HIV AIDS

What is HIV?

AIDS results from infection with HIV, which stands for human immunodeficiency virus.  HIV gradually destroys the body’s capacity to fight off infections by destroying the immune system.  As a result, even a routine infection can become life threatening, as a body is unable to fight against it.  The HIV infected person becomes more susceptible to a variety of 'opportunistic' infections like tuberculosis, diarrhea and respiratory infections. 

HIV/AIDS facts

• India has the second largest population of HIV infected individuals.  From one case in 1986, the number of HIV infected people is now an estimated 5.2 million.
• The epidemic is moving from “high risk” behaviour groups and urban centres to the general population and the rural hinterland.
• The epidemic has become ‘feminized’ with more women becoming infected. One in every four cases reported is a women.
• Over 35% of all reported HIV infection in India occurs among young people in the age group of 15 to 24 years, indicating that young people are highly vulnerable.  Majority are infected through unprotected sex. 
• The most common route of transmission of HIV infection in India is the sexual route.

How does HIV affect the body’s immune system?

White blood cells (WBC) are a very important part of the immune system.  The immune system with its WBCs recognizes bacteria, viruses and other organisms that are foreign or dangerous to the body and begins to attack them. It makes specific substances called antibodies, which act against, and eliminate the particular diseases-causing organism that has infected the body. 

When a person becomes infected with HIV, the HIV virus begins to live and reproduce in the WBCs CD4+ lymphocytes and multiplies until there are millions of viruses present.  The WBCs begin to make antibodies to HIV, which are found in the blood about 6 to 12 weeks after infection.  These antibodies are unable to eliminate the virus completely from the body as the virus HIV hides in the WBCs.  HIV gradually destroys the WBCs so that they can no longer do their job of protecting the body from other kinds of infections,and a person is said to have AIDS.

Signs and symptoms

• Weight loss greater than 10% of body weight
• Diarrhea lasting for more than one month
• Intermittent or constant fever for more than one month
• Enlarged glands in the neck, armpits, or groin
• Persistent severe fatigue
• Cough for more than a month

Mode of transmission

• Unprotected sexual contact with people of same sex or opposite sex (anal, vaginal or oral sex) when one of them is infected.
• Transfusion of injected/unsafe blood or blood products.
• From an infected parent to child – during pregnancy, delivery or breast feeding.
• Sharing of infected syringes and needles and skin-piercing instruments. 

Prevention of HIV transmission

• Practicing safe sex
• Avoid use of unsterilized needles and other injection equipments
• Injecting drugs users must not share syringes or needles
• Avoid unsafe blood transfusion
• Pregnant women and their husbands should have access to Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC). 

Different types of tests used for HIV detection

• Rapid test/spot test
• ELISA
• Western blot
• PCR-DNA

Sometimes it is possible to test negative in the very early stages of HIV infection which is called the ‘window period’.  This is because the test is looking for antibodies that have not yet developed in the required strength.  In this case the tests should be repeated after three months to ensure that as one has not taken the antibody test during the ‘window period’.  Maintaining test results as confidential is of utmost importance.  Nowadays ICTC is available free of cost in many government hospitals.