What is the full form of AIDS

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Each word can be explained as:

Acquired: It means that you can get infected with it.

Immune Deficiency: It specifies the weakness of the body's immune system.

Syndrome: It is a group of symptoms that make up a disease.

AIDS is a disease of the human immune system caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). The initial symptoms of this disease may be a brief period of influenza-like illness. AIDS is a disease which may progress for a long period of time without any symptoms. As the infection progresses, it interferes more and more with the immune system and makes the infected person too weak and thus susceptible to common infections like Tuberculosis, tumors, asthma, etc.

How HIV virus infects?

The HIV virus attacks the T-cells in the immune system and makes your body so weak that it can be easily affected by bacteria, viruses and fungi. In starting weeks, it can show symptoms like a headache, fever, sore joints and muscles, etc. When the infection spreads, the human immune system becomes weaker and loses its ability to fight normal infections, diseases and cancers. AIDS is the extreme condition of this infection, i.e. a person infected with HIV will progress to AIDS, if not treated properly.

Stages of HIV

The HIV infection is divided into three stages;

• Acute HIV Infection
• Chronic HIV Infection
• AIDS/ Advanced Infection

Acute HIV Infection: This is the first stage of HIV infection. Generally, the symptoms of HIV infection do not appear instantly after the infection. So, people don't know right away when they are infected with HIV. It takes around two to four weeks for the initial symptoms of HIV to appear. This stage starts when the symptoms of HIV start appearing. This stage is also called primary HIV infection or acute retroviral syndrome. The flu-like sickness which is the main symptom in this stage is known as acute HIV infection.

Potential signs and symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Joint and muscle pain
• Rash
• Throat ache and uncomfortable mouth sores
• lymph nodes that are swollen, usually in the neck
• Diarrhea
• Loss of weight
• Cough
• sweats at night

You might not even be aware of these symptoms because they can be so minor. The viral load, on the other hand, is currently fairly high in your bloodstream. As a result, during the initial infection rather than the next stage, the virus spreads more readily.

Chronic HIV Infection: This is the second stage of HIV infection. In this stage, the immune system loses the battle with HIV and the flu-like symptoms disappear. The other symptoms may take months or years to appear. Doctors call this stage an asymptomatic or clinical latent period. In this stage, the virus starts replicating in the body which gradually weakens the immune system. You may not look or feel sick, so there are chances that you can pass HIV to others. So, early testing for HIV is very important, even if you are feeling fine.

AIDS/Advanced Infection: This is the third and advanced stage of HIV infection. In this stage, your CD4 T-cell number goes below 200 and your immunity decreases drastically which makes you more susceptible to opportunistic infections.

Reasons for HIV infection

HIV can be found in saliva, tears, blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk and nervous system tissue. However, only the HIV that is found in blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk has been found to transmit the infection to others.

Aids can be transmitted from person to person in many ways:

• By unprotected intercourse with an infected person
• By Blood transfusion
• From mother to child (By birth), it can also be spread by breastfeeding
• Oral sex, in some cases, can possible through deep kissing
• By the use of hypodermic needles
• Artificial insemination with denoted semen infected with HIV
• Through a donated organ received from an infected donor

How HIV is not spread

HIV cannot be contracted through routine interaction. By extension, hugging, kissing, dancing, or shaking hands with an infected person will not cause you to contract HIV or AIDS. HIV cannot be transmitted via air, water, or insect bites.

Symptoms of AIDS

Aids can be transmitted from person to person in many ways:

• Rapid weight loss
• Recurring fever or extreme night sweats
• Sore throat
• Extreme tiredness, Muscle and joint pain

Complications

Infections linked to AIDS and HIV

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP): The disease brought on by this fungus can be very serious. PCP remains the most common cause of pneumonia in people with HIV in the United States, although the incidence has greatly decreased because of modern HIV/AIDS medications.

Candidiasis (thrush): A typical HIV-related infection is a candidiasis. Your mouth, tongue, oesophagus, or vagina becomes inflamed, and there is a thick, white covering.

Tuberculosis (TB): A typical opportunistic infection linked to HIV is tuberculosis (TB). TB is the primary cause of death for AIDS patients globally. AIDS drugs are widely used in the United States, making them less common there.

Cytomegalovirus: Body fluids such as saliva, blood, urine, semen, and breast milk can spread the common herpes virus. The virus is rendered inactive by a strong immune system, where it remains latent in your body. Your eyes, digestive system, lungs, or other organs may suffer harm if the virus reappears if your immune system becomes compromised.

cryptococcal meningitis: An inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord is known as meningitis (meninges). A fungus present in soil can cause cryptococcal meningitis, a frequent central nervous system infection linked to HIV.

Toxoplasmosis: Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite predominantly spread by cats, is the source of this potentially fatal infection. Cats with parasite infestations convey the parasites to other animals and people through their faeces.

cryptococcal meningitis: An inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord is known as meningitis (meninges). A fungus present in soil can cause cryptococcal meningitis, a frequent central nervous system infection linked to HIV.

Cancers associated with HIV/AIDS

Lymphoma: White blood cells are where cancer first develops. The most typical early symptom is an armpit, groyne, or neck lymph node swelling that is painless.

Sarcoma of Kaposi: Kaposi's sarcoma, a malignancy of the blood vessel walls, typically manifests as pink, red, or purple sores on the skin and in the mouth. Lesions on people with darker complexion may seem dark brown or black. The digestive system and lungs are only two examples of the internal organs that Kaposi's sarcoma might affect.

malignancies linked to HPV: These malignancies are brought on by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). They consist of cervical, oral, and anal cancer.

Prevention of AIDS/HIV:

1. Avoid sexual intercourse with any of the following:
   • People infected or suspected to be infected with AIDS
   • Multiple partners
   • A person who has multiple partners
   • A person who takes IV drugs
2. Do not use intravenous drugs
3. Avoid exposure to blood when the HIV status of the bleeding person is unknown
4. The HIV positive person should not donate blood, plasma, sperm and body organs
5. HIV positive women should take the required precaution and medications to reduce the chances of infection to the unborn children
6. HIV positive women should not breast feed
7. Safe sex practices like use of latex condoms should be adopted
8. The HIV-positive person should not donate blood, plasma, sperm and body organs
9. HIV-positive women should take the required precaution and medications to reduce the chances of infection in the unborn children
10. HIV-positive women should not breastfeed
11. Safe sex practices like the use of latex condoms should be adopted