Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
Certified that this is a Bonafide Project work done by R. Tharun
Krishna. Reg.no _______________of Std XII-A in Maharishi Vidya
Mandir, Mangadu during the Academic year 2024-2025

TEACHER IN CHARGE:

PRINCIPAL EXTERNAL EXAMINER\

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the people who
have been instrumental in the successful completion of this project.
I wish to express my deep gratitude and sincere thanks to our
principal, Mrs. Deepa Shriram, for her tremendous support and
encouragement that she provided for this project work. Then, I
would like to extend my greatest thanks to Mrs. Krithika who guided
me in the successful completion of this project. I take this
opportunity to express my gratitude for her proper guidance,
encouragement and motivation towards the successful completion
of this project. I cannot forget to offer my sincere thanks to my
parents and family members who helped me to carry out the project
work successfully. Finally, I would like to remember and thank every
individual who helped me to complete my project report
successfully.
 INDEX

• INTRODUCTION
• WHAT IS HIV?
• DIFFERENCE B/W HIV AND AIDS
• TRANSMISSION
• EFFECT OF HIV
• SYMPTOMS
• PREVENTION OF AIDS
• RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN HIV TREATMENT
• WORLD AIDS DAY
• CONCLUSION
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
 INTRODUCTION

What is AIDS?
The term AIDS refers to Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome caused by the HIV virus. AIDS is a condition in
which the person’s Immune system weakens to an extent
where it is unable to fight any infection. AIDS is commonly
considered to be the last stage of HIV infection; the body
completely loses its defense system, and this further
causes illness. Loss of immunity causes organ failure and
ultimately death. HIV is a type of retrovirus. Its genetic
material is RNA and is called the human immuno
deficiency virus. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening
condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV). AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.
HIV attacks and destroys the infection-fighting CD4 cells
(CD4 T lymphocyte) of the immune system. The loss of
CD4 cells makes it difficult for the body to fight off
infections, illnesses, and certain cancers.
 WHAT IS HIV??

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that targets and

weakens the human immune system, specifically attacking CD4
cells (T cells), which play a crucial role in maintaining the body's
ability to fight infections and diseases. If left untreated, HIV can
lead to the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS), the most severe phase of HIV infection. HIV is a retrovirus,
meaning it uses RNA as its genetic material. HIV is a significant
global health issue, affecting millions of people worldwide.
Understanding the virus, its transmission, and effective treatment
options is crucial in combating the epidemic. Continued research,
education, and public health initiatives are essential to control and
eventually eradicate HIV/AIDS.

DIFFERENCE B/W AIDS AND HIV.

The difference between HIV and AIDS is that HIV is a virus

that weakens your immune system. AIDS is a condition
that can happen because of an HIV infection when your
immune system is severely weakened.

You can’t get AIDS if you aren’t infected with HIV. Thanks to
treatment that slows down the effects of the virus, not
everyone with HIV progresses to AIDS. But without
treatment, almost all people living with HIV will advance to
AIDS.

HIV VERSUS AIDS

 TRANSMISSION

How HIV is Transmitted

HIV is primarily spread through contact with certain body fluids from a person
who has HIV. These fluids include:

1. Blood
2. Semen (cum)
3. Pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum)
4. Rectal fluids
5. Vaginal fluids
6. Breast milk

For transmission to occur, these fluids must come in contact with a mucous
membrane or damaged tissue, or be directly injected into the bloodstream
(from a needle or syringe) for HIV transmission to be possible.

Major Routes of Transmission

1. Sexual Contact

• Unprotected Sexual Intercourse: The most common way HIV is

transmitted is through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an
infected person. Anal sex carries a higher risk compared to vaginal sex
due to the fragility of the rectal tissues.
• Condom Use: Proper and consistent use of condoms significantly
reduces the risk of HIV transmission.

2. Sharing Needles and Syringes

• Injection Drug Use: Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment

used to prepare drugs for injection can transmit HIV. The virus can
survive in used needles and syringes for up to 42 days, depending on
temperature and other factors.
 • Needle-stick Injuries: Healthcare workers may be at risk through
accidental needle-stick injuries, though this is relatively rare.

3. Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT)

• During Pregnancy, Labor, or Delivery: An HIV-positive mother can

transmit the virus to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or delivery.
• Breastfeeding: HIV can also be transmitted through breast milk. The
risk is significantly reduced if the mother receives appropriate
antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

4. Blood Transfusions and Organ Transplants

• Contaminated Blood Products: In regions where blood is not properly

screened, receiving contaminated blood transfusions can transmit HIV.
This is now rare in countries with rigorous screening protocols.
• Organ or Tissue Transplants: Transplants from HIV-positive donors to
HIV-negative recipients can transmit the virus if the donor's infection
status is unknown.
 EFFECT OF HIV

Untreated HIV / AIDS can cause a great deal of weight loss.

Diarrhea, weakness and fever often happen with the weight
loss. Brain and nervous system, called neurological,
complications. HIV can cause neurological symptoms such as
confusion, forgetfulness, depression, anxiety and difficulty
walking

SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of HIV and AIDS vary depending on the person
and the stage of infection. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS,
or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. When a person is
infected with HIV, the virus attacks and weakens the
immune system.

In the first few weeks after infection, some people may not experience
symptoms, while others may have a flu-like illness that lasts a few days to
several weeks. Symptoms of this primary infection, also called acute HIV, can
include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches and joint pain
• Rash
• Sore throat and painful mouth sores
• Swollen lymph glands, mainly on the neck
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
 • Cough
• Night sweats

These symptoms can be so mild that you might not notice them. After this
initial illness, HIV may not cause any symptoms for several years. As the
infection progresses, it can cause other signs and symptoms, such as:
Persistent fever, Fatigue, and Tuberculosis (TB).

There is no cure for HIV, but it can be treated with medicines called
antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART can make HIV infection a manageable
chronic condition and reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others. Most
people with HIV live long and healthy lives if they get ART as soon as possible
and stay on it.
 PREVENTION OF AIDS
• Protect yourself during sex: To reduce your risk of getting HIV, use
condoms correctly every time you have sex.
• Protect yourself if you inject drugs: Do not inject drugs. If you do, use only
sterile injection equipment and water, and never share your equipment with
others.
• Protect yourself by taking PrEP: If you do not have HIV but are at risk of
getting HIV, talk to your health care provider about pre-exposure prophylaxis
(PrEP). PrEP involves taking a specific HIV medicine every day or an injectable
HIV medicine every two months to reduce the risk of getting HIV through sex
or injection drug use.
• Protect others if you have HIV: Take HIV medicine (called antiretroviral
therapy or ART) as prescribed by your doctor. ART can reduce the amount of
HIV in the blood (called viral load) to the point where a test cannot detect it
(called an undetectable viral load). If you have an undetectable viral load, you
will not transmit HIV to your partner through sex.
• Prevent perinatal transmission: If you have HIV and take HIV medicine as
prescribed by your doctor throughout pregnancy and childbirth, the chances
of transmitting HIV to your baby are less than 1%. If you have a partner with
HIV and are considering getting pregnant, talk to your doctor about PrEP to
help protect you and your baby from getting HIV while you try to get
pregnant, during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding.
 RECENT DEVELOPMENT IN HIV TREATMENT

Recent developments in HIV treatment include:

Injectable ARVs
Long acting injectables that can be administered every two to six months can
treat HIV just as well as other medications. Lenacapavir (Sunlenca), approved
by the FDA in late 2022, is the first injectable HIV medication in a new class of
drugs called capsid inhibitors. It prevents the virus from multiplying by
blocking its protein shell, called the capsid. Lenacapavir is given as an oral
tablet and subcutaneous injection to start, followed by maintenance
injections every six months. It's only approved for people whose HIV has
become resistant to other drugs and could reduce doctor visits to twice a
year.
Fixed-dose combinations
Pharmaceutical companies can combine powerful drugs into fixed-dose
combinations to reduce the number of pills a patient needs to take. This can
help with adherence and limit the development of drug resistance.
Blocking HIV enzymes
Studies funded by the National Institutes of Health found that blocking an
enzyme involved in forming HIV particles can stop the virus from becoming
infectious. This suggests a new target for treating HIV infection.
Once-weekly oral regimens
A study at CROI 2024 found that a once-weekly oral regimen of lenacapavir
and islatravir (an NRTTI) can suppress HIV as effectively as daily pills
 WORLD AIDS DAY

Every year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day.

People around the world unite to show support for people living with and
affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS

• World AIDS Day was first observed in 1988 and ever since it is celebrated every
year. The day is observed to create awareness among people against the spread
of HIV infection and it gives an opportunity to unite in the fight against HIV to
show their support for the ones living with HIV.
• The day is used to remember those who have died due to HIV-related illnesses.
World AIDS Day is one of the 11 official Global Public Health campaigns of the World
Health Organization (WHO).
• The theme of World AIDS Day 2021 was “End inequalities. End AIDS “. The
significance of the theme is that it specially focuses on reaching people who are
left behind. With the theme WHO and its partners underscored the growing
inequalities in access to essential HIV services.

History of World AIDS Day

• This day was conceived by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, in 1987, two
officers who worked for the World Health Organization in the Global Programme
on AIDS.
• They proposed this idea of observing World AIDS Day to the director of the Global
Programme on AIDS, Jonathan Mann, who recommended the commencement of
World AIDS Day on 1 December, 1988.
• Later in 1996 the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS , abbreviated to UNAIDS,
came into existence.
 CONCLUSION
World AIDS Day plays a critical role in the global effort to end the HIV/AIDS
epidemic by promoting awareness, education, solidarity, and action. It serves as a
reminder of the importance of continued investment in prevention, treatment, and
support services to achieve the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by
2030, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United
Nations.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.byjus
2.Vedantu
3.hivinfo.nih.gov
4.WWW.Healthline.com
5.WWW.aidsmap.com