AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) 🦠

Quick Definition

Doctors first noticed AIDS in 1981. The illness weakens the body’s defence system after birth (it isn’t present from day one). In roughly 25 years it took more than 25 million lives worldwide. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

The Culprit – HIV

Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus—it carries RNA inside an envelope. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

How HIV Reaches a New Host 🚪

  • Sex with an infected partner
  • Transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products
  • Sharing contaminated needles or syringes (e.g., IV drug use)
  • Transfer from an infected mother to her baby through the placenta

Higher-risk groups include people with many sexual partners, intravenous drug users, patients who need frequent blood transfusions, and babies born to HIV-positive mothers. Remember: hugs, handshakes, and casual contact don’t spread HIV—it needs body fluids. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

The Silent Window ⏳

Symptoms can appear a few months to many years after infection, most often 5–10 years later. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

What Happens Inside the Body 🧬

  1. Macrophage stage: HIV slips into macrophages. Reverse transcriptase turns its RNA into DNA, which joins the host DNA and turns the cell into a virus factory. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
  2. Helper T-cell stage: HIV then infects helper T-lymphocytes (\(T_H\)). New viruses burst out and attack more helper T-cells, steadily lowering their numbers. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Signs & Symptoms 🤒

  • Recurring fever 🔥
  • Long-lasting diarrhoea 💦
  • Noticeable weight loss ⚖️
  • Opportunistic infections—bacteria (especially Mycobacterium), viruses, fungi, and parasites such as Toxoplasma—take over because the immune army is depleted. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Diagnosis 🔬

The enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) checks for HIV infection quickly and reliably. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Treatment 💊

Modern anti-retroviral drugs slow the virus and give patients more years, yet they still cannot wipe HIV out completely. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Prevention – Your Best Shield 🛡️

  • Use screened blood from certified blood banks.
  • Insist on disposable needles and syringes.
  • Practice safe sex—correct and consistent condom use.
  • Avoid or treat drug abuse.
  • Get regular HIV tests if you think you might be at risk.

National (NACO) and global (WHO) programmes spread these messages and provide resources. People living with HIV need support, not isolation—open dialogue keeps everyone safer. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Important Concepts for NEET 🎯

  1. Major modes of HIV transmission and high-risk groups. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
  2. HIV life-cycle: reverse transcriptase, integration, macrophage “factory,” helper T-cell depletion. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
  3. Window period and the rise of opportunistic infections. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
  4. ELISA as the frontline diagnostic test. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
  5. Core prevention strategies endorsed by NACO and WHO. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}