2.

AIDS

What are HIV and AIDS?

HIV- H-HUMAN I-IMMUNODEFICIENCY V-VIRUS
The VIRUS that causes AIDS
AIDS- A-ACQUIRED I-IMMUNO D-DEFICIENCY S-SYNDROME
When the body's immune system can no longer fight infections and certain diseases.
How do I know if I have HIV/AIDS?
1. By taking a blood test.
2. If the test is negative, doctors recommend retest in three months.
3. .The period of time between infection and a point at which the test can detect antibiotics is called the "Window
Period".
4. Tests during the "Window Period" are negative but the virus is highly contagious.
5. If one continues to engage in high risk behavior testing should be done every three months on consulting the
doctor.
6. If HIV positive, a person should avoid spreading the virus.
Note: People infected with the HIV virus may look healthy for a long time. They can carry virus for months and
years before they get sick, so it is only through blood test that you can know.
What are the symptoms that may develop?
Initially, sometimes there may be flu-like symptoms, later....
Dry cough, Shortness of breath, Diarrhea, Fatigue, Fever, Furry white spore in the mouth (Thrush of Candidacies) ,
Lack of resistance to infection, Loss of Appetite, Memory of movement difficulties, Nights Sweats, Red or Purplish
spots on the body, Significant weight loss skin rashes, Swollen lymph glands
If you experience any of these symptoms over a long period of time, consult your doctor.
Who gets AIDS?
Anyone can get AIDS. It is not who you are, but what you do or your habits that determine if you get
AIDS.
How is it spread?
Through certain body fluids:
Blood, Semen (and pre-ejaculate fluids), Vaginal Secretions, Breast milk
How does a person become infected with HIV?
Through Unprotected sexual intercourse (Vaginal, oral, or anal) with an infected person.
Sharing needles and syringes (for drug use) with an infected person.
Receiving HIV contaminated Blood.
A woman with HIV who can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy, delivery or breast feeding.
How can we protect ourselves against HIV?
(a) Through safer behaviour:
By- Practicing safer activities such as dry kissing, massage, hugging touching, body rubbing and masturbation.
Using condoms for every act of intercourse.
Not using the same needles and syringes which have been used by others, unless, sterile, or clean it yourself
in bleach solution, i. e.
(i) Such bleach solution (9 parts water to 1 part bleach) in the syringe, shake it well and expel it (2 times)
(ii) Suck plain water again in the syringe, shake it well and expel it (again two times).
If a woman wants to have a baby and she thinks she may have HIV, what should she do?
She should get herself tested for HIV infection.
Discuss with the doctor about herself and her unborn child.
Seek counseling.
Is it safe to be around people with HIV and AIDS?
Yes, because you cannot get HIV from:
Hugging, touching or dry kissing.
Sharing the same utensils.
Sharing the same telephones and computers.
Drinking from the same tap or using the same toilet seats.
Mosquito or any insect bite (it is transmitted from human to human).
Donating blood, if it is clean, sterile equipment is used.
What precautions should I take if I take care of a person with AIDS?
I should have a normal casual ci¥A3 Help others to do the same.
How can teenagers and youth help in spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS?
They can:
Receive training on HIV/AIDS.
Cast off hesitation and bashfulness from their nature, while receding training on HIV/AIDS.
Share whatever information receiving on HIV/AIDS with their own age group.
Invite parents on an open, frank and honest dialogue on HIV/AIDS.
Motivate people towards their responsibility so that they remain alert towards the problem of HIV/AIDS,
which is spreading fast in our country.
Always be ready to serve in the field of HIV/AIDS as and when the need arises.
AIDS is spreading fast to rural areas
Every minute, five young people around the globe are infected with the AIDS virus. India already has the
world's largest number of AIDS patients.
As "World AIDS" is observed of the eleventh consecutive year, global efforts on the challenges of the
theme: "Young people: Force for Change".
This has been promoted by the epidemic's threat to those under 25 new infections are increasingly affecting
the younger people. Globally over 50 percent of the infections are now occurring in young people.
United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, in a message on the occasion, called for a renewed
commitment to investment in young people everywhere.
In 1998, nearly three million young people were infected with the AIDS virus. One tenth of the newly
infected people were under the age of 15, which brings the total number of children living with HIV to 1.2 million.
In India, the infection is spreading fast. Recent studies have shown that HIV is now spreading to rural areas,
which were earlier, untouched. In the last five years, more than one per cent of the adult population is infected.
The UNAIDS says if the infection continues at this rapid pace in India, the impact will be tragic. AIDS will
bring premature death to youth and may revere the decline in infant and child mortality rates.
The year long campaign on young people which began globally in April this year aims to promote
participation of young people in HIV prevention and care efforts, increase awareness of the devastating impact of
the epidemic and strengthen support for young people in ,their efforts to fight AIDS.
In a statement, executive director of UNAIDS Peter Plot said, "Two decades into the epidemic, we
know better than ever before about prevention how to persuade people to protect themselves, make sure they have
necessary skills and backup services and remove social and economic barriers to effective prevention. Yet almost six
million people became infected this year. Everyone of these new Infections represents a prevention failure our
collective failure".