Without the White Coated
By Dr. Florentino Alerta II

HIV/AIDS 101… knowing the basics

Recent studies show that a bigger part and percentage of the Philippine population are uneducated and ill-informed when it comes to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). A large part of the population believes that one will get AIDS infection by just taking care of the AIDS patient and by sharing a meal with patients afflicted with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

AIDS was first identified in the 1980s in which some aspects of the disease entity are not fully understood by our scientists and doctors. AIDS is a disease that destroys the body's immune system. The basic HIV consists primarily of a genetic material that is surrounded and coated by proteins and lipid molecules. It contains only RNA (retroviruses), with no DNA molecules. It uses an enzyme (reverse transcriptase) as it invades the human body's helper T cells that convert its RNA molecule to DNA molecules. It is now the new DNA molecule that will instruct the T cell to duplicate the human immunodeficiency virus then starts the destruction of body's immune system. The virus attacks the body's helper T cell whose roles helps fights any illness or infection that will arise. With a disabled immune system the patient will usually die from a secondary illness. AIDS is almost always fatal which is transmitted under specific circumstances. It is not transmitted through air-borne, since it is a virus it will have a very short life span outside the human host. The only known routes of transmission of HIV is through direct exchange of body fluids through blood transfusion of infected blood products, sharing of needles of infected drug abusers, and sexual intercourse with individuals infected with HIV.

In the US it is the gay community that was hardly hit by the HIV infection in the 80s and 90s. Unsafe and unprotected sexual intercourse have been the main culprit of transmission from the infected individual to the healthy human host. Also affected is the community of IV drug abusers and users with the sharing of dirty and infected drug paraphernalia like syringes and hypodermic needles. In the past it was shown that the virus can be transmitted from an infected mother to her unborn child. Health workers like doctors and laboratory technicians who process blood products and body fluids of infected patients have also shown to have contracted the AIDS virus from needle sticks and direct exposure to blood products on an open skin and thru thin membranes. Recently, it is mostly the African states that have the biggest population of HIV infected individuals followed by India.

The macho image of the promiscuous Filipino male who always refuse to use condoms during sexual contacts will surely contribute to the increasing number of HIV cases in this country. In the past we also encounter cases of overseas seafarers contracting the disease from foreign countries like Brazil and some European countries. Sexual abstinence may be the ultimate solution, but medical education or information dissemination on HIV/AIDS is needed to further educate our communities. With a very high percentage of the population not knowing about the basic knowledge of HIV infection now would be an ideal time to start our information dissemination with the start of small groups or community discussion or lecture symposium on AIDS/HIV.