AIDS

Submitted By
Akhilesh Rajan
P231501
1st Year MSc EPH
Central University of Tamilnadu
• AIDS stands for Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
• It is a chronic, potentially life-
threatening condition caused by the
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is
an infection that attacks the body’s
immune system.
• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS) is the most advanced stage of
the disease.
What is • HIV targets the body’s white blood
AIDS? cells, weakening the immune system
• This makes it easier to get sick with
diseases like tuberculosis, infections
and some cancers.
Where did HIV come
from?
• HIV infection in humans came from a type of
chimpanzee in Central Africa. Studies show that
HIV may have jumped from chimpanzees to
humans as far back as the late 1800s.
• The chimpanzee version of the virus is called
simian immunodeficiency virus. It was probably
passed to humans when humans hunted these
chimpanzees for meat and came in contact with
their infected blood.
• Over decades, HIV slowly spread across Africa and
later into other parts of the world. The virus has
existed in the United States since at least the mid
to late 1970s
AIDS in India
While the exact arrival date of HIV/AIDS in India is

unknown, it was identified in the 1980s.
Today, India has the world's third-largest population

living with HIV, but the prevalence rate (0.39% in
2023) is lower than many other countries.
Government initiatives like the National AIDS

Control Organization (NACO) play a crucial role in
prevention, treatment, and awareness programs.
HOW IT
INFEST
HIV can be transmitted via the exchange of a
variety of body fluids from people living with HIV,
such as blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal
TRANSMISSION secretions.
HIV can also be transmitted during pregnancy

and delivery to the child.
People cannot become infected through ordinary

day-to-day contact such as kissing, hugging,
shaking hands, or sharing personal objects, food
or water.
RISK
FACTORS
• having condomless anal or vaginal sex;
• having another sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as
syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and bacterial
vaginosis;
• engaging in harmful use of alcohol and drugs in the context
of sexual behavior;
• sharing contaminated needles, syringes and other injecting
equipment and drug solutions when injecting drugs;
• receiving unsafe injections, blood transfusions and tissue
transplantation, and medical procedures that involve
unsterile cutting or piercing;
• experiencing accidental needle stick injuries, including
among health workers.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
• fever
• headache
• rash
• sore throat
The infection progressively weakens the immune
system. This can cause other signs and symptoms:
• swollen lymph nodes
• weight loss
• fever
• diarrhoea
• cough.
Without treatment, people with HIV
infection can also develop severe
illnesses:
• tuberculosis (TB)
• cryptococcal meningitis
• severe bacterial infections
• cancers such as lymphomas and
Kaposi's sarcoma.
HIV causes other infections to get
worse, such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B
and mpox.
TREATMENT
• Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is the
standard treatment for HIV/AIDS.
• ART helps suppress the virus, allowing the
immune system to recover.
• WHO recommends early initiation of ART
for all individuals diagnosed with HIV
• Pregnant women with HIV should have
access to and take ART as soon as
possible. This protects the health of the
mother and will help prevent HIV from
passing to the fetus before birth, or to the
baby through breast milk.
PREVENTION
using a male or
HIV is a preventable Reduce the risk of
female condom
disease. HIV infection by:
during sex
being tested for HIV using harm

having a voluntary
and sexually reduction services
medical male
transmitted for people who
circumcision
infections inject and use drugs.
STATISTICS
• Approximately 38 million people worldwide were

According to living with HIV/AIDS in 2019.
• About 690,000 people died from AIDS-related
the WHO: illnesses in the same year.
• In the United States, around 1.2 million people were

CDC statistics living with HIV by the end of 2019.
• Over 700,000 people have died of AIDS-related
show: illnesses in the U.S. since the epidemic began.
STIGMA AND
DISCRIMINATION
• 1. Definition:
• Stigma refers to negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes
towards a group of people, in this case, individuals living
with AIDS.
• Discrimination involves unfair treatment or actions against
individuals based on their HIV status.
• 2. Causes:
• Misconceptions and misinformation about HIV/AIDS
transmission.
• Fear of contagion and misunderstanding about the virus.
• Cultural and societal prejudices against certain groups
disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS.
STIGMA AND
DISCRIMINATION
• 3. Impact:
• Hinders access to healthcare services, including testing and
treatment.
• Leads to social isolation and rejection from family, friends,
and community.
• Impacts mental health, contributing to depression, anxiety,
and low self-esteem.
• 4. Examples:
• Refusal of employment or termination from jobs based on
HIV status.
• Denial of access to housing or healthcare services.
• Verbal abuse, harassment, and violence towards individuals
living with AIDS.
WINDOW PERIOD OF HIV/AIDS
Definition:
• The window period refers to the time between HIV infection
and the detection of antibodies or antigens in the blood.
• During this period, an individual may test negative for HIV
despite being infected because their immune system has not yet
produced detectable levels of antibodies.
Duration:
• The duration of the window period varies depending on the type
of test used for HIV detection.
• With standard antibody tests, the window period is typically
around 3 to 12 weeks after exposure to the virus.
• With newer fourth-generation tests that detect both antibodies
and antigens, the window period is shorter, usually around 2 to 6
weeks
Significance:
• The window period poses a challenge for HIV
testing and prevention efforts because
individuals may engage in risky behaviors
believing they are HIV-negative during this time.
• It is essential to educate individuals about the
window period and encourage repeat testing if
there has been recent exposure to HIV.
• Understanding the window period is critical for
accurate HIV testing and diagnosis.
• Healthcare providers should consider the
window period when interpreting test results and
providing counseling to individuals undergoing
HIV testing.
SOME KEY POINTS ON
AIDS
• World AIDS Day is observed on December 1st every
year.
• HIV is not the same as AIDS.
• HIV tests are reliable.
• HIV cannot be cured.
• There is no vaccine to prevent HIV.
• People with HIV should start HIV medicine right
away.
• People with AIDS can have a high viral load and may
easily transmit HIV to others.
• People with AIDS have badly damaged immune
systems.
• Without HIV treatment, people with AIDS typically
survive about three years.
REFERENCES
• https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/li
vingwithhiv/index.html
• https://www.who.int/news-room/f
act-sheets/detail/hiv-aids
THANK YOU

AIDS

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

AIDS

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

AIDS

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Submitted By

While the exact arrival date of HIV/AIDS in India is

Today, India has the world's third-largest population

Government initiatives like the National AIDS

HIV can also be transmitted during pregnancy

People cannot become infected through ordinary

being tested for HIV using harm

• Approximately 38 million people worldwide were

• In the United States, around 1.2 million people were

You might also like