AIDS and pulmonologists

Vijayan, V K (1989) AIDS and pulmonologists. Lung India, 7 (2). pp. 85-88. ISSN Print: 0970-2113; Online: 0974-598X

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Abstract

Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), first described in the United States in 1981, is caused by a retrovirus, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (1,2). Most cases are due to the virus HIV-1, though other immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-2) can also cause AIDS (3). The HIV can spread through sexual activity (man to woman, woman to man and man to man), through blood by receiving blood transfusions or blood products infected with HIV, by using blood contaminated needles or other skin piercing equipment and from infected mother to child during pregnancy, at birth or shortly after birth (4). A person infected with HIV may not have symptoms for years and yet can spread the virus to others (5). The infection with virus is life long and it can weaken the body’s natural defense mechanisms resulting in life threatening infections and some cancers (e.g. Kaposi’s sarcoma) (6). There is no effective treatment against AIDS at present and a vaccine to protect against the virus is not currently available. However, controlled trials had shown that Zudovidine (azidothymidine, AZT) given in a dosage of 250 mg by mouth every four hours for a total of 24 weeks had some beneficial effect in the treatment, though serious adverse reactions particularly bone marrow suppression had been observed (7,8).

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Tuberculosis > Clinical Research
Divisions:	Clinical Research
Depositing User:	Dr. Rathinasabapati R
Date Deposited:	29 Aug 2013 10:40
Last Modified:	14 Mar 2016 10:17
URI:	http://eprints.nirt.res.in/id/eprint/267

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