseases that has affected mankind and defiled medical care is HIV/AIDS.

HIV is a virus called retrovirus. Viruses are the smallest of all microorganisms (hundreds of times smaller than bacteria).

Research has shown that AID and HIV have puzzled scientists ever since the illness  first came to light in the early 1980’s. For over twenty years, it has been the subject of fierce debate and the cause of countless arguments, with everything from a promiscuous flight attendant to a suspect vaccine programme being blamed. So is the truth? Just where did Aids come from? The first recognised cases of Aids occurred in USA in the early 1980’s (more about this period can be found on our history of Aids). A number of gaymen in New York and California suddenly began to develop raw opportunistic infections and cancers that seemed stubbornly resistant to any treatment. At this time, Aids did not yet have a name but it quietly became obvious that all the men were suffering from a common syndrome.

The discovery of HIV, the human immune deficiency virus, was made soon after, while some were initially resistant to acknowledge the connection (and indeed some remain so today) there is now clear evidence to prove that HIV causes AIDS, So, in order to find the source of AIDS, It is necessary to look out for the origin of HIV, and found out how, when and where HIV first began to cause disease in humans.

HIV is a lentivirus, and like all viruses of this type, it attacks the immune system. Lentivirus are in turn part of a larger group of viruses known as retroviruses. The name “Lentivirus’ literally means ‘slow virus’ because they take such a long time to produce any adverse effects in the body. They have been found in a number of different animals including cats, sheep, horses and cattle.

However, the most interesting lentivirus in the terms of the investigation into the origin of HIV is the Simian Immuno Deficiency Virus (SIV) that affects monkey. It is now generally accepted that HIV is a descendant of a Simian Immuno Deficiency Virus because certain strains of SIV bear a very close resemblance to HIV 1 and HIV-2. there are two types of HIV. HIV-1and HIV-2. HIV-2 for example, corresponds to SIVSM a Strain of Immuno Deficiency Virus found in the sooty mangabey (also known as the white covered monkey) which is indigenous to western Africa.

AIDS is caused by the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV). HIV destroys a type of defense call in the body called a CDH helper lymphocyte pronounced Limfulsite.

These lymphocytes are part of the body’s immune system, the defense system that fights infestuous diseases. But as HIV destroys these lymphocytes, people with virus begin to get serious infections that they normally wouldn’t –that is, they become immune deficient. The name for this condition is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

As the medical community learns more about how HIV works, they’ve been able to develop drugs to inhibit it (meaning they interfer with it’s growth). These drugs have been successful in slowing the progress of the disease, and people with the disease now live much longer. But there is still no cure for HIV and AIDS. Hundreds of U.S teens became infected with HIV each year. HIV can be transmitted from an infected person to another through blood, semen (also known as ejaculation) vaginal live fluids, and breast milk.

There are stages leading to AIDs; a person infected with  a normal healthy life until the virus  multiplies and breaks down the immune system, so that they can no longer do their work of protecting the body, this can leads to Aids. The first in these stages is the incubation period. This lasts between 3-6 months within which laboratory test on the carrier does not show positive. This is very dangerous stage of the diseases because it is very widely spread with every blood to blood contact with the carrier and through sex with the carrier.

Another stage is known as symptom free period which lasts between 2 to 10 yrs within which no noticeable symptoms may appear.

The third stage is the symptomatic period,  the symptomatic include: tiredness, fever, dysentery, cough, enlarged lymph glands, skin rashes, thrush and yeast infections.

All these symptoms are referred to as AIDS related complex or condition (ARC).

The last stage is the stage of full blown Aids which has three major signs: persistent fever (up to 1 month), excessive weight loss (more than 10% of body weight) accompanied with persistent or chronic diarrhea lasting up to 1 month.

A person can be infected with HIV/AIDS mostly with sexually transmitted disease, it is contracted with an infected person. Statistics have shown that more than 80% of person with HIV got it through sex. Other ways include mother to baby during childbirth and blood transfusion, infection (strings and needles) and sharing of sharp instruments.

The virus is spread through high risk behaviour including: unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sexual intercourse (unprotected means not using a condom), sharing needles such as needles used to inject drugs including needles used for injecting steroids and used for tattoing.

People who have another sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis, genital herpers, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, or bacterial vaginosis  are at greater risk for getting HIV during sex with infected partners. If a woman with HIV is pregnant, her new born baby can catch the virus from her before birth, during the birthing process, or from breast feeding. If doctors know an expectant mother has HIV, they can usually prevent the spread of  the virus from mother to baby-all pregnant teens and women should be tested for HIV so they can begin treatment if necessary.

This issue of HIV/AIDS demands serious attention, though no known cure has been found for HIV/AIDS. But with the use of autistics, it can help to prevent certain infection which is recommended by doctors and the regular administration of antiretroviral drugs have been found to be useful but the cost is always beyond the reach of an average income earners.

The best approach to prevent HIV/AIDS is total abstinence from sex outside marriage as well as test before marriage: avoid dangerous blood transfusions, alcoholism, a drugs abuse in addition and use of sterile sharp objects.

Alucho is an Intern with The Tide

Lovelyn  Alucho