HIV/AIDS

• AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
• AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a virus known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus: HIV
• The virus infects cells of the human immune system known as CD4-cells
• The virus reproduces and destroys the CD4-cells, weakening the immune system, leaving the person more susceptible to other diseases
• Effects on the human body

  • Decreases CD4-count and the immune systems becomes weaker
  • No symptoms during the first phase of infection
  • Flu symptoms may occur
• Effects on the human body

  • Decreases CD4-count and the immune systems becomes weaker
  • No symptoms during the first phase of infection
  • Flu symptoms may occur
• Symptoms:

  • repeated cold sore infections
  • skin infections
  • prolonged fever
  • night sweats
  • chronic diarrhoea
  • opportunistic infections
• Opportunistic infections

  • respiratory infections
  • pneumonia
  • peripheral neuropathy (pain in hands and feet, pins and needles)
  • neurological conditions
  • rare skin cancer
  • lymph cancer
  • tuberculosis (TB)
• The final infection is known as AIDS.

  Rare diseases and cancers become evident

  CD4 count is very low at this stage

  Death is normally a result of opportunistic infections
• Effects on children and families

  • HIV-infected babies born into family where virus has had an impact on health, income, productivity and ability to care for each other
• Effects on children and families

  • Breadwinner becomes sick or dies, leaves family without income
  • When both parents die, orphans become responsibility of relatives or Government
  • Siblings are removed, impacting development
• Effects on SA's economy

  • Affects people in their most productive years
  • Loss of young people, labour force is drastically reduced
  • Mining industry has a high rate of infection, decreasing the labour force, decreases productivity
  • Medical care and medication
  • Recruitment, training costs, costs for AIDS orphans
• Management of HIV/AIDS

  • Testing
  • Treatment
  • Prevention
• Testing

  • known HIV status
  • take safety measures to prevent infection
  • disease can be controlled with correct medication, lifestyle changes, preventing the infection of others
  • Pre and post counceling
• Treatment

  • No cure
  • keeping viral load low and increasing CD4 count
• Viral load: number of HI-viruses in the blood
• Antiretroviral drugs (ARVS)- decrease viral load and give immune system chance to strengthen

  Do not destroy virus
• Strengthening Immune System- healthy diet and vitamin and mineral supplements
• Treatment of common and opportunistic infections
• Prevention

  • Education and Informed
• Preventative measures

  • avoid sexual intercourse
  • one faithful, long term partner, HIV-negative
  • safe sex
  • treat other STDs
  • Avoid direct contact with blood- no sharing needles, gloves
  • Avoid drugs and alcohol abuse leading to reckless sexual activity