Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Aids called as “slim disease” is a fatal viral disease caused by retrovirus. The main target of this virus is a type of lymphocytes called CD4 cells and other cells attacked are monocyte-macrophage cells, microglial cells of nervous system and reticulum cells in lymph nodes.
Symptoms
Major symptoms
1) Weight loss( 10% of body weight)
2) Chronic diarrhea for longer then 1 month
3) Prolonged fever for longer than 1 month
Minor symptoms
1) Persistent cough for longer than 1 month
2) General dermatitis(itching skin)
3) Recurrent herpes zoster
4) Ulcerating infections of the mouth, genitals or anus
5) Lung infection from pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
6) Generalized Kaposi sarcoma which affects skin and blood vessels
Modes of transmission
1) Sexual transmission
2) Blood contact
3) Mother to fetus
AIDS diagnosis
1) ELISA test( not conclusive test)
2) Western blot test