A Simple Guide to AIDS

A Simple Guide to AIDS
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What is AIDS?
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AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome which is the final and most serious stage of HIV.

HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus which can dause a person infected with it up to 10 years to develop AIDS.

There are actually 2 types of HIV virus:
HIV-1 is the source of the majority of HIV infections throughout the world.
HIV-2 is not as easily transmitted and is mainly found in West Africa.

How is HIV transmitted?
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HIV is transmitted by:

1.unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person(semen,vaginal fluid)

2.the usage of HIV-tainted needles

3.from a mother to her baby during pregnancy and birth, also during breastfeeding

4.receiving infected blood and blood products

What is the danger of HIV?
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The HIV infection destroys CD4 (T-cell) lymphocytes and thus weakens the body's immune defences.

The T-cells are white blood cells which helps to protect the body from bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

If the T-cells are destroyed or weakened, they are less able to defend the body effectively against infections.

Having HIV also increases the risk of getting cancers.
The HIV virus can attack every organ of the body.

AIDS which is the terminal stage of HIV infection is fatal.

Once you reach this stage, the person usually dies 1-3 years from various infections and cancers.

What are the symptoms of HIV?
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Usually, a HIV-infected person may not notice any symptoms.
However, the following symptoms may be experienced subsequently:

1.fever,chills

2.Loss of weight

2.sore throat

3.muscular stiffness or aches

4.headache

5.diarrhoea

6.swollen lymph glands

7.fatigue

8.rash of various types

9.joint pain

WHO Classification Of HIV:
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Stage I: HIV infection is asymptomatic and not categorized as AIDS

Stage II: includes minor mucocutaneous manifestations and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections

Stage III: includes unexplained chronic diarrhea for longer than a month, severe bacterial infections and pulmonary tuberculosis

Stage IV: includes toxoplasmosis of the brain, candidiasis of the esophagus, trachea, bronchi or lungs and Kaposi's sarcoma;
these diseases are indicators of AIDS.

How do you test for HIV?
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Blood test for HIV Antibodies.
A negative result does not necessary mean you do not have HIV.
There is a window period of 3-6 months sometimes before the HIV antibodies show positive results.
When a test shows positive results, the blood is retested at a CDC(Communicable Disease Centre) which is able to test more specific tests for HIV.(Western Blot HIV Confirmatory Test)

Rapid HIV testing throgh oral swabs is now offered in some medical clinics.
These tests produce very quick results.
In approximately 20 minutes you may be able to know your HIV status.

New tests for HIV includes HIV-DNA and HIV-RNA testing.

Is there a cure for HIV or AIDS?
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At the present moment there is no cure for HIV or AIDS.

Treatments which can improve the patient’s immune system and prevent the onset of AIDS however are available:

1.Reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors:
This first group of drugs approved to treat HIV infection act by preventing the replication of the HIV virus.
The HIV virus is unable to spread in the body so easily and less secondary infection may attack the body.

2.Protease inhibitors:
This second class of drugs act by stopping the replication of HIV at a later stage in the cycle.

3.Combination or cocktail therapy (using two or more drugs together) is preferred in case the HIV virus becomes resistant to both classes of drugs.

4. Some new methods involve the use of thalidomide, antimalarial and Anti-TB drugs

5. A cure For HIV will be to produce a vaccine against the HIV virus.

How can I protect myself from HIV infection?
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Some preventive measures are:

THE ABC method of prevention:
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Abstinence or delay of sexual activity, especially for youth,
Being faithful, especially for those in committed relationships,
Condom use, for those who engage in risky behavior.

The CNN method of prevention:
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Condom use, for those who engage in risky behavior,
Needles, use clean ones,
Negotiating safer sex with a partner and empowering women to make smart choices

World AIDS day is on 1st December every year.

A Simple Guide to Lymphoma

A Simple Guide to Lymphoma
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What is Lymphoma?
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Lymphoma is a cancer of the tissue of the lymphatic system where there is a large number of abnormal white blood cells called lymphocytes causing swelling of lymph nodes or involvement of the other organs.
This can disrupt the immune-system cells and reduce a person's ability to resist infections and diseases. The lymph nodes become swollen forming painless lumps or tumours.
Although lymphomas usually begin in a lymph node, it also can originate in the stomach, intestines, skin or any other organ that contains lymphoid tissue.
Lymph nodes are found anywhere in the body, particularly in the neck, armpits, groin, above the heart and around the big blood vessels inside the abdomen.

Who are at risk of getting Lymphomas?
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1.Men are at a higher risk of getting lymphomas.
The disease is uncommon among younger men.
It often develops after the age of 50.

2. past history of severe viral infections which lowers your immune system eg. HIV virus

3.history of organ transplants and on immuno suppressive drugs

4.history of cancer and previous treatment with chemtherapy or radiation therapy

5. frequent exposure to chemicals, solvents,pesticides

6.family history of lymphoma

What are the types of Lymphoma?
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There are two main types of lymphoma.
They are:
Hodgkin's Disease
Hodgkin's disease is characterised by the presence of a specific type of abnormal cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell. This cancer can spread throughout the lymphatic system, affecting any organ or lymph tissue in the body.
Hodgkin's disease usually attack people in their late 20s or older than 50.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Most lymph cancers are non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
There are many types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas develops in the age group of 60 - 70.
Different types of lymphoma occur in different age groups.

1.Adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is classified by the size, shape and arrangement of the cancer cells in the lymph node. The appearance will determine the type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The degree or seriousness of the disease is broken into three types (grades) -
1.low-grade (slower-growing),

2.intermediate grade and

3.high-grade (aggressive).

These grades are crucial in determining the treatment options to treat the cancer.

2.Childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphomas include lymphoblastic lymphoma, large cell lymphoma and small non-cleaved cell lymphoma (including Burkitt's and non-Burkitt's lymphomas).

What are the Symptoms of Lymphoma?
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The most common symptom associated with lymphoma is
1.lymph node swelling. A painless swelling initially surfaces in the early stages of the cancer. This swelling may persist or increase in size. The most common affected areas would be the neck, armpits or groin.
Other symptoms are:

2.unexplained constant fever,

3.sudden weight loss,

4. itchy skin or rashes,

5. night sweats and

6. abdominal pain

What are the causes of Lymphomas?
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There is no known cause for lymphomas.
However, it has been closely linked to several factors -
1) environmental influences, Environmental influences may take the form of extreme exposure to certain chemicals like herbicides and insecticides.

2) genetic factors
There are inherited immune-deficiency disorders from birth such as Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome which have been blamed for the cause of genetic factors that result in lymphomas.

3) viral infections. Viral infections such as the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been associated with lymphomas.

What is the Treatment of Lymphoma?
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Hodgkin's Disease can only be treated with radiation therapy using high-energy X-rays to kill lymphoma cells in the affected area. This procedure may also be combined with chemotherapy.

Treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, can vary.
The treatment is based on the degree of grade of the disease.
1.Early stage and low-grade (slow-growing) lymphoma can be treated with radiation therapy and sometimes just simple observation is enough.

2. intermediate-grade lymphoma may be treated with chemotherapy.
The drugs are either injected directly into the bloodstream or swallowed as pills.
Each course of treatment is given at regulated intervals to kill cancer cells and allow the body to recover. The drugs circulate throughout the body and will reach cancer cells even when they are widespread.

Patients who are suffering from the more advanced stages and high-grade (aggressive) lymphomas will require a higher dosage of chemotherapy.
However, the high dosage has its own side effects.
Too much of it may kill healthy bone marrow that produces white and red blood cells and platelets (cells that prevent bleeding). Therefore, to assist patients tolerate the high dosage of chemotherapy treatment, stem cells or bone marrow from the patient or donor are collected beforehand. After a patient has received the chemotherapy, the stem cells or bone marrow are returned to the patient through a drip in a vein.

In addition to the above treatment methods, another option for treating lymphomas would be biological therapy. This procedure uses products such as immunoglobulin that boost the body's own immune system to fight cancer.
This therapy may be used alone or combined with chemotherapy.

In conclusion, the type of treatment sought or used depends very much on the stage, and grade of the lymphoma when diagnosed and the age and health of the patient.
Most doctors will advise their patients on the various treatment options that are the most beneficial and appropriate whilst considering the factors mentioned above.

What are the Prevention measures for Lymphomas?
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1.Where exposure to some toxins and chemicals which are known to cause lymphomas are possible, one should be properly attired and guarded from these chemicals, so as to decrease the risk of developing the disease.

2.Since HIV / AIDS carriers are also related to lymphomas, one should be aware of the importance of safe sex and should stay away from drugs, as far as possible.

3.regular visits to the family doctor helps in detecting any sign or symptom that may eventually lead to the cancer.

4.healthy lifestyle and proper balanced diet are always important in the prevention of any cancer.