SOME MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT THE KILLER DISEASE
      AIDS which means Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome , was first discovered or appeared in 1981, was considered to be the disease of Homosexual/Bisexual men and Intra venous Drug abusers . Only later did it became evident that AIDS could also strike women and children. As it is known that AIDS is definitely fatal for the infected people and the cases of AIDS are increasing alarmingly all over the world everyday. AIDS which is caused by the Retrovirus HIV infection is a latest challenge to the medical profession , and like all other systems of medicine Homoeopathy is also trying hard to have a breakthrough for its treatment and cure.
     AIDS can more aptly be described as After Infection Death Sure. It now seems that HIV has infected 51million persons and by the end of the century will become the greatest lethal epidemic in the history of the civilized world. This dreaded viral infection of the 21st century has taken the world by storm because if one gets it only once in a life time and his or her fate for death is sealed, the only difference is that the death is not instantaneous or within days , but it is a long painful process where the pain to be endured is not physical ,but mental, social, and psychological.
     What are the facts and myths about AIDS? Its better to KNOW AIDS to have No AIDS specially on 1st December which is marked as International AIDS Day.
In order to avoid getting infected by the Virus, the list of Don’ts is very small, but still there have been few isolated cases where AIDS has been carelessly passed on from one person to the other. AIDS, like common cold is a viral infection caused by the tiny microscopic viruses labeled as “HIV” (Human Immuno Virus). Unfortunately the AIDS virus has managed to outsmart human beings in the struggle for survival. AIDS is characterized by a defect of the natural Immune system in the body fighting against diseases. Persons afflicted by the disease are vulnerable to serious illnesses which would not be a threat to anyone whose immune system was functioning normally .These illnesses are referred to as "Opportunistic Infections" or diseases.
     Whenever our body is threatened by an infection, the body combats the infection by specific proteins - called Antibodies, which attach themselves to bacteria, fungi or virus and destroys them by what is termed as An Immuno Chemical Reaction. The AIDS virus , however, can not survive outside the human body, it survives in the blood. Thus the spread of this virus is greatly restricted. It does not survive in saliva, which was once suspected to pass on AIDS. This explodes the myth that kissing can also cause AIDS. Interestingly saliva contains certain enzymes which inhibit the virus threatening its very existence. According to Dr. I.S. Gilada of the Health Organization ,"even if one is to drink 15 buckets of saliva of a person infected with AIDS, there would be just a 1% chance of contracting the virus".
No cases have been yet found out where the virus has been transmitted by casual house- hold contact with AIDS patients. Infants with Aids or HIV infection have not transmitted the infection to family members. Although the virus has been found in the saliva and tears of the patients, there have been no cases in which exposure to either was shown to result in transmission. Neither has there been evidence for transmission via water, air, food, inanimate objects or insect bite. CDC ( canters for disease control), Atlanta in USA has confirmed after conducting the studies. If HIV could be transmitted by insects, we would see additional cases in persons who share environments with the infected persons. Fortunately this has not been the case.
     Most individuals infected with HIV have no symptoms and feel well. The incubation period seem to range from 6 months to 7 years and possibly longer, while the interval between the exposure to the HIV and the blood test i.e. ( Elisa Test) positivity for HIV antibodies is from 6 weeks to 6 months. Not everyone exposed to the virus develop AIDS .The symptoms occur as per the stages.
STAGE - I : This occurs 2 - 3 weeks after exposure to virus, the symptoms are a Low Grade Fever, Fatigue and a mild Rash on the Face. These signs may go unnoticed by both the patient and the doctor.
STAGE - II : This stage starts between 6 weeks and 6 months after the infection and may last for a period ranging between 8 months and 5 - 7 years. There are no visible signs except the Low Grade Fever and some Thrush on the Tongue accompanied by Weight Loss and constant Diarrhoea. This is the stage with a maximum chance of passing on the infection.
STAGE - III : During this stage an Enlargement of the Lymph Nodes all over the body is noticed including the Neck, Armpits and Groin.
STAGE - IV : This stage has 4 sections. (a) Constitutional disease; Symptoms like Fever, Cough, Night Sweats, Diarrhoea and Weight Loss are noticed. (b) Neurological disease : Involvement of the brain giving rise to Headaches, Meningitis and a general stage of Confusion. (c) Secondary Infections : These are untreatable infections often caused by organisms which are otherwise harmless to the human body e.g. uncontrolled Diarrhoea, generalized Tuberculosis, continuous Fever, Herpes Zoster which is characterized by painful Blisters along the nerve tracts and also Meningitis. (d) Secondary Cancer : This stage is often called Fully Blown up cases of AIDS as Kaposis’s Sarcoma where the signs are : Loss of more than 10% of Bodyweight, Continuous Fever for a month, Herpes Simplex, Herpes Zoster, Swollen Lymph Glands, Persistent Cough signs of Peripheral Nerve Damage. However today even on slightest suspicion of patients having AIDS the doctor can carry out on the spot Test called ‘Particle Agglutination Test’ (PAT), which can be done through a kit kept in the clinic and the results can be known in an hours time .
It is important to clear certain misconceptions and myths about the AIDS. It is not a very easy disease to come by. AIDS is spread by Sexual contact with the infected person(s), Needle sharing ( as in intra venous drug addicts) , less commonly through the Transfusion of Blood or its components .The risk of infection with the virus is increased by having multiple sexual partners ( homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual ) and sharing the needles by those abusing drugs. It may be transmitted from infected mothers to infants before , during or shortly after birth as prenatal transmission.
     The risk of contracting the AIDS at the place of work, school, swimming pools, public transports, toilet seats, or at home is apparently non - existent. It is not transmitted by hand shaking, dry kissing, hugging etc. In virtually all cases direct and intimate sexual contact or sharing of needles or the transfusion of infected blood or it's products, which are not checked for HIV antibodies is the only mode of transmission of AIDS. Though AIDS may not treatable or curable as on date but, "AIDS Is Very Much Preventable " since 60 -70% it is transmitted through sexual contacts and around 20% through contaminated needle in drug addicts and very low percentage is through infected blood transfusion.
The measures to prevent the spread of HIV infections :-
(i) One can avoid the infection through sexual contact if one abstains from sex or has mutually monogamous marriage or relationship with an uninfected partner. So one has a choice between the abstinence or monogamy.
(ii) Avoid sexual relations with the people known or suspected of having AIDS or with the persons who are positive for HIV antibodies and the persons having high risk behavior ( like female prostitutes, hijras , dug addicts). However if one can not avoid this ,then one should follow the advice of "Safer Sex" guidelines. Use Condoms, which can reduce the possibility of transmitting the virus upto 85%.
(iii) One should avoid practices which injure body tissues as in the cases of Homosexuals and in Anal intercourse.
(iv) One should avoid Oral sex or oral genital sexual contact.
(v) Avoid - open mouthed intimate (French) kissing.
(vi) Do not abuse drugs especially Intra venous for that matter oral or smoke also. If must one use, then, never share the needles.
(vii) Avoid sharing toothbrushes, razors, or other personal hygiene things contaminated with blood of AIDS patients or persons with high risk behavior.
     The persons with high risk for getting HIV infection in India comprise Female prostitutes, Hijras, Male homosexuals with multiple partners ( though lesbians have minimum chance of transmitting the infection to one another), Drug abusers, Persons received multiple blood transfusion such as the patients of Haemophilia, Thalcaemia, Aplastic Anaemia , patients of STDs (Sexually transmitted diseases e.g. Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chancre) etc. Venereal diseases or persons involved with unsafe sex or sex with strangers.
     In nut shell it can be prevented by educating people to adopt the proper life style in sexual matters and bringing awareness about the consequences of this Pandemic disease AIDS. Proper sex education, awareness of drug abuse and avoiding the unnecessary blood transfusion ( permitting only tested blood for HIV ), educating about safe sex to the prostitutes. It is an uphill task to achieve this goal of awareness and education followed by implementation.
     So far there is no definite treatment or cure for AIDS , no vaccine has been found out. Still in Homoeopathy as per the CCRH ( Central Council Of Research In Homoeopathy) patients with HIV positive has been believed to become Sero Negative after the persistent homoeopathic treatment. As such in homoeopathy treatment is given after the thorough case taking which includes Mental, Emotional, Social and Physical aspects of the patient's life. On the basis of such detailed history the constitutional remedy is found out in each case which may be separate though physically they might give the same set of symptoms. And interestingly homoeopathic remedies are able to bring about a change in the mental outlook of the patient. Simultaneously minor changes in one’s eating habits can lead to major changes in one’s health. Patients having AIDS should eat plenty of Whole Grains, Fruits & vegetables, Nuts & oily Fish, Meat, liver & eggs, Pasturised dairy products. They should cut down on Tea, Coffee & Colas, Alcohol. Should also avoid Undercoocked and unwashed foods, Raw or lightly cooked eggs, Unpasturised dairy products. Many people who are HIV positive or have AIDS turn to a regime of MACEOBIOTIC foods. However, such diets may do more harm than good as they tend to be bulky and promote weight loss because they contain too few calories. And finally to prevent the AIDS , spread of a Social Behavioral Change is a must . AIDS is an upcoming Challange for medical fraternity, all systems of medicine are doing lots of work to combat this disasterous malady.