Today is our topic of discussion Definition for AIDS
Definition for AIDS
An adult / adolescent (above 12 years of age) is considered to have AIDS if at least 2 of the major signs and 1 minor sign is present in the person and these signs are not known to be due to a condition unrelated to HIV infection.
Major signs:
1. Weight loss of more than 10% of body weight
2. Chronic diarrhoea of more than 1 month duration
3. Prolonged fever of more than 1 month duration (intermittent or constant)
Minor signs:
1. Persistent cough of more than 1 month duration (not applicable for TB patients)
2. Oropharyngeal candidiasis
3. Generalised pruritic dermatitis
4. History of herpes zoster
5. Chronic progressive or disseminated herpes simplex infection
6. Generalised lymphadenopathy
Investigation:
Initial screening test –
Detection of anti-HIV antibody by ELISA. T
Confirmatory test –
Detection of anti-HIV antibody by Western Blot.
Treatment of AIDS:
There is no cure for AIDS:
A variety of treatments are available that can help keep symptoms at bay and improve the quality of life.
Antiretroviral therapy:
Suppresses the replication of HIV.
Opportunistic infections:
Treated accordingly
Support Groups –
Joining support groups where members share common experiences and problems can often help emotional stress.
Some common side effects of antiretroviral therapy:
1. Collection of fat on the back (“buffalo hump”) and abdomen
2. General sick feeling (malaise) & weakness
3. Headache
4. Nausea
5. When used for a long time, these medications increase the risk of heart attack.
Complications of AIDS:
Susceptibility to infections and cancers that most healthy adults would not get.
Prevention:
4 ‘S’ should be followed:
1 Safe sex to practice
2. Safe blood to transfuse
3. Safe injection to use: Not to share needles or syringes. Now options are available to have needle exchange, where a drug abuser can get new sterile syringes.
4. Safe pregnancy to ensure: HIV-positive women who wish to conceive should be counselled about risk to unborn children and methods to prevent the baby from becoming infected.
Other methods:
1. Avoiding use illicit drugs
2. Avoiding contact with another person’s blood: Protective clothing, masks, and goggles may be appropriate when caring for people who are injured.
3. If someone believe that he/she has been exposed to HIV (health care workers or been raped), should seek urgent medical care because an immediate course of antiviral drugs can reduce the chances to be infected.
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