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1. ASSIGNMENT: ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME
(AIDS) 1
Topic: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Subject: Health Psychology
Icon College Jaranwala
Submitted to: Miss Hira Mushtaq
Submitted by: Abrar Ahmad
M.sc Psychology Scholar
Dated : 03-06-2021

2. ASSIGNMENT: ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME
(AIDS) 2
Introduction and Definition:
AIDS STANDS FOR Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is a serious condition that
weakens the body's immune system, leaving it unable to fight off illness. AIDS is the last stage
in a progression of diseases resulting from a viral infection known as the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV or AIDS virus). HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus
that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS. The diseases
include a number of unusual and severe infections, cancers and debilitating illnesses, resulting in
severe weight loss or wasting away, and diseases affecting the brain and central nervous system.
People with AIDS have such badly damaged immune systems that they get an increasing number
of severe illnesses, called opportunistic infections.
There is no cure for HIV infection or AIDS nor is there a vaccine to prevent HIV infection.
However, new medications not only can slow the progression of the infection, but can also
markedly suppress the virus, thereby restoring the body’s immune function and permitting many
HIV-infected individuals to lead a normal, disease-free life.
Where did HIV it from?
HIV infection in humans came from a type of chimpanzee in Central Africa. The chimpanzee
version of the virus (called simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV) was probably passed to
humans when humans hunted these chimpanzees for meat and came in contact with their infected
blood. Studies show that HIV may have jumped from chimpanzees to humans as far back as the
late 1800s. Over decades, HIV slowly spread across Africa and later into other parts of the
world.

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Causes of AIDS:
HIV can transmit when body fluids containing the virus come into contact with a permeable
barrier in the body or small breaks in moist tissues of areas such as the genitals.
AIDS/HIV is transmitted via three main routes:
The most common mode of transmission is the transfer of body secretions through sexual
contact. This is accomplished through exposure of mucous membranes of the rectum, vagina or
mouth to blood, semen or vaginal secretions containing the HIV virus.
Blood or blood products can transmit the virus, most often through the sharing of contaminated
syringes and needles.
HIV can be spread during pregnancy from mother to fetus.
You cannot get AIDS/HIV from touching someone or sharing items, such as cups or pencils, or
through coughing and sneezing. Additionally, HIV is not spread through routine contact in
restaurants, the workplace or school. However, sharing a razor does pose a small risk in that
blood from a minor nick can be transmitted from one person to another.

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 Symptoms of AIDS:
Some people with HIV have no symptoms for months or even years after contracting the
virus. Partly because of this, 1 in 7 people with HIV in the U.S. do not know that they
have it. While a person with no symptoms may be unlikely to seek care, there is still a
high risk of transmission.
Like any other viral illness, these symptoms resolve over a period of five to 10 days.
Then for a period of several years (sometimes as long as several decades), people
infected with HIV are asymptomatic (no symptoms). However, their immune system is
gradually being destroyed by the virus. When this destruction has progressed to a critical
point, symptoms of AIDS appear. These symptoms are as follows:
Extreme fatigue
 Rapid weight loss from an unknown cause
 Appearance of swollen or tender glands in the neck, armpits or groin, for no apparent
reason, lasting for more than four weeks
 Unexplained shortness of breath, frequently accompanied by a dry cough, not due to
allergies or smoking
 Persistent diarrhea
 Intermittent high fever or soaking night sweats of unknown origin
 A marked change in an illness pattern, either in frequency, severity, or length of sickness
 Appearance of one or more purple spots on the surface of the skin, inside the mouth, anus
or nasal passages
 Whitish coating on the tongue, throat or vagina
 Forgetfulness, confusion and other signs of mental deterioration

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It can take as short as a year to as long as 10 to 15 years to go from being infected with HIV to
"full-blown" AIDS.
Progression to AIDS:
The chances of HIV progressing to AIDS vary widely from person to person and depend on
many factors, including the:
 Person’s age
 Body’s ability to defend against HIV
 Accessibility of quality healthcare
 Presence of other infections
 Person’s genetic resistance to certain strains of HIV
 Strain of HIV, as some are drug resistant
HIV/AIDS cases–Pakistan
Pakistan is one of the countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region where new HIV
infections are increasing at an alarming level since 1987. The current HIV epidemic in Pakistan
is defined as a concentrated epidemic. Although the overall prevalence is still less than 1% in the
adult population, the latest estimate (2017) of people living with HIV (PLHIV) was 150, 0002. In
2018, 21,000 new PLHIV cases were recorded.
DiagnosisofAIDS
Screening for HIV infection is most commonly done by testing blood for HIV antibodies. A newer test,
the Orasure test, involves collecting secretions between the cheek and gum and evaluating them for HIV
antibodies. Orasure is essentially as accurate as a blood test, and, because it doesn't involve a needle
stick, it is favored by many individuals
Finally, a new urine test available for screening, although if the test is positive, blood tests need to be
performed for confirmation of the presence of HIV.

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Treatment of AIDS/HIV:
Currently, there's no cure for HIV/AIDS. Once you have the infection, your body can't get rid of
it. However, there are many medications that can control HIV and prevent complications. These
medications are called antiretroviral therapy (ART). Everyone diagnosed with HIV should be
started on ART, regardless of their stage of infection or complications.
Psychosocial counseling and support:
Psychosocial counselling, including support of behaviour change and treatment adherence, is an
essential component of HIV prevention, care and treatment. Unfortunately, psychosocial
counseling has not always been consistently implemented as a prevention measure, particularly
as countries have focused on scaling up access to life-saving antiretroviral treatment. Because
HIV is a highly stigmatized and life-long, chronic disease, those who are infected often have to
deal with anger, fear and self-stigmatization. Their partners, children, and family frequently face
grief, bewilderment and high levels of stress. These psychosocial issues must be addressed for
prevention, care and support to succeed.
Relatives, friends, traditional healers and those of religious faith are sources of strength and
social support to many people. But more formal psychological support may also be needed as
psychological needs vary. people living with HIV. Recent experience of scaling up ART in low
income countries has also highlighted the value of family counseling in helping relatives to
understand the implications of a family member needing life-long HIV treatment, and how to
support this person.

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REFERENCES:
ABC of HIV and AIDS 6th Edition by Michael W. Adler.
https://www.who/hiv-aids
https://www.who.int/hiv-cases-pakistan/en/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html