Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome(AIDS) is a fatal disease in which immune system of the body is seriously affected.Genetic research indicates that AIDS was first detected in June 1981 in USA,(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)and its cause HIV(Human Immuno Deficiency Virus)identified in the early 1980s.HIV affects nearly every organ system.AIDS progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors.

AIDS can take around 7-10 years to develop after infected with HIV.HIV is transmitted through semen and vaginal fluids,infected blood and blood products,infected mother to baby before birth,during birth or through breast milk.

AIDS is now a pandemic.In 2007,33.2 million people lived with the disease world wide and 2.1 million people including 330,000 children were killed

Causes

1.Infected blood

2.Infected  needles    

3.Multiple partners

4.Perinatal transmission 

Symptoms

1.Swollen lymph nodes  

2.Decreased count of blood platelets causing haemorrhage and fever.

3.Sweating at night and weight loss

4.Severe damage to brain which may lead to loss of memory,ability to speak and even think

5.Patient becomes susceptible to other infections due to breakdown of immune system

Many people are unaware that they are infected with HIV.HIV tests are usually performed on venous blood.Many laboratories use fourth generation screening tests which detect anti-HIV antibody and the HIV p24 antigen.The detection of HIV  antibody or antigen in a patient previously known to be negative is evidence of HIV infection.Individuals whose first specimen indicates evidence of HIV infection will have a repeat test on a second blood sample to confirm the results.

Prevention

1.Use disposable syringes

2.Use condoms

3.Avoid multiple partners 

4.A blood donor should be first tested HIV negative

Diagnosis

HIV infection is diagnosed on the basis of blood tests using three different ELISA/RAPID  tests using different antigen preparation.

                  ELISA/RAPID test for HIV diagnosis is being carried out all  over the country.Further,all  Microbiology departments in the Government medical colleges will be providing HIV testing facilities and will be known as Voluntary Blood Testing Centres .

Control

Till date there is no effective treatment for AIDS.Preventing  infection is a key aim in contrilling the AIDS epidemic,with health organizations promoting  safe sex and needle- exchange programmes in attempts to slow the spread of the virus.

Antiviral therapy

Current treatment for HIV infection consists of highly active antiretroviral therapy,or HAART.This was introduced in 1996 and has been highly beneficial to many HIV-infected individuals.

For some patients,which can be more than fifty percent of patients,HAART achieves far less than optimal results,due to medication intolerance/side effects,prior ineffective antiretroviral therapy and infection with a drug- resistant strain of HIV.Non-adherence and non-persistence with therapy are the major reasons why some people donot benefit from HAART.