Children can also be infected with HIV\/AIDS<\/p>\n
By Donya Betancourt<\/p>\n
SANUR, Bali (JP): Right now there is an army of health
\nprofessionals at war, trying to save more lives from the most
\ndeadly disease man has ever known, AIDS, the acquired
\nimmunodeficiency syndrome.<\/p>\n
It has been 20 years since the first AIDS case was first
\ndescribed and diagnosed in the United States. Over the last 20
\nyears, AIDS has become a global epidemic. In that time, 22
\nmillion people died worldwide.<\/p>\n
According to data from the Joint United Nations Program on
\nAIDS (UNAIDS), 4.3 million children died because of the syndrome,
\nand there are now 36 million adults and children living with the
\nvirus.<\/p>\n
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that in the year
\n2000 alone, 5.3 million people were newly infected with the human
\nimmunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, and over three
\nmillion died from the deadly virus. Of the 3 million, 500,000 of
\nthem were children.<\/p>\n
The real numbers are believed to be much higher because
\ncertain governments refuse to participate in a serious AIDS
\ntracking and treatment program. Consequently, millions of
\nAIDS related deaths and infections of HIV go unreported
\nworldwide.<\/p>\n
What is HIV or AIDS?<\/p>\n
AIDS is a chronic, life threatening condition caused by HIV.
\nHIV enters your body and then damages or slowly destroys the
\ncells of your immune system. HIV interferes with your body's
\nability to fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause
\ndisease. This makes you more susceptible to opportunistic
\ninfections your body would normally resist.
\nA person has an HIV infection if he tests positive in a HIV-
\nantibody test and a person has AIDS if he has latter stages of
\nHIV infection plus its symptoms (at least one of the
\nopportunistic infections), such as pneumocystis carinii
\npneumonia, CMV retinitis, toxoplasma encephalitis, herpes zoster
\nor tumors such as Kaposi's sarcoma -- rare diseases in a healthy
\nimmune person.<\/p>\n
Both the terms HIV and AIDS refer to the same disease.<\/p>\n
One factor in the AIDS epidemic is the symptoms often do not
\nappear for up to 12 years after the initial infection. HIV was
\ninitially believed to be dormant during the early phases. But
\nactually, HIV replicates itself rapidly during all phases of
\ninfection.<\/p>\n
What does HIV do to the human body?<\/p>\n
The normal function of white blood cells is to destroy germs
\nthat enter your body, which is coordinated by a type of white
\nblood cell known as CD4 lymphocytes.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, HIV destroys CD4 cells because HIV uses CD4 as
\na target to enter the cells and then use the cell's genetic
\nmachinery for self-replication. In the end, the number of CD4
\ncells you have progressively decreases, and you develop severe
\nimmune deficiency. This means your body is no longer able to
\neffectively fight off viruses and bacteria that cause disease.<\/p>\n
What are the signs and symptoms?<\/p>\n
The symptoms of HIV and AIDS vary, depending on the phase of
\ninfection.<\/p>\n
Early phase: HIV infection begins by it multiplying in lymph
\nnodes and slowly destroying helper T cells. You may have no
\nsymptoms at all or may develop a flu-like illness within two to
\nsix weeks after being infected. The illness usually includes
\nsymptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph
\nnodes and a rash, and can be mistaken for other conditions. You
\nmay not realize that you have been infected with HIV.<\/p>\n
Middle phase: It may take up to eight to nine years before HIV
\ncauses mild infections or chronic symptoms such as low-grade
\nfever, weight loss, diarrhea and swollen lymph nodes. During this
\ntime, HIV is continuing to multiply and destroy immune cells.
\nThis stage is called symptomatic HIV infection, previously known
\nas AIDS-related complex (ARC).<\/p>\n
Late phase: Occurs about 10 or 11 years after the initial
\ninfection. Immunity is severely damaged by the loss of helper T
\ncells and the body is susceptible to various opportunistic
\ninfections or tumors.<\/p>\n
More serious symptoms may begin to appear. The symptoms
\ninclude chronic diarrhea, weight loss, shaking night sweats,
\npersistent and unexplained fatigue, high fever for several weeks,
\npersistent headache or opportunistic infections. People with AIDS
\nare also at great risk of developing cancers, especially Kaposi's
\nsarcoma and lymphoma.<\/p>\n
HIV positive children often fail to gain weight or grow
\nnormally, develop severe diarrhea, chronic thrush, and severe
\npneumonia with liver, spleen and lymph nodes enlargement. As the
\ndisease progresses, they may have delayed mental and physical
\ndevelopment. Children are susceptible to the same opportunistic
\ninfections as adults and may have severe forms of common
\nchildhood illnesses such as ear infections (otitis media),
\npneumonia and tonsillitis.<\/p>\n
How is HIV spread?<\/p>\n
Transmission of HIV primarily occurs by three routes. Sexual
\ntransmission include anal or vaginal intercourse, or oral-genital
\nsex without a condom with an HIV-positive partner. If you already
\nhave another sexually transmitted disease, you're at a much
\ngreater risk of contracting HIV.<\/p>\n
Men can infect women more easily than women can infect men
\nbecause of their organ structure. Women's organs are concentrated
\ninside the body so women should always insist on the use of
\ncondom.<\/p>\n
Parenteral transmission include blood transfusion, sharing
\ncontaminated needles or accidental prick of a needle used by
\nsomeone with HIV.<\/p>\n
The risk of acquiring HIV from blood transfusions, due to
\nspecialized blood screening, is extremely small. In mother-to-
\ninfant transmission, about a quarter to one-third of all
\nuntreated pregnant women with HIV will pass the infection to
\ntheir babies.<\/p>\n
Studies show that administering zidovudine (AZT) during
\npregnancy reduces the chances of transmitting HIV to the baby by
\n50 percent to 70 percent. If AZT is combined with a caesarean
\nsection, infection rates may be reduced to less than 2 percent.<\/p>\n
How is HIV diagnosed?<\/p>\n
HIV is usually detected by a screening test (ELISA), which
\nchecks the blood for the presence of an antibody that fights HIV.
\nA positive result on the screening test is confirmed by another
\ntest called Western Blot. Early detection of HIV infection allows
\na greater chance to have appropriate treatment, thereby
\npreserving the immune system and preventing opportunistic
\ninfections. It also should alert the person to avoid risky
\nbehavior and possibly spreading the disease.<\/p>\n
HIV tests can be administered at most hospitals, clinics or
\ndoctors' offices.<\/p>\n
When consulting with patients who are infected with sexually
\ntransmitted diseases (STDs), at times I am reminded of an ostrich
\nwith its head stuck in the sand. I am amazed at the number of
\npeople I interviewed who believed they were immune to the
\nHIV\/AIDS virus because of their nationality, religion or
\nspiritual beliefs.<\/p>\n
There is no medical or scientific evidence that the HIV\/AIDS
\nhas the ability to discriminate whom it will infect. There is no
\nknown cure for the HIV\/AIDS virus. The global outbreak of the
\nHIV\/AIDS virus is a concern to everyone, and everyone should
\nbehave responsibly and not put himself or others at risk.
\nPrevention is once again the best medicine.<\/p>\n
If you are sexually active, always use a condom and wash
\nyourself immediately afterward. If you are taking drugs, use a
\nclean needle and enter a rehabilitation center to help you quit
\nyour addiction. If you are already infected and pregnant, by all
\nmeans, consult your health professional throughout your pregnancy
\nand do everything required to prevent your baby from contracting
\nthe disease. This includes avoiding breastfeeding after birth.<\/p>\n
I believe in the case of HIV\/AIDS, it is true to say we need
\nto think globally and act locally.<\/p>\n
Next week I will discuss how to treat and prevent AIDS in
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
The writer is a pediatrician based in Sanur, Bali. Questions?
\nContact her at drdonya@hotmail.com or
\nfeatures@thejakartapost.com.<\/p>",
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