Dwi Aprilia's , Blog

Aids is caused by virus called Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Aids is incurable and fatal. Usually, when virus enters the body, the white blood cells in the bloodstream are able to produce substance called antibodies to destroy the virus. HIV, however, attacks the white bood cells, making them unable to protect the body against infection. As a result, the person loses immunity or protection against any disease – causing germ that enters the body. Bacteria and viruses which a healthy person is able resist without and effort now become dangerous. They can attack the body mercilessly, since the body cannot put up a defence. This is why an HIV infected person shows the signs and symptoms of many other disease.

Sign and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of HIV infection may appear only after a few months or even years. At the beginning, an HIV – infected person may just fall sick more easily than a normal person. Then, the person may begin to lose weight, and have diarrhoea and fever.

Aids is the final stage of HIV infection. At this stage, the virus has completely destroyed the body’s resistance to disease. The following symptoms will appear :

• Severe weight loss
• Chronic diarrhoea and fever
• Lung infections ( e.g pneumonia and tuberculosis )
• Kaposi’s sarcoma ( cancer of the blood vessels )
• Brain infection

Spread of HIV

Although and HIV infected person may not show any signs or symptoms for months or even years, the virus which remains in the body can be spread to others in number of ways.

• Through sexual intercourse with an infected partner
• Through blood tranfusion if the donated blood comes from an infected donor
• Through sharing injection needles with an infected person
• The Virus may also be transmitted from an infected mother to her foetus during pregnancy or childbirth

Prevention and control

Prevention is better than cure, and in the case of AIDS there is no cure ! Here are some ways to prevent getting infected with STIs and control its spread :

• Avoid casual sex
• Avoid sharing instruments that are likely to break the skin and be contaminated with blood
• If you need acupunctrue, ear-piercing or tattoing, ensure that the needles used are sterilised on insist on using disposable instruments.
• Use condom during sexual intercourse to reduce the risk os infection. Condoms only provide protection about 90 % of the time
• Do not abuse drugs or share injection needless
• Use only blood that has been screened for HIV and is safe for transfussion

Person who feel that they have been exposed to HIV should go for an AIDS antibody test.

: Science Matter - Volume B ( Singapura )