Question

What is AIDS? Which microbe is responsible for AIDS infection? State one mode of transmission of the disease? Explain in brief one measure for the prevention of AIDS.

Answer 1

Hint: AIDS is a viral infection in which the person does not notice any symptom but the virus interferes with the immune system and causes death. It is diagnosed by serological tests. If the HIV infected is not treated properly then he will develop AIDS in 10 years.

Complete Answer:
- AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. It is a chronic and life threatening disease caused by a retrovirus called HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV interferes with the body’s ability to fight against disease and thus damages the immune system.

Mode of transmission: HIV is a sexually transmitted infection. It can transmit through body fluids like semen. It can also spread by the infected blood. It can transmit from an infected mother to the baby or by breastfeeding.

Symptom of the disease- The HIV infected remains asymptomatic for prolonged time. As the virus affects the immune system, the person infected can get frequent infections from bacteria or viruses. They can easily acquire cancer or other types of autoimmune diseases.

Measure of prevention- The HIV spread can be prevented by the methods like safe sex (use of physical contraception like condom), use of single use needles. The transmission from mother to child can be prevented by use of antiretroviral drugs.

Note: The treatment for HIV is initiated as soon as the disease is diagnosed. Some bodily fluids like sweat, saliva and tears do not transmit viruses. There is no vaccine for AIDS. The treatment includes several antiretroviral drugs.