Aids and Your Essay Example

disease rapidly spread among gay males in this country at a faster rate than other populations, earning it the nickname "gay disease." Furthermore, intravenous drug users who shared needles were also quickly identified as being affected. This is because the main way the disease is transmitted is through contact with infected blood or semen. As the AIDS epidemic started affecting larger portions of these two groups (gay males and IV drug abusers), many people in society felt superior due to their dislike for both groups. However, it should be acknowledged that AIDS can also be transmitted through heterosexual intercourse.

Aside from being transmitted through blood transfusions, the disease can also be transmitted from infected mothers to their infants during pregnancy. Gradually, individuals from various backgrounds began to acquire the disease, including a recently deceased member of congress. Eventually, even the national news media began to raise awareness about AIDS and emphasize that it can impact anyone. Fundamental medical research started yielding information and support, resulting in the identification and separation of the distinctive virus accountable for AIDS.

The virus, known as "Retro Viruses," was considered rare due to its utilization of RNA instead of DNA for its genetic material. It employed RNA to produce viral DNA within infected human cells, a process exclusive to RNA viruses and absent in DNA viruses and other organisms. Through research advancements, it became feasible to examine donated blood for virus-specific antibodies, significantly reducing the likelihood of AIDS transmission via blood transfusions. This breakthrough had substantial implications in the field.

The safety measures in our blood bank have improved, allowing us to detect exposure to the AIDS virus through a simple blood test.

There are three main types of AIDS infection: AIDS disease, ARC, and asymptomatic seropositive condition. AIDS disease occurs when the virus severely weakens the immune system. This can be identified by certain types of pneumonia (such as Pneumocystis) or uncommon cancers (like Kaposi's Sarcoma).

This disease is terminal. It frequently leads to death after extensive and agonizing hospital treatment lasting several weeks or months. The disease can be transmitted through sexual contact or exposure of an uninfected person's blood or semen to that of an infected person. Additionally, there is a condition known as ARC (Aids Related Complex).

In this scenario, an individual is infected with the AIDS virus and their immune system is weakened but not severely enough to develop fatal cancers or pneumonias associated with AIDS. Symptoms may include frequent colds and swollen lymph nodes, among others. This condition can persist for several years. Those with ARC are likely able to transmit the infection to others. Unfortunately, it is believed that all individuals with ARC will eventually progress to full-blown AIDS. However, many individuals show no apparent signs of illness but test positive for exposure to the virus in their blood serum.

People who are "asymptomatic but seropositive" may or may not have enough virus to be contagious, depending on the presence of antibodies in their blood. Unfortunately, current research suggests that almost all individuals with positive antibody tests will eventually develop AIDS. However, there is a glimmer of hope as it could take 15 years or more for the disease to manifest after testing positive for antibodies. Therefore, millions of people who currently test positive for AIDS antibodies essentially face a death sentence, which may

not be carried out for many cases for one or two decades. Nevertheless, medical research offers potential to commute or even reverse this sentence.

It is important to note that recommendations for safe sexual conduct include acknowledging an important fact. Currently, it is believed that most individuals will receive a positive test result for the virus within four months of being exposed to it. There is also a belief that if you have sexual contact with someone who has AIDS and do not test positive within six months, you will never test positive due to that exposure. However, there are individuals whose blood lacks antibodies to the virus but live virus has been cultured from them. Therefore, testing negative for the virus does not guarantee no exposure. This group of individuals poses challenges in testing and is considered rare. Some speculate they may represent exceptional cases of immunity towards the virus; however, this speculation remains unconfirmed.

It is unclear if people with AIDS can transmit the virus. Transmission of AIDS can happen through actual virus particles or living human cells containing AIDS viral DNA merged with human DNA, possibly both. The primary mechanism remains unknown at this time. Mild detergents or chlorox, along with other substances, can easily destroy the AIDS virus.

It is extremely difficult to contract AIDS unless participating in specific activities. Casual contact, such as shaking hands, hugging, or sharing tools, does not transmit AIDS. Though live virus has been found in the saliva of AIDS patients, the technique used to recover the virus involved concentrating it to a much higher level than what occurs through normal human contact like kissing. Therefore, there is still

no solid evidence that even "deep" or "French" kissing can transmit AIDS. Sharing food or eating utensils with an AIDS patient also does not transmit the virus. The same applies to transmission through sneezing or coughing; there is currently no evidence supporting this method of transmission. Despite this, even biting may have a minimal (yet still unlikely) chance of transmitting the disease.

It is extremely important to comprehend that there are no medical reasons at all to back the proposal of isolating individuals with AIDS or those who have tested positive for AIDS antibodies. Any such suggestions are motivated either by lack of knowledge or malicious intentions to create camps for concentration. Moreover, given that the disease already exists widely in our country, this also indicates that there is no valid medical basis for immigration laws that restrict visits from AIDS patients or antibody positive individuals. Additionally, this suggests that friends, family, and coworkers of AIDS patients and seropositive individuals have no need to fear casual interaction with them.

It is essential to show love and support for friends with AIDS, along with providing necessary assistance. There is no reason to exclude individuals with AIDS from participating in food preparation as most cells and viruses would die if there was an accidental bleed. Moreover, the likelihood of contracting AIDS through consuming food is minimal. It is crucial to understand that donating blood to a blood bank does not transmit AIDS since the equipment used is sterile, disposable, and poses no risk of transmission.

How is AIDS transmitted? AIDS is primarily transmitted through sexual activity, specifically when there is contact between the blood or semen of an infected person

and the blood of an uninfected person. Engaging in sexual intercourse where the penis penetrates the vagina or rectum presents a high risk for transmitting the disease. The chances of transmission from an infected male to an uninfected female during vaginal sex are approximately four times higher compared to transmission from an infected woman to an uninfected male. This difference can be attributed to the larger moist tissue area present in a woman's vagina and the increased likelihood of microscopic tears occurring during sexual activity. It should be emphasized that AIDS can be transmitted in either direction during heterosexual intercourse.

Although transmission of HIV among lesbians (homosexual females) is rare, it is important to acknowledge that oral sex is a common sexual practice regardless of sexual orientation. During this activity, there is a possibility for infected semen or vaginal secretions to come into contact with the mouth, esophagus, and stomach. It should be emphasized that the AIDS virus and infected cells are unable to survive in the acidic environment of the stomach. Nevertheless, despite this information, there remains a perceived risk of acquiring the disease when engaging in oral sex with an infected individual.

The probability is likely much lower than for vaginal or rectal sex but is still considered significant. AIDS is also transmitted among intravenous drug users through needle sharing, as mentioned before. The self-righteous attitudes of the political leaders at local, state, and national levels in this country have consistently hindered the rational approach of providing free access to sterile intravenous equipment for IV drug users. This measure, when promptly implemented in Amsterdam, was proven to greatly and significantly slow down the virus's spread

within that population. In San Francisco, the best that rational medical workers have achieved is distributing educational leaflets and cartoons to the IV users.

The drug abusing population needs to be educated about the importance of rinsing their needles with chlorox before reusing them on others. It is crucial to understand that even if you don't care about I.V. drug abusers, the rise in the number of people carrying the virus ultimately poses a threat to everyone. Therefore, the issue does not concern your personal moral judgment towards I.V. drug addicts, but rather focuses on finding the most rational approach to slowing down the spread of AIDS in all populations.

Testing of donated blood for AIDS has significantly decreased the likelihood of contracting AIDS from blood transfusions. However, there is still a slight remaining risk. In order to further reduce this risk, efforts have been made to implement "autotransfusions" during elective surgeries, which are surgeries that can be planned months in advance. Autotransfusion involves the patient storing their own blood a few weeks before their surgery in case it is needed during the procedure. Similarly, arranging for donations of blood from friends and family who are known to be negative for antibodies and have a low risk of AIDS before scheduled surgeries can further decrease the already minimal risks associated with transfusion.

AIDS and SEX: What are the rational options? The “sexual revolution” of the 1960’s has been halted by the AIDS epidemic, affecting both the gay and straight communities. The reality of contracting AIDS has significantly influenced their sexual behavior, leading to a decrease in multiple partner engagements. While complete abstinence is the safest approach to prevent

AIDS, it may be challenging for some individuals who still desire sexual activity. Nevertheless, considering other options remains viable.

Safe Sex is a set of strict rules created for individuals who engage in casual sexual encounters. These rules may be objectionable to those accustomed to unrestricted sex but violating them can result in severe consequences. However, once accustomed to these rules, safe sex can still provide satisfactory sexual pleasure. For those interested in vaginal or anal penetration, it is imperative to use a condom or "rubber" at all times without any exceptions.

A condom is necessary for a man during oral sex. Cunnilingus, which is the oral stimulation of a woman's genitals by her partner's mouth, is not considered safe sex. Safe sex includes mutual masturbation and hand stimulation of each other's genitals, as long as there are no cuts on the hand. However, manual stimulation of another person's genitals is not safe if there are cuts on the hand, unless a glove is worn. It is important to note that accidents can still occur even when following safe sex recommendations diligently. Condoms can break and there may be unnoticed small cuts or tears on the skin.

Despite following rules for "safe sex," there is no guarantee that one will not contract AIDS, although the chances are significantly reduced. There are cases where sexually active couples have one partner with AIDS while the other remains HIV-negative, even after practicing safe sex for several months. The notable decrease in new AIDS cases among San Francisco gay males, thanks to educational initiatives, is particularly encouraging. It demonstrates that the combination of practicing safe sex and reducing the number of casual

sexual encounters has greatly impeded the spread of AIDS within this high-risk group. It is crucial for heterosexual individuals to also take responsible action in order to further slow down the transmission of the virus, thereby providing researchers with sufficient time to search for effective means to combat it.

The safest approach in this era of AIDS is monogamous sex. Both individuals in a couple must commit to not having sex with anyone else and take AIDS antibody tests. If both tests come back negative, they must practice safe sex until six months have passed since their last sexual contact with another individual. At that point, the AIDS blood test is repeated. If both tests are still negative, it is considered safe to have unprotected sex. This approach is especially recommended for those who want to have children, as it prevents the risk of transmitting AIDS from an infected mother to the child. It can also be followed by groups of three or more people, but strict adherence is required. It is crucial to avoid falling into the trap of paying for an AIDS antibody test and carrying an ID card certifying one as antibody negative, as a means of gaining acceptance in a singles bar. Such actions stem from criminal greed and stupidity.

Regardless of the frequency of testing, it is possible to become antibody positive at any given time. Weekly testing may not detect this change in a timely manner, resulting in individuals who are certified as "negative" becoming positive between tests. Moreover, these cards are being promoted as a replacement for practicing "safe sex," which will only accelerate the spread of the disease. If

you wish to know your antibody status, it is important to ensure that you do so in an anonymous manner.

It is advised not to get the test done by any agency that requires personal identification information such as real name and address. Luckily, in San Francisco, there is a public facility for AIDS antibody testing where individuals can use a designated number as identification. However, this facility has a long waiting list of three months for testing. Alternatively, there are private clinics where people can pay in cash and provide a false name for testing. The reason behind this recommendation is the inappropriate responses from government and business towards individuals who are known to be antibody positive. To avoid potential persecution, it is important to keep your antibody status confidential and not recorded by anyone except yourself, your partner(s), and if necessary, your physician.

There is currently no effective treatment for AIDS, including AZT. It is widely believed by the medical and research community worldwide that the AIDS epidemic has the potential to become the worst plague humanity has ever faced. The severity of this issue requires significantly more funding for the search for treatments and vaccines. However, it is important to note that AIDS is a disease and not a supernatural phenomenon. While a cure or vaccine may not be found in the near future, there is hope that effective treatments to prolong the lives of AIDS patients can be discovered within a few years. Once AIDS is fully conquered through scientific advancements, individuals will have the freedom to make their own choices regarding sexual activity without being controlled by a virus. Let us hope

that day comes soon.

In the meantime, it is crucial that each of us does our part to slow down the transmission of this deadly virus. This article aims to assist in achieving that goal, so please share it as much as you can.