No other virus can be more harmful and deadly for the human civilization like the HIV virus. For last 15 years it has become a permanent threat and will remain so, as there is no single person who could have been cured from this infection. Physical contact of bodily fluids like blood, saliva, semen and even tears, helps the virus to get transmitted from one to another. Till today, no proper treatment procedure has been discovered for the infected persons; however there are certain antibiotics which can reduce the growth rate of the virus inside the body.
The transmission of HIV virus is done not only through sexual intimacies, but also there are other ways like using unsterilized needles for intravenous medicines or by contacting any open injury of an AIDS infected person etc. Although, there is no chance of contracting this virus by touching the skin, as the virus does not have the power to penetrate. Normally, this virus does not affect the insects or the pet animals. During the time of child birth, the child could get infected with the virus, in case the mother has the infection. However, HIV virus always requires a host to prove the effectiveness.
Basically, the immunity system gets badly damaged for the AIDS infected person, as the virus attacks the most important part of the system, which is T lymphocytes. Incubating in macrophages cells, the virus moves to other part of the body, affecting the lymphatic cells and neurological system. As a result, the person becomes pretty much susceptible to any kind of infection, including pneumonia, tuberculosis and a particular type of cancer known as Kaposi's Sarcoma. In severe cases, the virus can cause damage to the brain and nervous system. Once the symptoms are developed to a person, he has maximum of 5 years to live.
A HIV infected person can enjoy good health for even 20 long years, until the symptoms come up. However, in most of the cases the symptoms become effective within a couple of years and these are sudden loss of weight, fever, tiredness, skin infections, fungal infection in mouth or thrush, infection due to weak immunity system and finally swollen lymphatic nodes. There is no external symptom for identifying an AIDS patient, but the virus can get transmitted to another body during this period.
The existence of the HIV virus was first noticed in 1979, at Central Africa, when a group of male homosexuals were diagnosed the specific symptoms. But, after 1989, a large number of heterosexual people were also started to get the HIV infection. People started to be aware of this infection, when renowned celebrities such as Perry Ellis, Robert Mapplethorpe, Rock Hudson, Tony Richardson and Michael Bennett; could not live longer for being infected with HIV. The famous basketball player, Magic Johnson has also been diagnosed with AIDS. Today, more than 65,000 people are infected with this only in U.S. and the number is increasing day by day.
Till today, no effective method of treatment has been discovered by the scientists. Usually the viruses are destroyed by the antibodies, produced by the body. But these antibodies are not at all effective for destroying the HIV virus. Even it takes around 2 weeks to 3 months time, to know accurately whether a person is infected or not. AZT or azidothymidine has been introduced in 1987 to slow down the growing rate of HIV virus, but many patients could not tolerate the high doses of this medicine. In later days, the medicine dideoxyinosine or DDI has proved to be effective in same way for delicate patients. Another useful chemical zalcitbine or DDC was discovered in 1992, which can take care of the growth rate of HIV for acute cases, when used with AZT.
AIDS can be counted as deadly as the most-harmful viruses such as Hanta Virus, Ebola, and Dingae from Puerto Rico, which can create an epidemic. Probably, it is the natural way to control the increasing rate of population. As a conclusion, I can say that it is a terrible disease with which we have to fight till the last moment of our life.
