AIDS

 

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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a life-threatening disease, it is caused by RNA virus named Human Immuno Virus (HIV).

 Upon entering to the host(person) cell, the viral RNA incorporates itself into the host's(person's) DNA and utilizes an enzyme called Reverse transcriptase to form Complementary DNA.

If a person is once infected with HIV , it lives inside the person (Host) throughout of his life and after few year of the infection (7-8 year) the person (host)  develops AIDS, in which the immune system loses ability to fight against infections and becomes more prone to all other infections .

There is no specific cure exists till date to treat AIDS, but antiretroviral (ARV) drugs delay the progress of the disease.

Mode of transmission of HIV from person to person is through:-

• sexual contact with infected person 
• usage of contaminated needles
• transfusion of contaminated blood or any other blood products 
• infected mother to new born baby

The first case of HIV was reported in USA in the year 1981. Later in 1986 around 20,000 cases were reported across the world.

Symptoms:- pain while swallowing, dry cough, Ulcers in mouth, pain in abdomen, Pneumonia, red blotches, Swollen lymph nodes, Weight loss, Persistent Diarrhoea , Oral thrush.

This disease is asymptomatic until the person(host) develops AIDS