Aids, Science

Assignment Help:

AIDS:

You have learnt about infectious diseases. For centuries, death from infectious diseases was common and whole populations were often affected.  One of the remarkable achievements  of modem civilisation has  been prevention and control of the infectious dlseases  of the past. However, we still seem defenceless against the rapid spread of AIDS, a deadly infectious disease of the century. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.  It is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Currently there is no cure or preventive vaccine for it. 

The first case of AIDS was reported in the USA in 1981. However,  it has now become a ltruly global epidemic with an estimated 22.6 million infected people.  AIDS is reported from most of the regions of the world. It is prevalent in South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Central Asia-and parts of Europe. The epidemiological  data indicate  that the prevalence of infection continues  to increase from urban to rural area. AIDS is fatal because the virus specifically  affects  our immune system and disables  it.You have learnt that our immune system is the defence force of the body and if it is damaged the body would lose the ability to protect itself from infection caused by bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses. ADS  virus severely damages the immune system and therefore the infected person is vulnerable to other infections. Usually these secondary infections  (termed as opportunistic infections) cause death in AIDS patient For example, AIDS patients generally suffer from tuberculosis, which is now most prevalent  infection associated with HIV. A key to controlling HIV infection is to understand  the routes of its spread. The following are the modes of HIV transmission  

1. Sexual contact - Intimate unprotected sexual contact between man and woman (heterosexual) or between man and man (homosexual), when one of the partners is HJV infected. 

2. Blood -  Transmission from an HTV  infected source to the bloodstream of urmfected person (transfusion  of blood or blood products contaminated with HIV, use of needles and syringes stained with HIV infected blood). 

3. Vertical transmission - Transmission from infected mother to fetus during pregnancy (perinatcil period), during birth or during breast- feeding. 

AIDS is not a contagious disease, but due to ignorance, several prejudices about the disease are created. AIDS victims are being isolated and are discriminated  by  individual and society. You must remember that AIDS does not spread like many other air-borne or water- borne infections. It is important that we understand certain facts about HIV. ITIV is quite fragile in'the external environment and the virus dies quickly when exposed to room temperature or light. It is quickly inactivated by contact with soap and water. It is important to understand that it cannot be transmitted through air, water or vector or casual contact like shaking hands, hugging, dry kissing, sharing eating utensils, sharing  towels, using same gadgets or toilet seat etc. Therefore living with victims of AIDS i.e., breathmg the sama air or eating  from same plate does not spread infection.   


Related Discussions:- Aids

Procuring and storing animal materials, Procuring and storing animal materi...

Procuring and storing animal materials (i) You can begin by asking for a clarification or reaching a common understanding regarding the oft-used terminology, for instance, anim

Draw emergency disaster plan, The industry dealing with hazardous materials...

The industry dealing with hazardous materials should draw emergency disaster plan. Safety committees consisting of workers and management are required to review from time to tim

Explain the categories of nerves system, Explain the Categories of Nerves S...

Explain the Categories of Nerves System The nerves are divided into two systems: sympathetic and parasympathetic. They constitute the autonomic system (auto: independent from t

Explain the bile pigments and salts in urine, Explain the Bile pigments and...

Explain the Bile pigments and salts in urine The bile pigment, bilirubin (a pigment formed from the destruction of red blood cells), is altered in the intestine to urobilinogen

How to prevent the erosion of topsoil, How to prevent the erosion of topsoi...

How to prevent the erosion of topsoil Use the trays constructed for the experience above. (a)  Fill the trays with loose soil and tilt everyone the similar amount. Make furr

Explain immune system, Explain Immune System The animals and the human ...

Explain Immune System The animals and the human beings are forced to encounter many dangerous microbe in their day-to-day life, through water, air and food. Inside our body the

Explain protective and excretory function, Explain Protective and Excretory...

Explain Protective and Excretory Function Protective function: Large quantity of mucin is secreted by gastric glands. Mucin lubricates the food bolus (a mass of chewed food) an

Human evolution, Human Evolution: Charles Darwin in  the 'Origin of S...

Human Evolution: Charles Darwin in  the 'Origin of Species' gave a lilechanism for the evolution of  plants and animals in general, even  though he had speculated about the o

Immune mechanisms - physiology of growth and development, Explain the Immun...

Explain the Immune mechanisms - Physiology of Growth and Development The immune system starts functioning in a baby through the inherited antibody (Ab) of the mother. But these

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd