HIV/AIDSDivya SharanCarla Laurel

Anupriya Ganguly

Effects of HIV: Biological

• The Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks the helper T-cells (enters inside cells)

• When Helper T-cells multiply to fight off diseases, HIV is likewise multiplied

• Helper T-cells activate cytotoxic T-cells and macrophages (phagocytes), or cause the B-cells to release antibodies.

• Receptors on Helper T-cells recognize foreign antigens and the cytotoxic T-cells that are activated then multiply

• Cytotoxic cells will kill other cells that have the same foreign antigen that was detected by the Helper T-cell

• Helper T-cells activate B-cells through interactions using a protein or secretion of cytokines

• Since HIV selectively infects Helper T-cells, thus decreasing the number of these leucocytes, the immune system of the patient is weakened

• Patients are less likely to detect foreign antigens, and hence cytotoxic T-cells, macrophages and B-cells are less likely to be activated and perform their respective functions

• HIV positive patients suffer from rare diseases which a normal person’s immune system can often fight off. These diseases are called opportunistic diseases. Eg. Kaposi’s sarcoma

• Manifestation of opportunistic diseases is one syndrome of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

Effects of HIV: Social

• HIV positive patients often suffer from stigmatization in the society

• Families lose members• Increased poverty due to lack of economic

productivity• Life expectancy in southern African countries

dropped

Cause of AIDS

• When T-helper cells drop below a critical level of 200 because of HIV, the immune system becomes ineffective and the person can develop a collection of diseases called a syndrome.

• When the syndrome of conditions is present, the person is said to have Acquired Immune Deficiency System (AIDS). It can take years for HIV to damage the immune system enough for AIDS to develop. The median time progression from HIV to AIDS is around 9-10 years. However, older people progress from HIV to AIDS faster because they have weaker immune systems

Transmission of HIV

• HIV is found in blood and body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids.  

• Lowest Risk: childbirth (Mother to child: pregnancy, labor and delivery), breast feeding

• Highest Risk: oral sex, sexual intercourse, blood to blood contact

• Another way to get HIV is through being injected by an unsterile needle or syringe that has been used by someone who is infected. This is three times more likely to transmit HIV than sexual intercourse. Other ways it is transmitted is through using unsterile equipment for tattoos and piercing.

Common Misconceptions: You can’t get AIDS from:

• a. saliva/kissing (Saliva does contain HIV, but the virus is only present in very small quantities and as such cannot cause HIV infection)

• b. Spitting, coughing, sneezing, sharing glasses, swimming pools, showers or by sharing washing facilities or toilet seats etc. (HIV is unable to reproduce outside its living host, except under strictly controlled laboratory conditions.)

• c. Insects (HIV only lives for a short time and cannot reproduce inside an insect. Thus the insect does not get infected)

• d. protected sex

Social Impact: Negative Effects

• There are many implications of having HIV/AIDS in our world. When someone is diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, he or she is subjected to discrimination and stigmatization from members of society, especially in the developing world.

• People infected with HIV/AIDS may be ostracized by society and may be abused or harassed by their community.

• This abuse and harassment may also have implications of their ability to find jobs. People would not be willing to associate with them thus they might be fired from their jobs and may find it hard to find work again.

• HIV/AIDS patients’ health may decline making them work less and thus even more undesirable for employers. Even if they do find a job, their performance may be negatively affected by HIV/AIDS and so they might lose their job again.

• The expenditure on medication could make them bankrupt. This would mean that the patients and their families may have to cut spending on other necessary goods such as food and water, or on education. It would prevent the family from getting out of poverty.

• There would also be a social responsibility to help the sick, and this would create a social burden.

• Some people estimate that more than 90% of HIV-infected people live in the developing world and many are unaware that they are infected.

• Many religious leaders oppose the use of condoms or other contraceptive methods, thus making it harder to limit the contraction of HIV/AIDS.

• Ryan White was a student that was expelled from his school because he was an HIV patient. He was forced out of school and fought a legal battle with them. He had been expected to live only 6 months after diagnosis, but he lived for 5 more years (about the same time he would have finished schooling).

Positive Developments• In some countries, mostly More Economically

Developed Counties (MEDCs), it is much easier to talk about AIDS and AIDS related issues. Also, the procurement of medication is faster and easier in these countries.

• World AIDS Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the many millions of people around the world who are affected by HIV/AIDS. It is a day to remember those we have lost and to acknowledge those who have dedicated their lives to working against this pandemic.

• AIDS Educational programs for children and adults are more prevalent now in MEDCs and in some LEDCs.

Future Outlooks

• In poorer countries, it is hard to get medication and HIV/AIDS is not something that people like to talk about. Thus, it will be a while before HIV/AIDS patients in these countries stop being discriminated against.

• It is predicted that over the next decade, another 40 million people will contract the AIDS virus.

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