AIDS - Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(see picture of AIDS)
AIDS is caused by the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). AIDS is the final and most serious stage of HIV disease . It is characterised by signs and symptoms of severe immune deficiency. AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Causes, Incidence and Risk Factors :
This virus attacks the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of life-threatening illnesses. These illnesses are often caused by common bacteria, yeast, and viruses that ordinarily do not cause disease. HIV has been found in blood, semen, saliva, tears, nervous system tissue, breast milk, and female genital tract secretions. Transmission of the virus occurs through sexual contact including oral, vaginal, and anal sex; via blood through transfusions or needle sharing; and from a pregnant women to the foetus or a nursing mother to her baby. Rare : accidental needle injury, artificial insemination through donated semen, and kidney transplantation through the donated kidney.

The infection is NOT spread by casual contact such as hugging and touching, by inanimate objects such as dishes or toilet seats, or by mosquitoes. It is not transmitted TO a person who donates blood or who donates e.g.: kidney for transplantation.AIDS is preceded by HIV infection which may produce no symptoms for up to 10 years before a person is diagnosed with AIDS. Acute HIV infection progresses over time to asymptomatic HIV infection and later, to advanced HIV diseases or AIDS. It is suspected that all persons infected with HIV will, given enough time, progress to AIDS; this theory has not been definitively proven.Estimates show more than 500,000 cases of AIDS in the world. The CDC reports that 2,200,000 (2.2 million) Americans now carry the HIV virus (but are not yet symptomatic).

High risk groups include homosexual or bisexual men, intravenous drug users who share needles, the sexual partners of those in high risk groups, infants born to mothers with HIV, and persons who received blood transfusions or clotting products between 1977 and 1985.

Symptoms :
Prolonged, unexplained fatigue, swollen glands (lymph nodes),fever lasting more than 10 days, chills, excessive sweating especially night sweats, mouth lesions including yeast lesions and painful, swollen gums, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, changes in bowel habits including constipation, frequent diarrhoea, symptoms of a specific opportunistic infection (such as candida, pneumocystis, and so on), tumour (Kaposi sarcoma), skin rashes or lesions of various types, unintentional weight loss, general discomfort or uneasiness (malaise),headache.

Expectations (Prognosis) :
AIDS has proved to be a universally fatal illness. Few patients survive 5 years following diagnosis. The average time from diagnosis of AIDS to death is 18 to 24 months although this is increasing with improvements in treatment techniques. Research continues in drug treatments for AIDS and vaccine development.
Prevention of AIDS requires self-discipline and strength of character. The requirements often seem personally restrictive but they are effective and can save lives.

1. Do not have sexual intercourse with: people known or suspected to be infected with AIDS; multiple partners; a person who has multiple partners; people who use IV drugs
2. Do not use intravenous drugs.
3. People with AIDS or asymptomatic individuals who have a positive antibody test may pass the disease on to others and should not donate blood, plasma, body organs, or sperm.
4. HIV positive women should be counselled before becoming pregnant about the risk to their infant and medical advances which may help prevent the foetus from becoming infected.
5. HIV positive women should not breast feed their infant.
Safer sex behaviours may reduce the risk of acquiring the infection. There remains a risk of acquiring the infection even with the use of condoms. Abstinence is the only sure way to prevent sexual transmission of the virus.