ASSIGNMENT: ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME

(AIDS) 1

Topic: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Subject: Health Psychology

Icon College Jaranwala

Submitted to: Miss Hira Mushtaq

Submitted by: Abrar Ahmad

M.sc Psychology Scholar

Dated : 03-06-2021
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Introduction and Definition:

AIDS STANDS FOR Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is a serious condition that

weakens the body's immune system, leaving it unable to fight off illness. AIDS is the last stage

in a progression of diseases resulting from a viral infection known as the Human

Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV or AIDS virus). HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus

that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS. The diseases

include a number of unusual and severe infections, cancers and debilitating illnesses, resulting in

severe weight loss or wasting away, and diseases affecting the brain and central nervous system.

People with AIDS have such badly damaged immune systems that they get an increasing number

of severe illnesses, called opportunistic infections.

There is no cure for HIV infection or AIDS nor is there a vaccine to prevent HIV infection.

However, new medications not only can slow the progression of the infection, but can also

markedly suppress the virus, thereby restoring the body’s immune function and permitting many

HIV-infected individuals to lead a normal, disease-free life.

Where did HIV it from?

HIV infection in humans came from a type of chimpanzee in Central Africa. The chimpanzee

version of the virus (called simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV) was probably passed to

humans when humans hunted these chimpanzees for meat and came in contact with their infected

blood. Studies show that HIV may have jumped from chimpanzees to humans as far back as the

late 1800s. Over decades, HIV slowly spread across Africa and later into other parts of the

world.
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Causes of AIDS:

HIV can transmit when body fluids containing the virus come into contact with a permeable

barrier in the body or small breaks in moist tissues of areas such as the genitals.

AIDS/HIV is transmitted via three main routes:

The most common mode of transmission is the transfer of body secretions through sexual

contact. This is accomplished through exposure of mucous membranes of the rectum, vagina or

mouth to blood, semen or vaginal secretions containing the HIV virus.

Blood or blood products can transmit the virus, most often through the sharing of contaminated

syringes and needles.

HIV can be spread during pregnancy from mother to fetus.

You cannot get AIDS/HIV from touching someone or sharing items, such as cups or pencils, or

through coughing and sneezing. Additionally, HIV is not spread through routine contact in

restaurants, the workplace or school. However, sharing a razor does pose a small risk in that

blood from a minor nick can be transmitted from one person to another.
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 Symptoms of AIDS:

Some people with HIV have no symptoms for months or even years after contracting the

virus. Partly because of this, 1 in 7 people with HIV in the U.S. do not know that they

have it. While a person with no symptoms may be unlikely to seek care, there is still a

high risk of transmission.

Like any other viral illness, these symptoms resolve over a period of five to 10 days.

Then for a period of several years (sometimes as long as several decades), people

infected with HIV are asymptomatic (no symptoms). However, their immune system is

gradually being destroyed by the virus. When this destruction has progressed to a critical

point, symptoms of AIDS appear. These symptoms are as follows:

Extreme fatigue

 Rapid weight loss from an unknown cause

 Appearance of swollen or tender glands in the neck, armpits or groin, for no apparent

reason, lasting for more than four weeks

 Unexplained shortness of breath, frequently accompanied by a dry cough, not due to

allergies or smoking

 Persistent diarrhea

 Intermittent high fever or soaking night sweats of unknown origin

 A marked change in an illness pattern, either in frequency, severity, or length of sickness

 Appearance of one or more purple spots on the surface of the skin, inside the mouth, anus

or nasal passages

 Whitish coating on the tongue, throat or vagina

 Forgetfulness, confusion and other signs of mental deterioration

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It can take as short as a year to as long as 10 to 15 years to go from being infected with HIV to

"full-blown" AIDS.

Progression to AIDS:

The chances of HIV progressing to AIDS vary widely from person to person and depend on

many factors, including the:

 Person’s age

 Body’s ability to defend against HIV

 Accessibility of quality healthcare

 Presence of other infections

 Person’s genetic resistance to certain strains of HIV

 Strain of HIV, as some are drug resistant

HIV/AIDS cases–Pakistan
Pakistan is one of the countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region where new HIV
infections are increasing at an alarming level since 1987. The current HIV epidemic in Pakistan
is defined as a concentrated epidemic. Although the overall prevalence is still less than 1% in the
adult population, the latest estimate (2017) of people living with HIV (PLHIV) was 150, 0002. In
2018, 21,000 new PLHIV cases were recorded.

Diagnosis of AIDS

Screening for HIV infection is most commonly done by testing blood for HIV antibodies. A newer test,
the Orasure test, involves collecting secretions between the cheek and gum and evaluating them for HIV
antibodies. Orasure is essentially as accurate as a blood test, and, because it doesn't involve a needle
stick, it is favored by many individuals
Finally, a new urine test available for screening, although if the test is positive, blood tests need to be
performed for confirmation of the presence of HIV.
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Treatment of AIDS/HIV:

Currently, there's no cure for HIV/AIDS. Once you have the infection, your body can't get rid of

it. However, there are many medications that can control HIV and prevent complications. These

medications are called antiretroviral therapy (ART). Everyone diagnosed with HIV should be

started on ART, regardless of their stage of infection or complications.

Psychosocial counseling and support:

Psychosocial counselling, including support of behaviour change and treatment adherence, is an

essential component of HIV prevention, care and treatment. Unfortunately, psychosocial

counseling has not always been consistently implemented as a prevention measure, particularly

as countries have focused on scaling up access to life-saving antiretroviral treatment. Because

HIV is a highly stigmatized and life-long, chronic disease, those who are infected often have to

deal with anger, fear and self-stigmatization. Their partners, children, and family frequently face

grief, bewilderment and high levels of stress. These psychosocial issues must be addressed for

prevention, care and support to succeed.

Relatives, friends, traditional healers and those of religious faith are sources of strength and

social support to many people. But more formal psychological support may also be needed as

psychological needs vary. people living with HIV. Recent experience of scaling up ART in low

income countries has also highlighted the value of family counseling in helping relatives to

understand the implications of a family member needing life-long HIV treatment, and how to

support this person.

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REFERENCES:

ABC of HIV and AIDS 6th Edition by Michael W. Adler.

https://www.who/hiv-aids

https://www.who.int/hiv-cases-pakistan/en/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com

https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html