HIV/AIDS
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by a germ (virus), HIV,
which enters the blood of a person and slowly weakens the immune system. When
this happens, the person’s body is unable to fight infections leading to diseases.
A person infected with HIV has the germ in:
1.Blood.
2.Semen (men).
3.Vaginal fluid (women).
4. Breast milk (women).
5. Saliva can also contain the virus, but in lesser quantities.
It is through these fluids that the virus spreads from an infected person to a
normal person.
The HIV is spread by:
6. Having unprotected sexual intercourse (without using a condom) with a HIVpositive
person.
7.Getting a blood transfusion with HIV-positive blood.
8.An HIV-positive mother passing the germ to her baby during delivery and
breastfeeding.
9. Using unclean injection needles and syringes. This commonly occurs among
drug addicts who use injectable drugs and often use each other’s needles and
syringes.
The HIV DOES NOT spread by:
10. Using the same utensils and glass of an HIV-positive person for eating or
drinking
11. Shaking hands, hugging or touching an HIV positive person
12. Sharing toilets, bedding or clothing
13.Working with HIV-positive people
14.Mosquito bites
What does HIV do?
HIV attacks the defence mechanism of the body and makes it prone to infections.
It also reduces the ability of the body to fight diseases.
The common symptoms of HIV/AIDS are:
1. Low grade, continuous fever, which does not get better with usual treatment
2. Cough that lasts for a long time
3. Weight loss
4. Diarrhoea lasting for a long time, not getting better with usual treatment
5. Lumps in the armpits, groin.
In the absence of treatment, the full picture of AIDS is seen. The person will have
infections that occur because the body has lost the power to fight disease. These
include TB of the lungs, skin infection, respiratory infection, etc. These infections
do not get easily cured by medicines as the person does not have the immunity
to fight the infection.
If a community member feels that he/she may be at risk of having HIV/AIDS,
firstly, he/she needs to go to the hospital or clinic for blood test.
The routinely available tests to detect HIV will take at least three months to appear.
During this period, even if one gets tested he/she may get a negative result. There
are tests to detect HIV infection early, but they are not widely available and are
expensive.
Management of HIV/AIDS if one has tested positive:
If one has tested positive, the best course is:
1. Following the advice and treatment as prescribed by the doctors
2.Treatment once started has to be continued for life; the prescribed medicine
to be taken exactly as advised, without missing a dose
3. Having adequate and balanced nutrition
4. Always keeping medical appointments and seeing the doctor immediately for
any illness that one develops, no matter how mild
5. Using condoms when having sex with partner
6. Planning pregnancy to ensure that mother to child transmission does not
happen
7. Finding out about HIV counselling and peer support services in one’s area,
enrolling into these services.
Family/community responsibility:
The family has an important role in helping the HIV-positive person to live life as
a normal person. The affected person should remain a part of the family and stay
in the same house. There is no need to keep the person away from the family.
The family must care for the person in the same way as any other sick person. As
already mentioned, HIV does not spread by contact or using the same utensils or
the same room.
1. HIV infection and AIDS are serious illnesses.
2. One can protect oneself from getting the disease
3. Change in sexual behaviour will prevent people from getting this disease
4. HIV-positive people should ALWAYS be treated like normal people. They
are not untouchable.
5. Treatment is available for HIV-positive people and for AIDS.
6. HIV positive women who are on adequate treatment can plan to have a
baby.
7.It is important to adhere to advice and treatment to avoid transmission to
the baby.
based on WHO
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