This virus can only be transmitted from one human being that is infected with the HIV (Human Immune Virus) to another human being. It is not possible to transmit this virus to an animal or to be infected by a mosquito.
The Immune System protects our BODY against all diseases and illnesses.
The HI-virus attacks the immune system and eventually destroys the system to the extent that it can no longer protect the body from any illness or disease.
There are numerous types of viruses eg.: measles, polio and mumps.
A virus is a small organism that invades the body and causes harm to the body. Viruses can only reproduce themselves by using the genetic material of the cells of a host, which in this case, are the cells of the human being.
The HI-virus enters the body and destroys the immune system.
hiv is a virus that break down destroy the immune system within human beings.
You are HIV positive - If the HI-virus has entered and is detected in your body.
Over a period of time the HI-virus or the HIV-infection will develop through several phases to the point where the Immune System is severely depleted and the body is no longer in a position to attack any disease or illness.
This phase is referred to as the AIDS phase.
You need to do something deliberately to obtain the virus into your body.
It is not genetic like Downs Syndrome
It is not inherited like the colour of your eyes and
It is not caught like the flu virus
The HI-Virus enters the body from outside the body and causes AIDS.
The body has three defense systems:
The primary defense system is the skin. Viruses generally enter through body openings such as the mouth, eyes, ears and nose and through cuts on the skin.
The secondary defense system consists of the body fluids for example: earwax or tears to wash away the germs; the acids in our stomach protect us from the germs that go into our digestive system.
The tertiary defense system consists of the CD4 Cells or the White blood cells that neutralize and eliminate viruses and form Antibodies.
D DEFICIENCY
To be broken or damaged to the point that your immune system can no longer defend the body against illness and diseases.
A syndrome is a collection of diseases illnesses infections. Due to the deficiency of the immune system the body is no longer protected. Infections that are related to this virus attack the body and these opportunistic infections eventually cause death.
AIDS is therefore a collection of opportunistic infections in the body as a result of a weakened immune system caused by the HI-virus.
The HI-virus gradually disables the body’s immune system. The infected person becomes increasingly vulnerable to almost any infection.
These opportunistic infections mainly occur in the skin, the lungs, the digestive system, the nervous system and the brain.
2.The statistics
2.1 How big is the problem?
Worldwide Statistics indicate that:
More than 58 million people are living with HIV-AIDS in the world
8,8% of adults in Africa are infected with HIV
South Africa:
The MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL REPORT of October 2001 made the following prediction based on the statistics for the year 2000:
In 2000:
4-5 million people in SA were HIV positive (+)
1 600 new infections every day (one every minute)
Sectors most at risk:
MALE (20 to 40 years)
FEMALE (15 to 35 years)
By 2010:
HIV-AIDS will account for 66% of all deaths in SA
Mortality age group MALE (30 to 39 years)
Mortality age group FEMALES (25 to 29 years)
AIDS will cut down on the life expectancy of employees/clientsThe high mortality rate will impact on families and they will lose the breadwinner and his/her income
The UNAIDS (United Nations Aids department) predicted in their last report in May 2001 that between 27 and 30 million people may not know that they are HIV (+)
UNAIDS estimated that:
42 million adults and children would be living with HIV/AIDS as at the end of 2002. A staggering 29.4 million of this 42 million live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Estimated 3 million adult and child deaths from HIV/AIDS during 2002
Estimated 5 million newly infected adults and children during 2002 of which 3.5 million would be in Sub-Saharan Africa.
3.
HIV/AIDS will impact on an individual with regards to the following aspects:
· Physical
· Emotional/Spiritual
· Relationships
· Social
· Occupation
· Finances
· Death
4. THE TRANSMISSION OF HIV
4.1. CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR INFECTION
To become infected with the HI-virus three conditions are necessary:
A) QUANTITY:
The HI-virus is predominantly active in body fluids. The first requirement is that there should be enough quantity of the HI-virus to cause an infection.
The only body fluids that can contain enough HI-virus to cause transmission are:
· Blood (highest concentration)
· Semen
· Vaginal secretion fluid and
· Breast milk (due to the high amount of antibodies)
Body fluids such as saliva, tears, urine, sweat and mucus do not contain a sufficient quantity of the HI-virus to cause transmission.
The virus needs a point of exit from an infected person and a point of entry into another person.
There needs to be enough time for the above-mentioned conditions to take place. Currently nobody is sure what these time frames are.
Based on these three conditions we know that a person will not become infected via:
· Coughing and sneezing
· Handshaking, hugging and touching an infected person
· Sharing the same food, cutlery, toilet seat or shower
· Swimming pool
· Pets or insects (eg. mosquitoes or ticks)
· Living or working together with a person that is HIV positive
Based on these three conditions we know that there are…….
4.2 Four activities that could lead to the transmission of the HI-virus:
· Unprotected sexual intercourse:
· Infected blood and blood products
· Intravenous drug abuse
· From an infected mother to her baby
4.2.1 TransmIssion through sexual intercourse:
The HI-virus can be transmitted sexually through unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse and there is a possible risk of oral sexual intercourse under certain conditions.
During sexual intercourse a large quantity of the HI-virus is exchanged via the semen and the vaginal secretion fluid.
During intercourse there is always rubbing and bruising of the sexual organs and this causes small cuts and abrasion on the skin and mucous membrane of the vagina as well as the penis. There is also an exit point of the infected person and an entry point into the non-infected.
These points of entry allow the HI-virus in the semen/vaginal fluid to pass into the blood stream and to cause HIV infection.
The risk of becoming infected increases (with almost 80%) if one of the partners has a Sexual Transmitted Infections (STI). STI’s are often associated with sores and ulcers on the genital parts that therefore allow the HIV direct access into the blood stream.
The risk of infection could also increase with anal sex or dry sex as more injuries and open wounds may occur.
For the above-mentioned reasons both mals and females are at risk of becoming infected with the HI-Virus during sexual intercourse.
WOMEN are more at risk to become infected and their risk of infection may be two-to-four times higher than that of men.
The reasons for this higher infection risk is based upon the following:
Women receive semen and they are exposed to the semen for much longer than men would be exposed to the vaginal fluids;
The quantity of the HI-virus is also higher in semen than in the vaginal fluid;
Just before, during and just after menstruation the inner uterine lining becomes larger and the area is extremely raw. This increases the risk of infection more comparedto having unprotected sex during the rest of the menstrual cycle. (It should be noted that men increase their risk of becoming infected if they have sex with HIV (+) women that are menstruating because they are also exposed to their infected blood.
Young girls are also more at risk due to the under development of their sexual organs and the injuries and bruising that may occur with first –time sexual intercourse.
The hormonal changes during menopause also add to the risk of women in this age group.
The violence that often accompanies a rape incident also increases the risk of infection.
The role of women in society contribute to their risk of becoming infected especially in the communities were women have little or no status, low self-esteem, no decision making power or are often forced to engage in prostitution.
Risky sex practised under the influence of any drug, including alcohol, or due to drug related prostitution (particularly considering the age of the person), carries a high risk of HIV infection.
Wear a condom (make sure you know how to use it correctly)
Do not allow any blood, sexual secretions, urine or faeces to enter any body opening
Know the sexual history of your partner
Do not have sex with many partners
Practice safer sex
4.2.2 Transmission through infected blood and blood products
Transmission of infected blood or blood products could take place when a person:
A) Receives HIV-contaminated blood via a blood transfusion:
All donated blood is being screened for HIV as well as for Hepatitis B and Syphilis.
Blood products such as factor VIII (used for Hemophiliacs) are heated to 60 degrees Celsius and this heating process destroys the virus. This is however not possible for all blood transfusions, as this may kill the required blood cells.
Although blood is currently safer than it was in the past, the “window period” still creates an infection risk of 0-5%.
Possible risk reduction could include:
Donation of own blood or that of a reliable and compatible friend or family before an operation and
Only receive blood when your life depends on it.
B) An injury with blood-contaminated razors, blades, knives or instruments:
Ear piercing, tattoo or barber equipment that is not sterilized could cause transmission of the HI-virus.
Young boys are also at risk during cultural circumcisions if the instruments are not sterilized during utilization in between each individual being circumcised.
A person may also be at risk of transmittion of the virus, when s/he assists an injured person, who is HIV (+), at an accident scene and comes into contact with the infected person’s blood.
PREVENTION CONTINUE (RISK REDUCTION:
Do not share razors, blades or any instrument that could tear the skin
When working with blood products always use plastic gloves
If blood spills, wash it away thoroughly and then apply a bleach solution to the area
Make sure that any items that are blood stained are disposed of properly
Do not touch anyone else’s blood, use gloves when assisting an injured person
Keep all wounds and open sores covered
4.2.3. TRANSMISSION THROUGH INTRAVENOUS DRUG ABUSE
People who share syringes and needles to inject drugs run a very high risk of being infected with HIV.
HIV is easily transmitted when needles are shared because drug users usually inject the drugs directly into a vein. In order to ensure that the needle has struck a vein, drug users first draw blood into the syringe before they inject the drug. A drop or two of the blood always remains in the needle and or the syringe and it is this blood that is injected directly into the bloodstream of the next user.
Because this virus is highly concentrated in blood, these tiny blood transfusions of HIV infected blood between drug users using the same infected needle constitute a very high risk of passing on the virus.
South Africa itself is increasingly becoming a destination and transit point for drug trafficking and so one may expect that intravenously injected drugs will sooner rather than later become a very serious problem in this country especially among our young teenagers.
4.2.4. TRANSMISSION From an infected mother to her Baby
More than 90% of all infected children that are HIV (+) is due to the transmission between the mother and child. This can happen during pregnancy, labour and birth or breast feeding.
RISK REDUCTION:
The risk of transmission may be reduced if AZT can be provided to the pregnant mother in their pregnancy between week 20 and week 34 and to the baby from birth onwards for the next six weeks. The risk could drop with 51 to 61%;
Another effective treatment programme is to provide Nevirapine to the mother as soon as the labour process start and to the baby within 72 hours after birth;
A caesarean section could be used as an alternative to a normal birth if the resources are available. If not, the birth channel could be disinfected before labour starts;
Formula milk could replace breast milk if the mother has access to clean water and if she could afford formula milk.
5. THE RISK OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS
The prevention and control of Sexual Transmitted Infections (also referred to or known as Sexual Transmitted Diseases or STD) play an important role in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) are spread whilst having sexual intercourse. STI’s increase the risk of becoming HIV due to the open sores/ulcers on the genitals and often the individual’s sexual behaviour is an additional risk factor.
STI’s could be classified in THREE types
BACTERIAL VIRAL BUGS
Treatable Permanent Treatable
Gonorrhea Skin infection Scabies
Syphilis Pubic lice Chancroid
The prevention and control of STD’s plays an important role in the prevention and control of HIV. Sexual Transmitted Infections (STI’s) are spread whilst having sex. Thus STI diagnosis and treatment become part of a comprehensive workplace HIV/AIDS prevention programme.
WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU HAVE A STI?
· · Seek medical attention as soon as possible
· · Complete the medication and correct dosage despite the disappearance of symptoms
· · The sexual partner should also be examined and provided with medication
· · Return to clinic/ doctor for follow-up
· · Also consider counselling through EWP
6. THE RISK OF TUBERCULOSIS (TB)
TB is a disease caused by an infection of slow-growing bacteria. If the person has a healthy immune system, the bacteria may remain dormant for years, but once the immune system is weakened the disease can become activated.
In SA we know that HIV increases the risk of becoming infected with TB due to the following reasons:
A weakened immune system greatly increases the risk of getting TB.
TB is the most serious and common opportunistic infection that could attack HIV (+) people. 50% of all HIV (+) people are co-infected with TB
TB is the most common cause of death, because TB bacteria are re-activated by the failing immune system and 35% of all AIDS patients eventually die from TB
The development of TB will shorten the time period for developing full blown AIDS.
Being HIV (+) and suffering from TB increases the side-effects of medication and decreases the success of the treatment
7.RISK REDUCTION / PREVENTION OF HIV TRANSMISSION
7.1 means of reducing the risk of HIV transmission
Although we cannot cure HIV/AIDS we could reduce our risk of becoming infected ourselves:
Condoms are one of the most effective means of protection currently available in the fight against the HIV infection.
The correct use of a condom provides a barrier to the transmission of HIV (and other microbes that cause diseases) reducing the sexual transmission of HIV.
Important points to remember regarding condom use:
· Condom usage has increased from 50 – 75% since the onset of the AIDS pandemic.
Use latex SABS approved condoms (SABS condoms are 17cm compared to other condoms that are 11 cm)
Do not expose condoms to sun/heat or leave them in your car.
Do not put condoms in a wallet/purse where they can be damaged
Use water-based lubricants like KY jelly, saliva (oil based lubricants like Vaseline or baby oil cause the condom to break)
Check the expiry date on each condom
Learn to put the condom on correctly and timeously.
When latex condoms are used consistently and correctly, they can greatly reduce a person's risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV.
Although condoms are not 100% safe, they are a safer sex practice.
The femodone (female condom is now available at chemists). This condom can be inserted long before intercourse and it protects both the vagina and the penis during menstruation
7.2 means of preventing HIV transmission
The only prevention of HIV/AIDS lies in abstinence from sexual intercourse, or mutual faithfulness to a life partner, and pretection against contact with blood from infected person in whatever form, eg. from injuries, shared injection needles, or the possibility of infection through blood transfusions.
Risk reduction is based on the ABCD principle
Although there is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS, by adopting a positive healthy lifestyle and by using the appropriate medication the progression of HIV/AIDS can be delayed. Review the risk reduction suggestions in the above document.
Information on how HIV medications we take to fight it and how street drugs interact in our body is in short supply. “Why?” Well pharmaceutical companies are not likely to do research for a number of reasons. Money is always first; it isn’t seen as an issue that affects a large amount of people. Second and the most difficult obstacle, is finding consistent supplies of “pure” street drugs to use in testing. (And is this realistic information when purity and measured doses don’t happen in the real drug world?)
Here is a brief summary of the information that was available:
ALCOHOL: Occasional and light use of alcohol is not known to interact with most HIV medications. However, chronic or heavy drinking can be destructive to the liver. Mixing Videx (ddl) with alcohol can increase the risk of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Alcohol increases Ziagen (abacavir) levels in the blood, this isn’t helpful because it doesn’t fight HIV any better and will likely increase side effects.
COCAINE: There are no studies to know about coke’s interaction with antiretrovirals but it is believed unlikely that cocaine would interact with them. However, there is no method of using coke that is a party for your immune system. In one test-tube study, cocaine made HIV reproduce 20 times faster than it would normally. Which can mean you could get sick faster and anti-HIV medications may stop working.
ECTASY (MDMA): Some HIV drugs may cause a three to tenfold increase of MDMA in the blood, so it is possible to overdose on MDMA and die.
HEROIN: Heroin is metabolized more quickly when taken with HIV drugs. It doesn’t mix well with any other drugs, which makes your chances of becoming unconscious, vomiting and choking greater
LSD: There are no known interactions with acid, but it’s never been studied
METHAMPHETAMINES/SPEED: Anti-HIV medications have the potential to raise the level of these drugs in you blood 2-3 times higher, especially when taken with ritonavir (Norvir). So, start small and remember, “a little dab will do ya.”
MARIJUANA & MARINOL: Protease inhibitors may increase THV levels (the active ingredient in marijuana), but since THC overdose is impossible, this interaction is not as dangerous.
METHADONE: This is one substance that we do have some study data on. Some HIV medication blood levels are increased by methadone. However, many more medications decrease the affect of methadone. Because of this it is really important to have an HIV specialist who also understands methadone treatment. It’s also really important for you to talk with your provider about how both treatments are working for you.
I’ve been asked “is it harmful to party, drink, smoke, use or get high when you’re HIV+?” My response is, “is it harmful to party, drink, smoke, use or get high if you’re not HIV+?” Medical science shows that all of the above may be harmful in otherwise completely healthy people. The risk varies with how often or how much you use, an your drug tolerance, race, heredity, gender, emotional state, weight and how recently you have eaten. Risk increases when you add any other health problem, like HIV and the medications that go along with being positive. Is the risk worth it? BABES and STEP do not have an opinion on what is right or wrong. We simply encourage you to make an informed choice. Only you can decide what’s best in your life.
1 Abstain from sexual intercourse
2 Be Faithful to your partner
3 Condomise
4 Disease control
email: childdrugfight@yahoo.com
