AIDS – The Silent Killer

This post is inspired by a recent report in the newspaper which spoke about a AIDS patient committing suicide. The concerned person was a truck driver and was suffering since last 4 years. He is survived by his wife and two children. His wife and the elder child have also tested positive for HIV [Click here to read the full story].

Ever since, HIV was first discovered on December 1, 1981, AIDS has become one of the most destructive epidemics in the recorded history. It is estimated that more than 0.6% world population is affected by AIDS. The disease is even more destructive because there is no known cure for the same. Also the social stigma attached to the disease makes it one of the most feared disease in the world.

AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome and is caused by HIV (Human Immuno Deficiency Virus).

History

The Human Imuuno Deficiency Virus or HIV was recognised on 1st December 1981. The virus is believed to have spread from apes in sub-saharan Africa. The “HUNTERS THEORY” is widely used to explain the possible means of spread from apes to human beings. According to this theory, the HIV spread from apes when human beings were bitten by apes or came in contact with their blood while butchering them.

Method Of Infection

HIV can spread from one person to another in any one of the following ways:-

1. Through contaminated blood
2. Through unprotected sex with multiple partners
3. From an infected mother to the child during birth
4. Breast Milk

HIV primarily infects vital cells in the human immune system such as helper T Cells (specifically CD4⁺ T cells), macrophages and dendritic cells.

Once the CD4⁺ T cells fall beyond critical level, the immune system fails. The body then become prone to all kinds of opportunistic disease. This stage is called AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) which generally occurs after 10-15 years after the initial Infection. This means that a patient might not show any signs of the disease for 10-15 years which makes this disease even more deadly. Death mainly occurs due to infections and various opportunistic diseases that a patient contracts as a result of the failure of immune system.

Stigma Attached to The disease.

AIDS stigma exists around the world in a variety of ways, including ostracism, rejection, discrimination and avoidance of HIV infected people; compulsory HIV testing without prior consent or protection of confidentiality; violence against HIV infected individuals or people who are perceived to be infected with HIV; and the quarantine of HIV infected individuals. Stigma-related violence or the fear of violence prevents many people from seeking HIV testing, returning for their results, or securing treatment, possibly turning what could be a manageable chronic illness into a death sentence and perpetuating the spread of HIV.

Need For Educating The common Man

There is an urgent need to educate the general public about AIDS. The people must be made aware that AIDS patients need their care and love. The person infected with the Virus can live like a normal person in the society as the disease cannot spread other than means mentioned above. So instead of isolating a person infected with the disease, one must try to include the person amongst the mainstream of the society.

As mentioned earlier the patient needs care and attention. This is because the disease is slow killer. Add to that the stigma, the death becomes even miserable.

Filed under: AIDS - The Silent Killer , aids, hiv, social stigma, stigma