HIV/AIDS : Prevention, Transmission and Treatment
Leishangthem Punshiba *
o H :- HUMAN
o I :- IMMUNODEFICIENCY
o V :- VIRUS
o The HIV looks a lot like other virus such as FLU virus,COMMON COLD virus.But these said virus can be destroy by our immune system. That isn't the case with HIV- the human immune system can't seem to get rid of HIV.
o HIV can hide for long periods of time in our body (about 9-10 years) and during this period HIV attack the most important cells of the immune system ( T-Cells / CD4 Cells ). Our body has to have T-Cells to fight from infection and disease but HIV invade them and make many copies of itself and destroy them.
o SCIENTISTS ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT WHY OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM CAN'T FIGHT AGAINST THEM.
o A :- ACQUIRED
o I :- IMMUNO / IMMUNE
o D :- DEFICIENCY
o S :- SYNDROME
o AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection,with a badly damaged IMMUNE SYSTEM putting the one at high risk of OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONs.
o TRANSMISSION OF HIV (ONLY WHEN COME CONTACT WITH HIV INFECTED PERSON)
o ANAL,VAGINAL / ORAL SEX
o BLOOD TRANSFUSION
o BREAST FEEDING
o CONTAMINATED HYPODERMIC NEEDLES
o EXCHANGE BETWEEN MOTHER AND BABY DURING PREGNANCY
o TREATMENT :- HAART ( Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy )
o PREVENTION :-
o SAFE SEX ( use of CONDOMS ).
o REDUCING THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO CONTAMINATED BLOOD ( gloves,masks,protective eyewear,gowns etc specially for HEALTH WORKERS )
o STOPPING BREAST FEEDING FROM INFECTED MOTHER TO THEIR INFANT.
o PROPER HANDLING OF THE CONTAMINATED NEEDLES or SHARP CUTTING INSTRUMENTS.
0 We don't get infected by HIV through :-
o Casual contacts ( kissing,shaking hands,sharing cups etc. with HIV infected person)
o Travelling in the same vehicles.
o Mosquito bites.
o Masturbation.
o Public latrine,swimming pools etc.
0 MESSAGE
MANIPUR being one of the highly HIV infected state.
IF YOU DONOT ABUSE DRUGS DONOT BEGIN
IF YOU ABUSE DRUGS DONOT INJECT
IF YOU INJECT,USE STERILE EQUIPMENT AND NEVER SHARE
DONOT MIX DRUGS OR ALCOHOL WITH SEX
And at the same time let us not forget to stop various social stigma in schools, colleges, society etc. to the HIV infected brothers and sisters, instead let us encourage them to led a happy wonderful life. And who knows we..ourself can be a host of this deadly virus. Also let us not feel embarassed to promote/talk regarding sex education among ourselves.
WISH YOU ALL ''WORLD AIDS DAY'' and LET US JOIN OUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR THE BETTER GENERATION.
**** THE SOURCES HAVE BEEN COLLECTED FROM MY VARIOUS MEDICAL BOOKS AND SOME JOURNALS.
* Leishangthem Punshiba (MBBS STUDENT (4rd Year)) wrote this article for e-pao.net
The writer can be contacted at l(dot)punshiba(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was posted on December 02, 2012
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