What is AIDS?

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AIDS is short for “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome”, and is a viral infectious disease. It is a surveillance definition based on symptoms, infections and cancers associated with the deficiency of the immune system that stems from infection with HIV. AIDS has been haunting the world for the past two decades, killing millions of people and showing no signs of resignation. The disease frightens us not only because it’s fatal, but also because its insidious time course makes us all potential carriers before it hands our heads in a basket.

Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) is the pathogen that causes AIDS. HIV is a retrovirus that selectively infects helper T cells, and destroys or impairs their function. HIV particles are usually round and have a diameter of about 85-95nm. The virus is notorious for its ability to mutate and change shape regularly, and thereby evade the effects of drugs and elude detection from the human immune system. There are two species of HIV – HIV 1 and HIV 2. HIV 1 is more common, more virulent, and more easily transmitted, whereas HIV 2 is weaker and mostly confined to West Africa.

Viral envelope – Viral envelopes are used to help the virus enter host cells, and to protect the virus from nuclease enzymes in the host fluids. It may be composed of lipids, proteins, or carbohydrates.

Nucleic acid – Nucleic acids in the form of DNA and RNA control cellular function and heredity. It contains the genetic blueprint for making more HIV viruses.

Matrix Proteins – Matrix proteins have been implicated in control of viral transcription. These proteins are also structural proteins linking the viral envelope with the virus core.

Surface proteins – Surface proteins enable HIV to attach to receptors on the host cells (T cells and macrophages).

Reverse transcriptase – Two copies of these enzyme catalyses the formation of DNA on an RNA template once inside the host cells.

Capsid –A capsid is a protein shell that surrounds a virus particle. It protects the nucleic acids (RNA) within.                      

These are the four main methods of transmission of HIV:

  • Having unprotected sex with someone who is infected.
  • Injection or transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products, donations of semen, skin grafts or organ transplants
  • A mother who is infected passing the virus on to her child.
  • Sharing unsterilized injection equipment that has previously been used by someone who is infected.
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Injection/transfusion of blood

The risk of being infected by a single prick of needle that has been used by a HIV infected person is 0.7 percent. According to the WHO, between 5% and 10% of the world's HIV infections come from transfusion of infected blood and blood products.

Mother to child

The HIV transmission rate from a mother to her baby is 25%. However, if the mother undergoes antiretroviral therapy and gives birth by caesarean section, the rate of transmission is only 1%. Breastfeeding increases the risk of the infection by about 4 %

Saliva

Though HIV ...

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