AIDS

• AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is

discovered for the first time in America in the year 1981.
• This means deficiency of immune system, acquired
during the lifetime of an individual indicating that it is
not a congenital disease.
• SYNDROME: - It means a group of symptoms.
• It has spread all over the world killing more than 25
million persons.

CAUSES OF AIDS
• AIDS is caused by the Human Immuno deficiency Virus
(HIV), a member of a group of viruses called retrovirus
which have an envelope enclosing the RNA genome.
• HIV is a virus that harms the immune system.
• The immune system enables the body to ward off
infections.
• Untreated HIV taints and executes CD4 cells, which are a
kind of immune cell called T cells.
• After some time, as HIV kills more CD4 cells, the body is
bound to get different kinds of infections.
REPLICATION OF RETROVIRUS
 SYMPTOMS OF HIV AIDS

 As AIDS is a virus infection, the symptoms related

to acute HIV infection can be similar to flu or other
viral illnesses, like –
 Fever
 Muscle & Joint Pain
 Chills
 Headaches
 Sore throat
 Night Sweats
 Red rashes
 Mouth sores
 Tiredness
 Swollen lymph glands
 Weakness
 Weight Loss
 Diarrhoea
 DIAGNOSIS OF HIV & AIDS
The primary tests for diagnosing HIV and AIDs
include:

1) ELISA Test — ELISA, which stands for Enzyme-Linked

Immuno sorbent Assay, is used to detect HIV infection. If an
ELISA test is positive, the Western blot test is usually
administered to confirm the diagnosis.
2) Saliva Tests — A cotton pad is used to obtain saliva from
the inside of your cheek. The pad is placed in a vial and
submitted to a laboratory for testing. Results are available in
three days. Positive results should be confirmed with a blood
test.
3) Viral Load Test — This test measures the amount of HIV
in the blood. Generally, it's used to monitor treatment progress
or detect early HIV infection. Three technologies measure HIV
viral load in the blood: reverse transcription polymerase chain
reaction (RT-PCR), branched DNA (bDNA) and nucleic acid
sequence-based amplification assay (NASBA). The basic
principles of these tests are similar. HIV is detected using DNA
sequences that bind specifically to those in the virus. It is
important to note that results may vary between tests.
4) Western Blot — This is a very sensitive blood test used to
confirm a positive ELISA test result.
Virology is the scientific discipline concerned with the study
of the biology of viruses and viral diseases , including the
distribution , biochemistry , physiology, molecular biology ,
ecology , evolution and clinical aspects of viruses.
 TREATMENTS OF HIV AND AIDS

Treatment should begin as soon as possible after a

diagnosis of HIV, regardless of viral load.

The main treatment for HIV is antiretroviral therapy, a

combination of daily medications that stop the virus
from reproducing. This helps protect CD4 cells,
keeping the immune system strong enough to take
measures against disease.

Antiretroviral therapy helps keep HIV from progressing

to AIDS. It also helps reduce the risk of transmitting
HIV to others.

When treatment is effective, the viral load will be

“undetectable.” The person still has HIV, but the virus
is not visible in test results.

However, the virus is still in the body. And if that

person stops therapy, the viral load will increase again,
and the HIV can again start attacking CD4 cells taking
antiretroviral.
 PREVENTION OF AIDS
HIV’s infection can be detected with the help of a test called
ELISA which stands for ‘Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent
Assay’. AIDS is incurable, so far; thus, HIV prevention is the
wisest option. As we have already discussed the causes of
AIDS, the prevention can be deduced from them.
For example – Using disposable needles, practising safe sex,
i.e., use of protection like condoms, regular health check-
ups and monitoring blood transfusion and pregnancy.
Another important factor is the awareness of AIDS.
 TRANSMISSION OF AIDS VIRUS

Following steps may help in controlling this

dreaded disease.
i) People particularly those in high risk group
should be educated about AIDS transmission.

ii) High risk group should refrain from blood

donation.

iii) Disposable needles and syringes should be

used.

iv) Sexual habits should changed immediately.

v) Before receiving blood, ensure that it has

been screened for HIV.

vi) Routine screening may be done in

a) Blood Donors,
b) Organ Donors
c) Donors of semen and growth hormone,
d) Patient receiving haemodialysis
e) Females in high risk group, Who are pregnant
or contemplating pregnancy.
 CONCLUSION
After studying the cause and effects of ‘AIDS’ from different
views, we conclude that it is a pandemic disease. It is
mainly spreading sexually and person of the age group of
25-45 years are the most affected group. There are some
methods like ‘Antiviral Therapy’ and Immuno Stimulative
therapy which bring some hope that even then no specific
treatment has been found so for and morality form is
virtually 100%. So only prevention in the test medicine
care.
 HYPOTHESIS
AIDS is non curable due to its nature of pathogen. It
also damage immune system of the body. Therefore
any medicine (Antiviral) drugs are not effective
against HIV virus. Ignorance and lack of knowledge
about this disease is the root cause of wide spread of
this disease
 CONTENT

1. AIDS
2. CAUSES OF AIDS
3. SYMPTOMS OF HIV- AIDS
4. TRANSMISSION OF AIDS VIRUS
5. DIAGNOSIS OF HIV & AIDS
6. TREATMENTS OF HIV & AIDS
7. PREVENTION OF AIDS
8. CONCLUSION
9. HYPOTHESIS
10. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Parts of this project have been referred from foreign

sources and have been included in this project after editing.

The reference of sources is as follows :-

BOOKS :-
Biology ncert book class 12

INTERNET SOURCES :-
www.google.com