Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromme

What Is Aids?

Aids is a deadly disease, which is referred to as ‘Slim’ in Uganda, and its full meaning is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromme. Aids is real. It is a type of disease which weakens the Immune system of its host, which helps to combat various diseases from entering into the body system of the host being. It is transmittable in nature; that is, it can be conveyed and transferred from the host to an uninfected person.

Statistically, millions of souls had been claimed and cut-short by this deadly disease. About 10-20% of the sum total of those having it, through out the universe always passed by daily.

What Causes Aids?

A virus known as HIV (Human Immune Virus) majorly causes it. This is a kind of virus, which infects the immune system of human being. It weakens the immune system of the human body gradually. That is, it generally weakens the whole components of the immune system, thereby, paving way for other diseases, (both small and big). And soon, the smaller diseases such as; Cough, Head ache, Back ache, Fever, Cold, Stomach ache creeps in, leading to the continuous deficiency of the immune system of the host. It does not kill outright, neither is it infection easily observed and noted.

What Categories of people are infected with this disease?

It is scientifically proved that the virus originated from the European, Asian and other English countries, but it is obvious that most of its victims this day are now the Africans. The disease is never a respecter of anybody, as it infects both the poor and the rich; it infects individuals of different sex, race, religion, age, and geographical locations. In fact, a research did at a close quarters, indicate that about sixty percent (60%) of those haven contracted the disease have their age ranges between ages 2-50 years, while the remaining forty percent (40%) are their ages ranges from age 50-70 years.

This thus shows that those infected by this disease are majorly the Youths. A further research shows that if we are to hold a symposium comprises the youth, about 10% of the total 100% of them will be having the virus.

How is it transmitted?

The disease is transmittable in nature, that is, it is been conveyed from a body known as the host to another uninfected body.

It was observed that sixty percent (60%) of those having the disease contracted it through having unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected sex partner, it was in lieu of this, that it is mostly referred to as a STD (sexually transmitted disease), while twenty percent (20%) contracted it from the use of unsterilized materials and equipment, and the remaining twenty percent (20%) contracted it through inherited genes. That is, 20% of those suffering from the disease are those that got it as a result of inheritance of bad and ready infected genes/traits which were transmitted from the parents’ genes to the off spring. It therefore grows gradually, as the off spring is growing from the infanthood (i.e childhood) and to the adulthood, provided the disease has not reached it life span to take the life of the victim. It could be contracted through the use of infected, unsterilized materials, such as; razor blades, knife, the barber’s clipper, cutting nail, shaving stick and all other cutting material or equipments.

How is HIV contracted?

Since HIV is found in body fluids, it can be transmitted when fluid from an infected person enters the body of another person. This can happen through the following ways;

• During sexual intercourse
• During blood transfusion
• When using unsterilized skin piercing instruments (e.g. Needles/Syringes, razor blades, circumcision and other skin piercing instruments.)
• From an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth or after birth through breast feeding, e.t.c

How is HIV not contracted?

HIV is not contracted through casual contact such as;

• Sharing of clothes, dishes, and toilet seats
• Through eating together
• You can not be infected with HIV from hugging
• Shaking of hands
• Touching
• Or being near to a person with HIV or AIDS

Can HIV be transmitted through Kissing?

There is no risk of HIV infection if it is a kiss on the cheek. In the case of a kiss involving saliva exchange, it is unlikely that HIV will be transmitted. Saliva contains very little quantity of the virus and it is believed that a large volume of saliva would be needed to infect someone. But the presence of sores (which are obtained through injuries) in the mouth is likely to increase the risk of transmission during kissing.

Can Mosquitoes transmit HIV the same way they transmit Malaria?

No! At all! Although Mosquitoes take blood from a person, they do not pass the blood they have taken from someone to another fellow. The Malaria parasite lives in and is transmitted through the mosquito’s saliva. HIV is not.

Scientist and experts in the health field of study have proven conclusively that neither Mosquitoes nor any other blood sucking insects can transmit HIV.

What are the symptoms of AIDS?

Following an infection with HIV, eventually the person will develop AIDS and will begin to manifest some symptoms described as major and minor. Examples include the followings;

• Prolonged diarrhoea
• White coating on the tongue (thrush)
• Enlargement of glands in the neck, groin and / or armpits
• Persistent fever
• Persistent cough
• Skin infections
• Unexplained weight loss.

Because these symptoms also characterize other diseases a persistent cough may mean tuberculosis, diarrhoea may mean intestinal illness. Blood tests for the presence of HIV antibodies are the surest ways to determine whether someone has AIDS or not.

How can a person know that he or she has HIV infection or AIDS?

Remember that a person has AIDS, if he or she has begun to suffer from some of the illness associated with HIV infection, examples, which are the afore-listed. However, if the person has HIV infection, he or she is not yet sick. We say that the person is HIV- positive or living with HIV. A person can know that he or she is HIV- Positive when the person has taken a blood test and the test has shown and revealed the presence of HIV antibodies, in the body.

The body produces these antibodies when the virus infects it. It usually takes between two weeks to six months after exposure to HIV for a test to detect these antibodies. Most tests for HIV antibodies use a small amount of blood although newer tests use other body fluids such as; Saliva, Inner cheek cells or urine.

If you feel that at some time, you have been at risk of HIV infection, it is a good idea to have a test. If people know that they are HIV-Positive, they can be careful not to infect other people. They can also take good care of their health and still enjoy a long life.

How long does it take for someone who is infected with HIV to develop HIV antibodies?

The formation of antibodies seems to depend on the route and frequency of exposure, the amount of virus transmitted and immune response of the infected person. For example, antibodies tend to be produced very early following infection through blood transfusion. It is important to remember that a person is not infected with HIV. It could mean that the test was done at a time immediately following an exposure. This period is called the “window period”.

Are there any dangers in sharing the same apartment with those suffering from Aids?

Actually, there are no much dangers in it, because they need our ever abiding presence around them, to keep encouraging them that, it has not finished with, until it is. They need our help, encouragement to always comfort them, give them not, so that they do not think themselves to be in the state of despair, because their heart is not that firm, but feeble. They therefore need our continuous help.

Nevertheless, it is strongly advisable that always be careful, so that we do not mistakenly share infected objects with them, in order for us also not to fall victim of the Veneral, deadly disease.

What are the preventive measures that could be taken not to contract the disease?

1. Individual should always undergo test/examination on sexually transmitted infections
2. Always use protective rubber (Condom) when having sexual intercourse
3. Thorough and quick abstainence, is the ultimate and the most effective way
4. Donor blood should be thoroughly checked and scrutinized HIV & AIDS free before transfusing to the acceptor
5. Ensure the use of sterilized sharp, piercing equipment always
6. Proposed wedding partners should always be tested HIV & AIDS free, before being joined together, even it is advisable they do that before courtship.

Why are sexually transmitted infections important in HIV prevention?

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are transmitted in the case way as HIV. STI create small (sometimes even invisible) sores on the genitals (the male and female sex organs). These are openings that may allow HIV to be transmitted from one person to another. They are extremely dangerous. If you have an STI, or think you have, please go to clinic and have it properly diagnosed and treated. Then notify your sexual partner to be treated also. You must take all the drugs as prescribed by the physician. And begin to use a condom with your partner throughout the period of treatment.

Rights of People Living With HIV and AIDS.

AIDS is NOT a moral issue; it is a public health as well as a developmental problem. People living with HIV and AIDS have the same fundamental human rights as any person. Internationally accepted human rights include:

1. The right to live
2. The right to shelter
3. The right to health care
4. The right to freedom of movement
5. The right to freedom of speech and _expression
6. The right to freedom of thought and religion
7. The right to education
8. The right to protection against discrimination
9. The right to dignity
10. The right to gender equality
11. The right to employment

People living with HIV and AIDS should not be discriminated against in the exercise of any of these rights, nor should there be any stigma because a person is infected with HIV or is suffering from AIDS. They deserve to be treated the same way as any other person. Public health educators should be vocal advocates for the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS.