i

AIDS

In this chapter we will learn:

AIDS concept
Origin of AIDS
AIDS development stages
due to aids
Grants regarding HIV transmission
symptoms of hiv
AIDS problem in India
Side effects of AIDS on Indian society
AIDS treatment
Government efforts to prevent AIDS
Suggestions to control AIDS transmission

AIDS is one of the biggest health problems of the present era i.e. it is an epidemic.
There are three main reasons for AlDS infection -through unsafe sex, blood
exchange and mother-to-child transmission. Both the National Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

ControlProgram and the United Nations Acquired

Immunodeficiency Syndrome Control Program believe that 80 to 85 percent
of infections in India are spread through unprotected
heterosexual/heterosexual sex. It is believed that the virus RAIDS
of this disease: HIV, was first found in a special
species of monkey in Africa and from there these entire
 Spread across the world. Till now it is
considered incurable but research work on its treatment is
all over the world, Since the going on
discovery of AIDS in 1981, approximately 30 crore people
have lost their lives due to it.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a condition following
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in which humans lose
their natural immunity. AlDS is nota disease in itself, but the
human body
suffering from AIDS loses its natural immunity against infectious diseases caused
by bacteria and viruses because HIV (the virus that
causes AIDS) prevents
antibodies present in the blood. The substance attacks the lymphocytes.
Due to gradual loss of immunity in the body of an AIDS victim, any
opportunistic
infection, from common cold to diseases like tuberculosis, easily
spreads and it becomes difficult to treat them. It can take 8 to 10 years
or more for HIV infection to progress to AIDS. People with HIV
can live without any noticeable symptoms for many years.
AIDS concept
(Concept ofAIDS)
AIDS is an infectious disease due to which the immune system of the
affected person gets destroyed and till date there is no treatment available
to cure this disease. The full name of AlDS is Acquired
Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. This disease is caused by a virus, which
is called HIV (Human Immuno Deficiency Virus). Earlier
the name of this virus was HCLVII(Human Cell
Leukenia Virus llI). This virus remains in the body for years
without any obvious symptoms. HIV viruses are smaller than bacteria
and cannot be seen even with a microscope.
HIV is a retrovirus that infects and destroys cells of the human
immune system (primarily CD4-positive Tcells). Normally a healthy
person has 500-1500 CD-4 'percubic millimeters' in his
body. HIV enters the body and attacks CD-4 cells, increases their
numbers and starts destroying these cells. Over the course of several
years, CD4 cells gradually start decreasing, due to which the immune
system becomes weak. People who have a deficient immune system easily
contract many types of infections that people with healthy immune systems
rarely get. Diseases caused by a severely weakened immune system are
called 'opportunistic infections' because they take advantage of a
weakened immune system. It has been proven that HIV infection is the root
cause of AIDS.
 Z13

Origin of
the AIDS
In his book'Social Problems, Ram Ahuja writes that AlDS had emerged
esl in the 1980s in countries like America, France, India,
Braziletc. The case of a 45-year-old AIDS patient was reported
in the United States in 1959, although more information was obtained in
California in June 1981. HIV in India Thefirst case of infection was
detected in Madras (Chennai) in May 1986. The National Institute of Virology
in Pune and the Christian Medical College, Keelor, started micro
culture assays in 1987 on the recommendation of the AlDS Task Force at
the Indian University Research Complex in Delhi. It screened 3,027 high-risk
individuals and found a good number of people to be sero positive
in their blood.

Stages of the
Development of AIDS
On AIDS, the World Health Organization (U.N. AIDS) has mentioned four stages
of overall development of AIDS
(1) First stage-HIV Symptoms of AIDS do not appear and it cannot
be called AIDS.
(2) Second stage - In this, minor mucocutaneous symptoms are seen and there are frequent
infections in the upper respiratory system.
(3) Third stage: In this, diarrhea occurs repeatedly without any reason for more
than a month. Serious bacterial infections occur and pulmonary TB occurs. it occurs.
(4) Fourth stage - In this stage, symptoms like toxoplasmosis in the brain,
candidiasis and Kaposi's sarcoma in the pharynx, respiratory tract or lungs appear. These are
considered indicators of AIDS. Most of these conditions are opportunistic
infections. If these occur in a healthy person, they can be treated easily.

due to aids
(Causes of AIDS)
Since H.l.V. Found in body fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids and
milk. For this reason, AIDS spreads through infected fluids. The reasons
for circulation of these fluids are as follows
(1) Unsafe sex-When two men and women, homosexual or heterosexual, have sex with each
transmitted in the
other and if one of them is an AIDS patient, then HIV infection gets
other's body. V. gets entered.
(2
(2) HIV Many poor
people take up the business of selling blood by transfusion
of infected blood or blood
products. This blood is purchased by blood banks.
Although blood banks purchase blood only after thorough
testing of the personi's blood, but many
times charitable
organizations purchase blood without testing it. Often AIDS
are successful in spreading AlDS by patients
selling blood without getting tested.
(3) AIDS is also spread
through the use of infected items like infected needle
or syringe, blade, razor, reaper, etc. Needles are used
consuming drugs through injection sites, piercing ears andfor injectingthe medicines,
the needle contains HIV If the person is tattooing body. If
infected, then this virus will spread to
other people also.
(4) In the fetus or newborn child
from an infected mother- if a woman has become an AIDS
patient due to having sexual intercourse with an AIDS
suffering man (grandson or anyone else) or
a woman, then when she becomes
pregnant, the child of such woman will be infected with AIDS,
suffering from AIDS or HIV in the womb itself. There isa strong possibility of getting
infected. Even
if the baby remains safe from this crisis till birth, the newborn baby can acquire HIV through
mother's breastfeeding May get infected

HIV. misconceptions about transmission

(Myths about the Transmitting the H.LV)
Since HV. Both AIDS and AIDS are lesser known viruses and
diseases, so naturally, there are some misconceptions regarding their transmission.
Such as AIDS or HIV due to the following conditions and contacts. There is
talk of being infected
(1) By living together at home or office.
(2) By shaking hands.
(3) By kissing each other.
(4) By holding or embracing each other.
(5) By sneezing and spitting.
(6) From phones, clothes, sheets, pillows and quilts.
(7) By using public toilets.
(8) By bathing in swimming pools.
(9) By traveling together.
(10) Eating from the same plate or drinking water from the same glass.
(11) By mosquito bite.
 215
AIDS and HIV in all the above mentioned situations. Transmission never
occurs and is in these types of states. An HIV AIDS or HIV can be caused

only when Bandy Futs is transmitted from one affected person to another.
Transmission occurs
HIV. Symptoms
of H.LV
HIV. Most people infected with HIV do not realize that they have been
infected, because no symptoms appear immediately after the initial infection. Some people
develop a disease similar to glandular fever (which is characterized by fever and rashes,
joint pain, and enlarged lymph nodes) that may occur at the time of sericonversion.
Seroconversion means-H. I.V. Formation of anti-bodies and this often happens
between one and a half to three months after infection. After this the
ELISA test (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay test) becomes positive. Before this
infection was confirmed by HL.V, RN. A, PC.R. This is possible only through
test (antigen). This time is called the window period, which is the most dangerous
time from the point of view of transmission of the disease. After this, the virus load
increases day by day and the immunity (CD-4 count) decreases. In the period
from 6 months to 10 years, CD-4 count becomes less than 200 and in this
situation HIV infection occurs. The affected patient becomes an AlDS
patient.
Following are the symptoms of AIDS
"Main symptoms
1. Decrease in body weight by more than 10%.
2. Complaint of chronic diarrhea for more than a month.
3. Continuous fever for more than a month.
Secondary symptoms

1. Cough persists for more than a month.

2. Itchy rashes all over the skin 1
3. Pervasive hoppers zoster.
4. Swollen lymph glands.
5. Habit of forgetting.
6. Disseminated Pulzenary TB.
(216 Whether someone is suffering
Any man or woman infected with H.I.V.
by looking at the body or face, but through a blood test. For
or not is not known
two
The main tests are
this, some tests are done.
Assay test is a simple
(1) ELISA test - Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent test is
a few hours. These days, Elisa
test and the result comes within and the results
different manufacturers
being done by kits manufactured by two
Confirm the infection.
obtained are negative for HIV.
lengthy and labor
(2) Western Blot Test - This test is very expensive,
50 times more expensive
intensive. It is used to verify the Elisa test and is
than the Elisa test.
Apart from this there are other tests

(3) P.A.T. (non-particle testing),

(4) LFA. (immunofluorescence test),
(5) RI.PA (Radio Immuno Precipitation Test),
(6) HIV P-24 antigen (PCR), and
(7) CD-4 count.
Problem of
AIDS in India

AIDS is a disease which has become a worldwide social problem, then how can
India remain untouched by it. India is also in the dire grip of AIDS. At present,
more than3crore 50 lakh people in the world are living with HIV. Are suffering.
Of these, more than 30 lakh victims are in America alone. The surprising thing is that some

of the world's H.l.V. Of the victims, 25 lakh patients are below 15 years of age. Every
year 25 to 30 lakh new patients are being added.
The main facts related to AIDS in India are as followS
(1) At present about 40 lakh people in India are living with HIV. Are
positive.
That is, the total number of HIV cases in the world. About 15% of the
positives
are living in India only. (2) HIV And the United
Nations Task Force on AIDS
(UNAIDS) announced in 2006 that AIDS and HIV India is overtaking South
Africa in
terms of positive cases.
(3) This problem is most prevalent in states like
Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra,
Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Manipur,
Goa and Nagaland.
arir
(4)
People lving in cities 217
areas are and
metropolitsitan
rural areas.
becomingliving
victims more than those
in
(5) It is abig
the number of irony that AfyWATCSUS
orphaned due to this children
problem in
STOPAOSEEPTHY
India is reaching the top in the
world and it is feared
that this number will
double by 2013. AIDS awareness campaign
(6) In India, the need for
specific AIDS treatment
considered only when the amount of CD-4 cells in the 'anti-retroviral treatment' is
2005, a total of 7% of people in blood reaches 200 level. In
India were considered eligible for
On the contrary, in this treatment.
America, this treatment is started in
when the CD-4 level is between 300 to the initial stage itself,
350.
(7) AIDS/HIV in our country. No
of children infected with HIV or direct provision has been made for the care
orphaned by it. The main focus of the AIDS campaign
here is to fight sex workers,
AIDS/HIV. t is focused only on truck drivers who transport
people from one place to another and drug addicts.
80% of AIDS campaign funds
are spent on this group, while HIV A
provision of only 20% expenditure has been
made for the families and children living with
the disease.
(8) HIV in India More than one in
three people infected (39% of all AIDS/
HIV positive people) are women and 80% of
housewives. This has a direct relation with children. Out of
these women are
this infection on to their children. HIV in ignorance they are passing
mother's child infection rate in india
The average is 30 thousand per
year. (9) This tragedy is creating a double blow in
India. Apart from affecting the human
resources of the country, this problem is also increasing the
budget of the health department.
(10) According to the latest data of NECo (National
AIDS
Organization), 3.8% of AIDS patients in India are below 15 years of age, Control
in the 16-49 years age group and 7.5% are above 49 years of
88.7% are
age. According to the same
report, the reasons for spread of AIDS in India are - 71%
fromn sex workers, 4.5% from
infected blood, 4.3% from parents, 4.2% from drugs and 16%
from other reasons. These data
can also be displayed by the following picture
 Hindi
English valence

50 more 71%
16-49
years 7.5%
years
to 88.7%
up
years 4.34
15 %5

in 3,8%

from sex
For by blood
Workers other reasons from from
parents eggs
Due to the spread of AIDS

One thing that is being seen here is

main working age for a person. Most of
that the age of 16-49 years is the
the AIDS patients in India
group, meaning the country's worktorce is most belong to this age
the biggest reason for the spread of affected by AIDS. On the other hand.
AIDS in India is male or female
prostitution is most likely tO spread AIDS through unsafe prostitution, because
all these figures, it can be sex. In the context of
clearly said that the working youth of India are
biggest victims of AIDS, which is a worrying situation from becoming the
India's economic future.
the point of view of

Side effects of AIDS on Indian society

(Evil Effects ofAIDS on Indian Society)
Although, being a disease, the side effects of AIDS are the
same everywhere,
the change of individual and society does not
social structure is of some specific type. Here,
affect it, but the Indian
traditional socio-cultural values are
given special importance and purity-impurity and
followed. Also, the status of women here is different purity-impurity are strictly
as compared to other
societies and they are seen from a different perspective. In all these
while we
perspectives,
see the general side effects of AlDS on the
Indian society, we also face
some specific side effects. Some of the adverse
effects of AIDS on Indian society are
as follows:
 219
(1)
Health side
the same
everywhere.
and dries up and
it
effects-The
The weight of
health
an AlDSconsequences of AIDS are
patient
becomes just a skeleton of bones. keeps
appearing around his eyes. Black decreasing
spots start
also starts. Apart from this,Fever persists for a long time and severe diarrhea
and the patient rashes appear all over the
continues to cough. ln fact, for an skin, T.B. It happens
health side effects of the team do not AIDS patient, these
guest for only a few days. matter, because he knows that he is a
(2) Economic side
effects-AIDS
treatment, death can be avoided
is an incurable
for many years. For this, disease, but with proper
which is a very expensive treatment. The anti-retroviral treatment is prescribed,
rupees every year in campaigning for government spends crores of
on health services is spent onprevention of AIDS. Half of the total expenditure
prevention of AIDS, if the needs of
AIDS patients start being met, then the entire
budget of health services of the government
will be spent on this
item. In his book 'Social Problems, Ram Ahuja
writes that "AIDS is a special
It invades people's
economically and socially productive years while they are
responsible for the care and upbringing of others. As a result, when the
dies, he leaves the family without any means of survival. Thus HIV earner
People
affected by the infection not only suffer initially from emotional
trauma and
later from social isolation and finally from physical problems for one
or two years, but they also become ruined from the economic point of view. This
statement
of Ram Ahuja The analysis is very relevant. As we saw earlier, 88.7% of
people (AIDS victims) in India are in the age group of 16-49. Aperson
in this age group is a responsible member of the family and if the person dies at
this age, The family is ruined financially.
(3) Social side effects-H.l.V. Aperson suffering from AIDS has to
face personal, family and social disintegration. One has to face the
emotional import of a victim. Such people lose their business, their family
members also start ignoring them and the people in their neighborhood start
treating them like untouchables. Such people are rejected by friends, rejected
schools and
by doctors and rejected by doctors. They are ostracized from
colleges and even humiliated. Their families also have to suffer
social and psychological hardships.
women. Women who have
This problem has a double impact on whose
H.l. V. positive or AIDS patients, they
are ostracized from the society, those
face social and family contempt.
husbands are suffering from AIDS, their wives also
 Do it. After the death of their
husband, such women cannot safely lead a solitary life.
If seen this way, HIV Women are more
vulnerable to infection than men.
There are two reasons for this- firstly, from the biological point of view,
the surface area
of the vagina of women is more than the surface of the
mouth of the penis of men.
Secondly. social discrimination makes them more vulnerable. Low literacy rates and
economic and social dependence on men make women more vulnerable to HIV.
Gives less opportunities to know about infection. Other conditions such as sexual
abuse, rape and domestic violence also make them more vulnerable than men.
This is what was being said about HIV/AIDS sufferers. Of infected or related
men and women. These are adults and have the courage to face the circumstances,

but what about those children who are infected with their HIV? They become
orphans after the death of infected parents. And those children who, because of the errors of
their parents, get A6.IV. Are infected with. The irony of these children is not
only that AlDS has orphaned them. These have a deep impact on emotional and
psychological health. Dr. Deeksha Pillarishetty, Medical Director of Vasaya Mahila Mandali,
an organization in Andhra Pradesh engaged in the care of children orphaned
by AIDS in India, says that such children lose their entire childhood. those raw ages
Tbecome an adult. This organization

estimates that more than 25% of AIDS affected children live in their own households.

Are doomed to pull themselves. Dr. Pillarishetty describes a situation where

there is no adult to provide shelter to these children. "These children take care of
their parents with AIDS and watch them die. They then take on
their role in life. They have to become guardians of their younger siblings
and provide for the remaining ones." They have to work to
support the family. These children do not get any property or inheritance
and it is usurped by relatives. They have to endure harsh words from neighbors
and sometimes even beatings, so that they can Leave this place
and go somewhere else."
U.N. Arecent study on AIDS indicates that children orphaned
due to AlDS are affected by HIV. The risk of infection keeps looming. In
this too, this crisis is especially on girls. She is withdrawn from school
to care for sick parents and is the last member of the family to receive any
treatment. In case of death of parents or their expensive treatment, the sources
of income of the family dry up and majority of them are dragged into the quagmire
of prostitution. Evils like illiteracy, sexual abuse and child marriage have
increased the risk of HIV among girls. And have encouraged fears of
AIDS. Many families marry their daughters at an early age in the hope that
 There will be someone to take care of the parents after their death. On the other
hand, in Indian society, it is almost impossible for the daughters of HIV positive
parents to get married and ultimately they too have to hold the hand of
someone
in whose family a member has become a victim of it. In view of the
increasing cases of HIV and AIDS, the number of young widows ie. child and
young widows is also increasing rapidly.
Thus, we see that there are health and economic side effects of AIDS, they
are the same everywhere, but the social side effects of AIDS are very
serious in
Indian society and this seriousness is visible only because of the specificity of
Indian social structure. Especially in relation to women and children.

Treatment
of AIDS
Doctors suggest AIDS patients to keep the following things in mind
and follow them to stay healthy:
(1) Follow the doctor's instructions. Visit the doctor at the
right time for treatment. If your doctor tells you to take medications,
(2) take them as directed.
Consult a doctor to avoid infections like pneumonia and flu.
Get vaccinated afterward.

(3) Quit smoking or taking any medicines not prescribed by your doctor.
)Eat a healthy diet. (4
(5) Exercise regularly to stay strong and healthy. Get enough
sleep and rest.
Government efforts to prevent AIDS
(Govt. efforts for nrevention of AIDS)
Countries to prevent the terrible disease AlDS, which appeared in the 1980s
Tireless efforts are being made throughout. AlDS cells have been set up in all states
and union territories and senior health officers have been appointed, Under the National AIDS
Control Programme, financial assistance is being provided to 815 blood banks since
September 1992. In order to increase the availability of funds for this programme,
a loan of Rs 225 crore was taken from the World Bank. Modern equipment has
been provided in 378 blood banks, 154 regional blood testing centers are functioning
which are linked to the blood banks.
Transfusion Councils have been formed to coordinate the supply of safe blood and
blood products so that the need for professional blood donors is eliminated in a time
bound manner. There is no cure, medicine or injection for HIV AIDS.
|222
Due to this, the only aids
option is to make people aware
prevention. This work is being done through about HIV virus and its
dances, regional publicity etc. and radio, television, news media, folk
non-governmental
situation of HIV infection in the country, the organizations. In view of the dire
the National AIDS
Control Program in 1987. This Government of India started
five-year comprehensive strategic
plan was launched with the
Bank during the Eighth Plan.
assistance of US$ 84 million from the World
The World Health
Organization also provided 1.5 million US dollars as
assistance for this scheme. National AIDS Control Organization has been technical
set up in
the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare to implement the programme. The overall
of this project is to reduce objective
morbidity and mortality by curbing the spread of HIV
AIDS infection in the country.
Suggestions to control AIDS transmission
(Suggestions for Control on AIDS Transmission)
At present, about 40 lakh people in India are HIV
positive and
about 6 thousand people are suffering from AIDS. Making
arrangements for the
treatment of so many patients is indeed aherculean task. But the Central Government is working
hard in this direction. The Government of India has made arangements for the treatment
of AIDS in many medical colleges of the country. Also, many inspection centers
have been established to detect AIDS. But this responsibility does not lie with the Central
Government alone. Sensing the success of male circumcision in AIDS control, it is
being considered to be implemented in India. Indian Council of Medical Research has
prepared a project for this. It will be run in four states -Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and
West Bengal. Removing the skin covering the front part of the penis in children is
called male circumcision. This is called Sunnah in Muslim society and this work is
done compulsorily in this society. Due to discharge from male circumcision, dirt does
not accumulate on the penis, which reduces the risk of serious diseases like AIDS. But
due to religious traditions, mail circumcision will not be acceptable to the followers of
religions like Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Choudhary, Jain and Parsi etc. and this opposition or
non-acceptance should be considered appropriate in its place, because religious beliefs and traditions
are specific to Indian society and culture. These are identities and these beliefs and
traditions cannot be sacrificed on the basis of diagnosis of a disease. Yes, some of
the following acceptable measures can be adopted in its place:
(1) First of all, we need to maintain the dignity of our married
in
life and trust in each other and inculcate the same spirit
our children.
 223
(2) HIV testing should be free and
those engaged in vulnerable confidential for
occupations.
(3) The ever-increasing trend of drug
abuse among the youth and especially the
consumption of drugs through injection should be strictly banned. For this the
government will have to give up all its interests.
(4) The corporate sector can do a lot to
fulfill its
responsibilities towards the society.
There are enough myths spread among the people regarding HIV and
AIDS, due
to which the infected person becomes
prevent HIV positive
completely isolated. Corporate sectors can
people from being isolated from the mainstream by
spreading awareness
among their employees.
(5) Public sector can also do
effective work to fight this epidemic. Publicity
alone is not enough to stop this epidemic. It is most important to come forward
and help the people suffering from this disease and
to awaken the desire among
people to stay healthy. In this way, private and public
provide practical help to HIV positive and AIDS
sectors can together
affected people. special than this
Women and children suffering from this form can be
provided protection. (6)
Pharmaceutical companies should not only provide anti-AIDS medicines at low
prices, but
should also keep a leaflet related to AlDS
knowledge in the boxes of all their medicines.
This will help every home and every person to be
(7)
alert about AIDS.
There is a need to keep a close watch on
roadside dhabas because these
dhabas are becoming a medium to satisfy the
sexual activities of truck drivers.
(8) As far aspossible, like 'Environmental Science', 'AIDS should also be
made an essential part of the curriculum
throughout India.
These are some of the measures, by
be controlled and India can be
adopting which the epidemic like AIDS can
saved from a serious crisis in
future.