Modes of Transmission of HIV/ AIDS and prevention

Modes of Transmission

• Unsafe sexual contact with HIV infected person
• With infected blood transfusion
• Use of skin-piercing injection, blade, etc. without sterilization
• Mother to baby (during pregnancy, during delivery and during breastfeeding)

Preventive measures of HIV/ AIDS and other STIs

• Sexual behaviors before matured age are unsafe. Sexual decisions in early age may not be appropriate. Sexual behaviors which are considered as safe may not be safe for the people in early age due to the lack of proper knowledge and skills. Therefore, we must avoid sexual intercourse in early age in order to prevent STIs.
• Abstain yourself. If not possible, adopt safe sex
• Between two or be mutually faithful for sexual intercourse. Avoid multiple sex partners because healthy looking persons might also be infected with STIs
• Consistent use of condom as it also prevents pregnancy
• Do not use unsterilized needles, blades, scissors etc
• Blood transfusion should be done after proper test
• Infected women must not give birth to a baby
• We must increase mass awareness and discourage girls trafficking and prostitution. Similarly, we have to emphasis on female education and female employment in order to save from this fatal disease
• We must adopt kind feeling and co-operation to STI victims for their treatment and care. Advise STI patients on the consistent use of condom and spermicides while they make sexual contact.

Stop HIV/ AIDS

Introduction

AIDs stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Our body has the immune system that fights against diseases. When this immunity is lost, we get suffered from various diseases. As a result, various symptoms can emerge.  AIDS is not a disease but that stage in which various symptoms and syndromes can emerge. Though AIDS was medically recognized only in 1981 in USA, it is widely and rapidly spreading all over the world. Over 2 decades, more than 40 million people are suffering from this fatal disease. Though its virus appeared later in Asian countries, it is more rapidly spreading here than other regions. In Nepal, first case of AIDS was identified in 1988 but the cases are rapidly increasing. Now about more than 60 thousand people are estimated to be infected of HIV in Nepal.

Causes of HIV/ AIDS

The causative agent for this disease  is retrovirus which is called HIV (Human Immune-deficiency Virus). This virus destroys the immune system of producing the antibody to fight against the germs of disease. In the lack of antibody, we cannot be healthy. After entering it in our body, it takes about 6 to 12 weeks for virus to be seen in blood test. This unidentified period is window period. When HIV is detected, this stage is carrier stage. Similarly, when symptoms are seen, it is only the stage of AIDS.

Symptoms of HIV/ AIDS

Symptoms cannot be seen immediately in HIV infected patients and it may take 10-15 years. As the immunity of patients is lost any common disease may suffer them. The symptoms are seen according to the disease they have suffered. However, TB is found in almost HIV patients in Nepal.

The symptoms of AIDS can be classified as major and minor sign. A person can be AIDS patient if at least 2 major signs and one minor sign appear.

Major Sign of HIV/ AIDS

• Loss of weight more than 10% of usual body weight within one month
• Continuous fever for more than 1 month
• Continuous diarrhea for more than 1 month

Minor Sign of HIV/ AIDS

• Coughing of more than a month
• Itching and skin rashes
• Recurrent herpes zoster
• Chancres appear around lip and nostril
• Not recovery of some common and curable diseases like common cold, diarrhea, TB etc.
• Repeatedly suffering of pneumonia
• Thrush or inflammation in mouth and throat
• Swelling of glands for a long time

Dysentery

Dysentery is a disease caused by virus and bacteria. It is also transmitted with dirty behaviour. Mucus and blood is seen in the stool of a person suffered from this disease. Dysentery is of two types: Amoebic and Bacillary. Both types of dysentery are transmitted through faeco-oral route.

Amoebic Dysentery:
It is caused by Entamoeba Histolytica.

Symptoms of Amoebic Dysentery:

• Abdominal pain may be felt.
• Frequent desire to fecal discharge.
• White mucus is seen in stool.
• Patient becomes very weak.

Bacillary Dysentery:
Bacillary Dysentery is caused by Shigella Shiga and Salmonella. It is also called Ragatmasi in Nepali.


Symptoms of Bacillary Dysentery:

• Abdominal pain.
• Frequent passing stool.
• Mucus with blood is seen.
• Frequent thirst and drying lip due to loss of liquid substance.
• Fever.

Common Cold

Common cold is easily and highly communicable disease as it rapidly transmits from one person to another. Therefore, almost everybody is affected by it in Nepal. It is caused by filterable virus. It affects nose, throat, chest and many other parts of our body. When the patient sneezes or coughs, the viruses are spread in the air through the droplets. When we inhale the contaminated air, we are infected by it. Similarly, the infested utensils, handkerchiefs, etc. are the mode of its transmission.

Symptoms of Common Cold:
The symptoms of common cold are;

• At first, irritation in nose and throat.
• Nose and neck dry and patient slightly coughs.
• Then watery nasal discharge.
• Nose is closed, smelling capacity is lost and voice becomes hoarse.
• Sometimes, headache and fever.
• Eyes become wet.

Preventive measures of Common Cold:
The preventive measures of common cold are:

• Avoid common use of handkerchief, towel and utensils used by the patient.
• If impossible, use them by washing well with soap.
• Clothe according to weather, such as warm cloth in cold season.
• Patient should use handkerchief to sneeze or cough.
• Regularly eat green vegetables.
• Patient should take enough liquid matter and take rest.
• Take hot water-vapour and rest as a remedy but there is no medicine to treat it.