It’s been two decades since the first case of AIDS was reported in India. However fear and ignorance, stigma and discrimination are still widely prevalent in the country, especially in the rural parts. Misconception and ignorance of people towards those with the dreaded disease is affecting people’s willingness to heed prevention messages, come forward for HIV testing, or seeking treatment, and are root causes of denial.

What is HIV?
HIV stands for "Human Immunodeficiency Virus" - the virus that causes AIDS. It is only a blood test that can reveal whether you are infected with the virus or not. Remember that this virus can stay dormant for quite sometime even after it is contracted.

What is AIDS?
AIDS is the acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a result of the HIV virus. It is not a disease but a weakness in the body that results in the body being unable to fight off illnesses. The immune system of a person with AIDS is weakened to such a point that medical intervention is necessary to prevent or treat the deterioration in the body and the entire system.

CAUSES:
There are many ways by which you can contact the AIDS virus. Here are some common ways:

Unprotected sex: This is the most common reason for contracting the AIDS virus. If your partner is infected with this virus then it can enter your system too through the lining of the vagina, vulva, penis, rectum or mouth during sex. However, kissing or hugging will not result in AIDS.

Through the blood: The second most common way is through blood. AIDS can be contracted through blood transfusions where the blood or its components are contaminated. Even today there are many hospitals that do not follow the safety standards outlined for donating blood and the end result is that infected blood may get passed on to someone else.

Sharing needles: When a person uses the same needle that has been used by a HIV infected person then the virus is transferred through the needle. This is commonly seen in drug users who use needles to inject drugs. Use of disposable needles is a viable alternative to prevent the spread of the disease.

Mother to child: An infected pregnant mother can give the virus to her baby. The chances of the baby getting infected when in the womb or during the birth are high if the mother is infected. It can also spread through the breast milk of a nursing mother.

Myths about AIDS
HIV infection cannot be transmitted by everyday human contact, such as by shaking hands, by coughs or by sneezes. There is no risk to your health from working or living with an HIV infected person. Activities like hugging, kissing, and touching are all considered to be safe (although intimate kissing where there is an exchange of saliva may pose some degree of risk).

While there is a speculation that biting insects such as mosquitoes may spread HIV, in fact, this is really not the case: Either the virus is unable to survive in mosquitoes and other blood-drinking insects, or the amount of blood the insect transfers from one individual to the next is too small to pass an infection.

In some ways, HIV is a fragile virus and generally does not survive well outside the human body. This fragility explains why, unlike many widespread hardy viruses such as those that cause the common cold, HIV does not rapidly infect a large number of persons.

Symptoms:
Here are a few common symptoms, which may show up when a person gets infected. However, having any of them in isolation does not mean that you have an AIDS or HIV infection. One needs to get a special blood test done to check out the presence of the HIV virus.

• Rapid weight loss and vision loss.
• Severe headaches, nausea and vomiting.
• Abdominal cramps.
• Painful conjunctivitis (pink eye).
• Ear infections.
• Dry cough.
• Recurring fever, pneumonia or profuse night sweating.
• Profound and unexplained fatigue.
• Swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck.
• Diarrhoea that lasts for more than a week.
• Red, brown, pink, white or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, under    the tongue, in the throat or eyelids.
• Memory loss, depression, lack of coordination and other neurological disorders.
• Shortness of breath.
• Seizures.

Prevention:

• Since prevention has always been better than cure the best thing is to follow the following    guidelines.
• Never have unprotected sex. Always use condoms.
• Never share needles. Always use disposable syringes.
• When in need of blood transfusions check that the blood has been tested for HIV and AIDS.
• Refrain from having more than one sexual partner.
• Don't use drugs, alcohol and other intoxicants before sex as it leads to carelessness.

Finally, remember that AIDS is a deadly disease but with a little bit of care and foresight you can avoid it. Living with AIDS is no more about living in fear and accepting defeat. It is about living life anew with deeper respect for mankind. Yes, anybody can get AIDS, bit it can be prevented/controlled by just being cautious and changing attitudes.

SHUN THE DISEASE; NOT THE DISEASED