# Presentation: 000984

## Introduction to HIV/AIDS

- M O D U L E   1

## Module 1: Objectives

- Describe the global and local impact of the epidemic.
- Answer basic questions about HIV/AIDS in women, children, and families.
- Discuss the natural history of HIV infection.
- Present information about HIV transmission.

## 
Session 1

Scope of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic

**Session 1**
**Scope of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic**

- Introduction to HIV/AIDS

## Scope of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic

## Scope of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic

- Global HIV/AIDS in 2003
- 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS.
- 2.5 million are children under 15 years.
- 14,000 new infections each day

## Impact of Global HIV

- Negative economic impact on countries
- Overwhelmed healthcare systems
- Decreasing life expectancy
- Deteriorating child survival rates
- Increasing numbers of orphans

## National Epidemiology

- Insert national HIV/AIDS information.

## National Epidemiology

- Insert national HIV/AIDS information on
- antenatal seroprevalence rates, MTCT.

## National Epidemiology

- Insert national information on
- paediatric AIDS.

## HIV and AIDS

| Human Immunodeficiency Virus |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | H | = | Human |
|  | I | = | Immunodeficiency |
|  | V | = | Virus |

## HIV and AIDS

| Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A | = | Acquired, not inherited |
| I | = | Weakens the Immune system |
| D | = | Deficiency of certain white blood cells in the immune system |
| S | = | Syndrome, a group of symptoms or illnesses as a result of HIV infection |

## HIV and AIDS

- When the immune system becomes weakened by HIV, the illness progresses to AIDS.
- Some blood tests, symptoms or infections     indicate progression of HIV to AIDS.

## HIV-1 and HIV-2

**Transmitted through the same routes**
**Associated with similar opportunistic infections**
- HIV-1 is more common worldwide.
- HIV-2 is found primarily in West Africa, Mozambique and Angola.

## HIV-1 and HIV-2

**Differences between HIV-1 and HIV-2**
- HIV-2 is less easily transmitted.
- HIV-2 develops more slowly.
- MTCT is relatively rare with HIV-2.

## Introduction to HIV/AIDS

**Session 2**
**Natural History and Transmission of HIV**

## Natural History of HIV Infection

## Natural History of HIV Infection

- HIV can be transmitted during **each** stage
**Seroconversion**
- Infection with HIV, antibodies develop
**Asymptomatic**
- No signs of HIV, immune system controls virus production
**Symptomatic**
- Physical signs of HIV infection, some immune suppression
**AIDS**
- Opportunistic infections, end-stage disease

## Natural History of HIV Infection

- Severity of illness is determined by amount of virus in the body (increasing viral load)  and the degree of immune suppression (decreasing CD4 counts).
- Higher the viral load, the sooner immune suppression occurs.

## Natural History of HIV Infection

**Immune suppression**
- HIV attacks white blood cells, called CD4 cells, that protect body from illness.
- Over time, the body’s ability to fight common infections is lost.
- Opportunistic infections occur.

## Natural History of HIV Infection

**Direct infection of organ systems**
- Brain (HIV dementia)
- Gut (wasting)
- Heart (cardiomyopathy)

## HIV-Related Opportunistic Infections

## Progression of HIV Infection

- HIGH **viral load **(number of copies of HIV in the blood)
- LOW* ***CD4 count **(type of white blood cell)
- Increasing clinical symptoms (such as opportunistic infections)

## Natural History of HIV InfectionSummary

- HIV multiplies inside the CD4 cells, destroying them.
- As CD4 cell count decreases and viral load increases, the immune defences are weakened.
- People infected with HIV become vulnerable to opportunistic infections.
- HIV is a chronic viral infection with no known cure.
- Without ARV treatment, HIV progresses to symptomatic disease and AIDS.

## Transmission of HIV

- HIV is transmitted by
- Direct contact with infected blood
- Sexual contact: oral, anal or vaginal
- Direct contact with semen or vaginal andcervical secretions
- Mothers infected with HIV to infants duringpregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding

##  Coughing, sneezing
 Insect bites
 Touching, hugging
 Water, food
 Kissing

-  Insect bites
-  Touching, hugging
-  Water, food
-  Kissing

- Transmission of HIV

- HIV **cannot be** transmitted by:

-  Public baths
-  Handshakes
-  Work or school contact
-  Using telephones
-  Sharing cups, glasses, plates, or other utensils

## Prevention of HIV Transmission

- Public health strategies to prevent HIV transmission
- Screen all blood and blood products.
- Follow universal precautions.
- Educate in safer sex practises.
- Identify and treat STIs.
- Provide referral for treatment of drug dependence.
- Apply the comprehensive PMTCT approach to prevent perinatal transmission of HIV.

## Module 1: Key Points

- HIV is a global pandemic.
- The number of people living with HIV worldwide continues to increase.
- The HIV epidemic is especially severe in many resource-constrained countries.
- HIV is a virus that destroys the immune system, leading to opportunistic infections.
- The progression from initial infection with HIV to end-stage AIDS varies from person to person and can take more than 15 years.

## Module 1: Key Points 

- The most common route of HIV transmission worldwide is heterosexual transmission.
- Women of childbearing age are at particular risk for acquiring HIV. The main behaviour that places them at risk is unprotected sex with an infected male partner.
- Pregnant women who are HIV-infected are at risk of passing HIV infection to their newborn.
- Risk of HIV transmission from mother-to-child can be greatly reduced through effective PMTCT programmes.