Notes on HIV and AIDS

What are H IV and Al DS?

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - is caused by a virus, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  Viruses are very small living organisms that cause many different diseases in humans, animals and even plants. Viruses are so small that even if thousands of them are put together they cannot be seen with the naked eye.  In fact, viruses are among the smallest and simplest living things.  They cannot reproduce on their own but depend on the animal or human they infect to act as a host.  HIV reproduces in certain cells in human blood, called white blood. cells (WBCs).  These WBCs are a very important part of what is called the immune system.  The immune system, with its WBCS, defends the body from infections - it recognizes things that are foreign or dangerous to the body and begins to attack them.  It also starts to make specific substances called antibodies which are very active against the particular disease-causing organism that has infected the body.

When a person becomes infected with HIV, the virus begins to live and reproduce in the WBCS, multiplying until there are millions of viruses present.  The WBCs begin to make antibodies to HIV which are found in the blood about six weeks after infection.  Unfortunately, these antibodies cannot eliminate the virus completely from the body.  The virus gradually damages the WBCs so that they can no longer do their job of protecting the body from infections, which healthy people can normally fight off without any problem.  It is when. these infections occur that a person is said to have AIDS.  The bacteria, viruses and parasites present in the environment that cause these infections take the opportunity given by the weakened immune system to grow unhindered.  This is why many of the illnesses that people with AIDS get are called opportunistic infections.

For most of the time, people infected with HIV are healthy and usually unaware that there is anything wrong with them.  It is not unusual for the period of time between infection with HIV and becoming ill with AIDS to be eight or nine years, and sometimes as long as 15 years.  The length of time between infection and the appearance of AIDS can vary widely in different people.

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is passed (transmitted) between people by the ways shown in the box below.

Ways in which HIV is transmitted

·         through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person; that is, intercourse without a condom

·         from an infected mother to her unborn or newly-born child

·         through contact with infected blood, for example by:

Þ     the transfusion of infected blood

Þ     the sharing of skin-piercing instruments, such as injection needles, that are not sterile

HIV infection is most often passed by sexual intercourse.  It can be passed from either a man or a woman.  A person who is not infected with HIV can take steps to avoid infection just as a person who is infected with HIV can take Steps to prevent passing the HIV infection to someone else.

How can you avoid AIDS?

Abstinence (not having sexual relations at all) is the most sure way of preventing sexual transmission of HIV infection.

For many people, however, this may not be acceptable or realistic.  The use of condoms and other safer sexual practices are the only ways of decreasing the risk of becoming infected with HIV or transmitting HIV infection to a sexual partner.  Safer sexual practices are described in the box below.

What is "Safer sex" ?

Safer sex is any sexual practice that reduces the risk of passing (transmitting) HIV from one person to another.

The best protection is obtained by choosing sexual activities that do not allow semen, fluid from the vagina, or blood to enter the mouth, anus or vagina of the partner, or to touch the skin of the partner where there is an open cut or sore.

Safer sex practices include:

Þ     staying in a mutually faithful relationship where both partners are uninfected

Þ     masturbation, massage, rubbing, dry wising, and hugging using a condom for all types of sexual intercourse (anal, vaginal and oral) avoiding certain practices that increase the possibility of HIV transmission, for

Þ     example "dry" sex which may lead to breaks in the skin

Þ     avoiding sex when either partner has open sores or any sexually transmitted disease (STD)

Þ     oral sex - this may be an acceptable alternative for some people, but oral

Þ     sex should be avoided if there are sores present in the mouth or on the genitals

Couples should talk about sex and learn to please each other. This can allow for the negotiation of safer sex and make the intercourse more pleasurable for both and less likely to cause discomfort or minor

Condoms are best known as a means of preventing pregnancy.  However, they are also the most effective means of protection against the organisms that cause sexually transmitted diseases, including HW.

How do you use condoms to prevent pregnancy and HIV transmission?

Condoms are effective if they are used properly every time you have sexual intercourse.  Instructions on how to use condoms are given in the box below.

How to use a Condom

Þ     Be sure you have a condom before you need it

Þ     Each time you have sex put a new and unused condom on the penis before it enters the vagina or rectum.

Þ     Put the condom on only when the penis is erect

Þ     If you are not circumcised, pull the foreskin of the penis back before putting on the condom.

Þ     Do not pull the condom tightly against the tip of the penis but pinch the end when unrolling it this leaves a small empty space, to hold the semen.

Þ     Unroll the condom all the way to the base of the penis.

Þ     If the condom tears during sex, withdraw the penis immediately and put on a new condom.

Þ     After ejaculation, hold on to the bottom of the condom as you pull the penis out, so that the condom does not slip off, then take off the condom carefully without spilling semen.

Þ     Wrap the condom in paper (such as newspaper) until you can dispose of it in a toilet, a pit latrine or a closed garbage bag, or by burying or burning it

The following tips will help to prevent condoms breaking or leaking.

• If lubricant is needed use a water-based one (like KY jelly, or glycerine).  Do not use a lubricant made with oil, like Vaseline, which can cause condoms to break more easily.
• Store condoms in a cool, dark, dry place, if possible.  Heat, light, and humidity can damage condoms.
• If you have a choice, choose pre-lubricated condoms that come in square wrappers and are packaged so that light does not reach them.
• Open the wrapper carefully so that the condom does not tear.
• Do not use condoms that are sticky, brittle, discoloured or damaged in any way.

What is an HIV test?

Shortly after infection with HIV, the body starts to respond by making antibodies against the virus.  This usually takes 8-12 weeks.  An HIV test can find out if these specific antibodies are present in the blood - it does not detect the virus itself.

What do the results mean?

o              A positive test result in a person over 15 months old means that:

–    The person has antibodies against HIV, and is thus HIV-infected and can transmit the virus to others.

o              A positive test result in a child under 15 months old can mean either that:

–    the child is infected with HIV, or

–    the child is not infected with HIV, but has received antibodies against HIV from its mother, in the same way as many other antibodies are transferred during pregnancy.

Because of these two possibilities, it is impossible to tell if a baby is HIV-infected until it is at least 15 months old, when the antibodies from the mother are usually no longer present.

o        A negative test result can mean either that:

-     the person is not infected with HIV, or

-     the person is infected with HIV, but has not yet made antibodies against the virus.    (This is sometimes called the "window" period.)

o        The HIV test.

-     does not provide any information about a person's present state of health

-     does not determine if a person has HIV-related disease

-     cannot tell when or how a person became infected with HIV

-  does not provide any information about whether a person with HIV infection has    transmitted the virus to anyone else.

Because the results of an HIV test can have dramatic effects on families, relationships, employment and the individual's own psychological well-being, it is important that people be tested only with their consent, that they be counselled before and after testing, and that the results be kept confidential, that is, shared only with the individual, or others designated by the individual.

Ways in which HIV is not transmitted

Ordinary social contact:

o           physically close

-           in the same home

-           breathing the same air; coughs and sneezes

-           at work

-           on the bus

-           at the market

-           at school

-           playing together

o           touching

-           shaking hands

-           hugging

-           kissing on the cheeks, hands or forehead

Sharing:

-                      toilet seats

-                      towels

-                      washing water, bath water

-                      swimming pools

-                      eating and drinking utensils

-                      communion cups

-                      work tools

Being bitten by:

-                      mosquitoes

-                      bed bugs

-                      other insects

-                      any other animal

Otherwise, as people begin to see AIDS as a serious problem, they may panic and reject infected people.  They may isolate them and their families.  These reactions are deeply upsetting for people who are already facing the trauma of AIDS, and they are unhelpful in stopping the transmission of HIV.  If people are not encouraged to share the problems they have, then they cannot receive help from their fan-dlies and enjoy the time they have together.

Living Positively with AIDS

Responses to AIDS

Each of these feelings or reactions is part of a normal response to a situation of great stress.  A person n-dght move from one response to the next in a progression leading finally to acceptance of their situation, or more commonly their. feelings will keep changing. One day they might feel rejected and lonely - the next day hopeful and energetic. One day depressed, another day angry.  Let us look at each of these reactions separately and think about how these make someone feel, and how a person feeling like this might be helped.

SHOCK

No matter how much someone prepares, it is a shock to learn that one has HIV infection or AIDS.  A person might feel confused and not know what to do.  It is good for people to be with someone they trust at this time.

DENIAL

At first they might not be able to believe that they really have HIV or AIDS.  They might think, "The doctor must be wrong" or "It can't be true - I feel so strong".

Not wanting to believe is a strong force that people may use subconsciously to protect themselves from the threat posed by AIDS.  If you are trying to help such people, don't be angry or impatient with them if it seems that they are not facing facts.  Try to remember that as a health care worker you can help them to understand what having HIV or AIDS means and that this is the best way to help overcome denial.

ANGER

People might become very angry when they learn that they have HIV or AIDS. is a common feeling and can come when they blame themselves or the person they think gave them HIV.  Some may even blame God.

Anger is normal but it may not be helpful since it can focus on blaming others (being angry with them) or themselves (feeling guilty), rather than taking positive actions.  Talking to someone can help a person overcome feelings of anger and help them accept their situation.

If you are trying to help someone with HIV or AIDS, anger is a difficult reaction to cope with, especially when it is directed at you.  It is important for you to try to understand and not take the anger personally.  It is difficult, of course, to receive anger without responding.

BARGAINING

A person with AIDS might try to bargain, thinking, "God will cure me if I stop having sex" or "The ancestors will make me better if I slaughter a goat" or "I will be good and it (AIDS) will go away".  People with HIV or AIDS need to be helped to get through the feeling of bargaining.

FEAR

People with HIV or AIDS fear many things, for example:

·               Pain                               

·               Losing their job

·               Other people knowing that they are infected

·               Rejection

·               Leaving their children

·               Death.

These fears become less when they talk to someone who understands.  Someone with AIDS might also find that they are worried about things that they do not need to fear.  For example, they may find that when other people learn they have HIV, they show great love and kindness rather than the feared rejection.

LONELINESS

A person with AIDS n-dght often feel lonely.  This feeling may come and go for. a long time and depends on the support given by family and friends.  Anyone who has AIDS must be helped to remember that they are not alone; that they are surrounded by family, friends and a community that cares about them.  Many other people have HIV or AIDS.

Help families and communities to understand that people with HIV and AIDS need companionship.  Infected people can often find others with HIV and AIDS and provide companionship and support for one another.

SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS

When a person has HIV or AIDS they might think everyone is looking at them or talking about them.  This may make them want to hide.  Sometimes a person with AIDS may feel unworthy of friendship.