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BASIC - TRANSMISSION |
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The transmission of HIV/AIDS world wide has been a major concern to the
whole human race, it's been discussed in several major international conference
by experts and professionals. The transmission of HIV is what proceeds infection,
people often mistake it that anyone with AIDS has been involved in unprotected
sex, however there are other several ways through which someone can contact
AIDS. With over 70 million people predicted to be infected by 2010 ( prediction
was by the US intelligence council), the rate at which HIV is being transmitted
is alarming and needs to be urgently checked.
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WAYS THROUGH WHICH AIDS IS TRANSMITTED |
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Generally, one can get AIDS by:
- having sexual intercourse with an infected partner .
- injecting drugs using a needle or syringe which has already been used by
someone who is infected.
- Injecting Drugs.
- Transfusing an infected blood into the system of an healthy person.
- an infected mother breastfeeding her child.
- splashing of an infected blood on mucous membrane ( for example eye) -
This is common among health workers who don't
observe the universal precautions.
- Having Tattoos with unsterilized equipment once used for an infected
person.
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You cannot get AIDS from... |
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Aids cannot be transmitted by:
- Kissing an infected person that does not have soar in the mouth - the
amount of HIV in the saliva of an infected person in too small to cause
infection, however if such person has soar then there is tendency of
transmission.
- Shaking hands or sharing cutleries with an infected person
- Insect bites - since insects does not deposit fluid form another person
into someone, the only fluid released when insects bite is the saliva that is
used to lubricate the surface of the skin.
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Infection |
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The major organs that HIV infect is the immune
system and central nervous system. However the main target of the HIV is the
T helper lymphocyte. The T helper cell is an important cell in the immune
system. It co-ordinates all other immune cells, as such any damage or loss of
the T helper cell seriously affects the immune system.
HIV attacks the
T helper lymphocyte because it has protein CD4 on its surface, which the virus
needs to get into the cell. For the various stages of infection please refer to
the life cylce of HIV. |
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Opportunistic infections |
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Opportunistic infections are disease that occur has a result of
damaged immune system, below are the infection (mostly cancers), that coocurs
| System |
Examples of Infection/Cancer |
| Skin |
Herpes simplex
Kaposi's sarcoma
Varicella Zoster |
| Gastro-intestinal system |
Cryptosporidiosis
Candida
Cytomegolavirus (CMV)
Isosporiasis
Kaposi's Sarcoma |
| Central/peripheral Nervous system |
HIV
Cytomegolavirus
Toxoplasmosis
Cryptococcosis
Non Hodgkin's lymphoma
Varicella Zoster
Herpes simplex |
| Respiratory system |
Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP)
Tuberculosis (TB)
Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) |
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SECTION OUTLINE |
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- Definition: Gives a general insight into the
meaning of HIV/AIDS
- Transmission : How HIV is being transmitted
and stages of it's infection
- Zoonosis : Explains the phenomenon of
Animal to man transmission of HIV
- AIDS Myths : Some myths that are common about
AIDS
- Prevention : Outlines ways of
preventing AIDS
- Symptoms : Describes the how someone feels
when infected with AIDS of HIV
- Treatment : How AIDS victims ought to be
treated
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