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Lesson 10.5 Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

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Introduction to the lesson

According to the WHO, at the end of 2015 there were 36.7 million people living with HIV. Africa is the hardest hit by this pandemic, with 25.6 million people (in 2015) living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. KwaZulu Natal has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in the entire world, with about 16% of the population being infected. In this lesson, we will learn about the causes of AIDS, how it can be treated, and how it is controlled.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Read the section "Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)" in your text book (p.205-209). Also read the WHO HIV/AIDS fact sheet.

Learning Activity 1

Answer the following questions in your exercise book.

  1. What is the name of the pathogen that causes AIDS?
    1. What type of pathogen is it?
    2. What is a retrovirus?
  2. Describe the methods of transmission
  3. Describe the global distribution of AIDS – see figure 10.9 on page 207
    1. Which countries seem to be the most affected?
    2. Which countries seem to be the least affected?
    3. Do you think there are incidence of AIDS in the countries for which there is no data?
    4. What factors do you think contribute to the distribution of AIDS as shown in Figure 10.9 on page 207
    5. Considering that AIDS weakens the immune system, making way for opportunistic infections, and that the prevalence of AIDS is highest in sub-Saharan Africa, what can you predict about the incident rate of diseases such as TB, malaria and cholera in sub-Saharan Africa?
  4. What is the incubation period?
  5. What is the site of action of the pathogen?
    1. How does this site of action affect the person infected?
  6. What are the clinical features (symptoms) of the disease?
  7. What are the methods of diagnosis?
  8. Compare the figures given the Coursebook for 2012 with the latest figures available on the internet. Is there a significant change?
  9. What are some of the main differences between AIDS and a disease like malaria?
  10. Does everyone who has the HIV develop AIDS?
  11. Name the two main opportunistic infections that develop because of the HIV.
  12. Discuss the effect of AIDS in Africa.
  13. Why do you think a developed country is better able to deal with AIDS?
  14. Discuss the problems associated with drug treatment.
  15. Why does the body’s immune system not recognize the virus?
  16. What are the best ways of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS?
  17. What is meant by contact tracing?
  18. Answer Questions 10.9-10.11 on p.208 of your text book.
  19. Discuss the problems with breast feeding in mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Why do health professionals sometimes advise a woman who has HIV to breastfeed her baby, despite the risk of passing on the virus to the baby?
  20. Answer Questions 10.12-10.13 on p.209 of your text book.

 Definitions and review

Mindmap

Add this section to your chapter ten mindmap.