Infectious disease:
hiv/aids
By Amalina, Amirul & Basirah
1.
INTRODUCTION OF HIV/AIDS
Features of HIV/AIDS
WHAT IS HIV / AIDS ?

HIV stands for HUMAN
IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS.

AIDS stands for ACQUIRED IMMUNE
DEFICIENCY SYNDROME.

HIV is a retrovirus, which means that its
genetic material is RNA, not DNA.

Once inside a host cell, the viral RNA is
converted ‘back’ to DNA to be
incorporated into human chromosomes.
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The replication of RNA virus
occurs in the lymphocytes

The virus infects and destroys “Helper T” cell
of the body’s immune system so that their
numbers gradually decrease.

When the numbers of these cells are low, the
body is unable to defend itself against
infection, so allowing a range of pathogens to
cause a variety of opportunistic infections.

AIDS is a collection of these opportunistic
diseases associated with immunodeficiency
caused by HIV infection.
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Characteristics of HIV/AIDS

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is
grouped to the genus Lentivirus within the
family of Retroviridae, subfamily
Orthoretrovirinae . On the basis of genetic
characteristics and differences in the viral
antigens, HIV is classified into the types 1 and
2 (HIV-1, HIV-2).

The HIV genome consists of two identical
single-stranded RNA molecules that are
enclosed within the core of the virus particle
2.
TransMISSion OF HIV
Source?

HIV is spread when an infected fluid from an
HIV infected person passes to another
individual’s bloodstream and come into
contact with a mucus membrane/damaged
tissues .
* The virus is found in great concentrations in
blood, Cerebrospinal fluid and semen.
*Lower concentrations have been found in
tears, saliva and urine.

Unprotected or unsafe sexual intercourse.

Intravenous drug users share needles.

Blood transfusion with infected blood

HIV transmission from mother to child during
pregnancy or breast feeding.
*Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a
clear fluid found in the brain
and spinal cord. It protects the
Central Nervous System by
bathes the brain and spine in
nutrients and eliminates waste
products ( as well as coating
them to prevent injury in the
event of trauma)*
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3.
Hiv/aids prevention
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Some ways how to prevent or reduce HIV/AIDS?

Spread awareness through campaign or
education ( presentations/ talks)

Condoms, femidoms and dental dams are the
only effective methods of reducing risk of
infections during intercourse.

Contact tracing is an important part of
controlling the spread of HIV.

Injecting drug users are advised to stop their
habit, stop sharing needles or take their drug
in some other way.

HIV Prevention: Factors
BIOLOGICAL
• HIV is difficult to
treat because it
hides within
lymphocytes
• Harder for anti-HIV
drugs to target the
virus
• When active, the
virus quickly
replicates and
spreads
• Mutation is very
quick, hence it is
difficult to be
treated
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SOCIAL
ECONOMIC
• Unsafe sexual
intercourse increases
risk of HIV
transmission.
• Migration: they may
develop sexual
networks while away
and return with HIV
• Higher HIV rates in
impoverished regions
• Access to HIV
education and
treatment is limited
• For women with low
paid jobs/dependent
upon male family
members for income,
sex may be used in
exchange for
necessities
• Increases risk of
contracting HIV
4.
Hiv/aids treatment
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Some ways how to treat HIV/AIDS?
Drug therapy can slow down the onset of AIDS.
( However the drugs are expensive and have side effects)

-Zidovudine, a type of drugs used to stop the
replication of viral genetic material and leads to
an increase in some of the body’s lymphocytes.
-Protease inhibitors inactivate HIV protease,
another protein that HIV needs to make copies of itself.

HIV is most commonly diagnosed by testing your blood or
saliva for antibodies to the virus. Unfortunately, it takes
time for your body to develop these antibodies — usually
up to 12 weeks.

Anti Retroviral Therapy are medication that treat HIV. It
prevents the growth of the virus
There’s no cure for HIV/AIDS
yet but there are only ways
that can slow down the
activity of replication of HIV
virus.
5.
Global patterns of
distribution and
importance of hiv/virus
Some Factors that influence global patterns of
distribution of HIV/AIDS?
Promiscuity
- It’s now the leading cause of spread of HIV in developing
regions. Many people are having more than one sexual
partner , and also prostitution is common in the regions.
- It’s practiced by both young adults and married couple ,
studies show that more than 60% of new infections are
occurring in married couple.

 Ignorance
- Most people living in these regions are fully aware of the
disease, but they continue to get involved in practices that
fuel its transmission. This is ignorance, and it is adversely
driving the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the whole world, not just
the developing countries
- It’s practiced by both young adults and married couple ,
studies show that more than 60% of new infections are
occurring in married couple.
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The worst hit regions include
Sub-Saharan Africa, Caribbean,
and South-East Asia. The
countries with the highest HIV
prevalence rates and the
largest number of HIV-positive
people in these regions include
South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya,
Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania,
Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana,
Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique,
Ghana, Bahamas, Belize,
Jamaica, Haiti, India, Thailand,
Nepal, Myanmar, Indonesia, and
Malaysia.
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Poverty
- The developing world has a large population of people living
in poverty. Most poor people are forced to do anything to
earn a living, including engaging in sexual activities which are
a high-risk factor for the disease.

 Drugs and alcohols use
- Drug and alcohol use is quite common among the youth in
the developing regions. According to studies, there have
been consistent new HIV infections resulting from sharing of
injectors among the drug users in these regions
- There are also other ways in which alcoholism and drug use
affects the spread of the disease in these countries.
*For example, the alcohol users find themselves not being
able to make wise decisions when getting involved in sexual
activities. On the other hand, people who are addicted to
drugs are turning to careless sexual behaviors to relieve the
pain and stress caused by the addiction.*
The worst hit regions include
Sub-Saharan Africa, Caribbean,
and South-East Asia. The
countries with the highest HIV
prevalence rates and the
largest number of HIV-positive
people in these regions include
South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya,
Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania,
Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana,
Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique,
Ghana, Bahamas, Belize,
Jamaica, Haiti, India, Thailand,
Nepal, Myanmar, Indonesia, and
Malaysia.
Figure 10.9 shows the global distribution of
HIV/AIDS.
The statistics below show how serious the
pandemic is in
sub-Saharan Africa.
■■ 70% of the world’s deaths from AIDS occur in
Africa.
■■ 25% of the adult population of Botswana is
infected
with HIV.
■■ Between 15% and 25% of people aged 15–49 in
Botswana and Zimbabwe are infected with HIV.
■■ Over 16 million children are estimated to have
lost one
or both parents to AIDS; in some places this is 25%
of
the population under 15.
■■ A large proportion of women in Rwanda are HIV
positive following the use of rape as a genocidal
weapon in the civil war of the early 1990s.
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Importance of getting rid and knowing HIV/AIDS?

To educate people by creating awareness on the
consequences of HIV/AIDS.

To lessen the use of drugs and alcohol that
somehow can lead to HIV.

To make people realise that prostitution is a
leading cause of HIV/AIDS

Increased awareness of safe practices to prevent
HIV infection results in people being more
careful and ultimately decreases infection rates.

To reduce the infections to other people . (HIV
test)
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