Mankind had to deal with many infectious diseases, but people called the most severe and ruthless disease plague. Not so long ago, namely in 1981, a new disease was recorded, which was called AIDS. The plague of the 21st century began to be called later for its rapid spread and destructive effect on the body.
Description of the disease
AIDS is a viral disease. "Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome" - that was the name given to it by WHO, which corresponds to the destructive effect of this disease on human immunity. After infection, an AIDS patient loses her ability to resist any infection and becomes ill with a large number of life-threatening diseases, including cancer.
There is a version that AIDS has existed in remote African communities for a long time, but over time, the isolation of these communities has broken and led to the spread of the disease. It first appeared in the United States in 1981, when doctors encountered an unusual form of Kaposi’s sarcoma and malignant pneumonia. Several groups of young people fell ill, all of them were homosexuals. Then there was the assumption that this is a viral disease, which subsequently began to spread rapidly. In 1985, it was discovered in 40 countries. And according to WHO, by the end of 2017, the number of HIV-infected people in the world was from 35 to 40 million people, while the number of deaths from this disease was about 30 million! Mankind has faced the most formidable disease in the history of its existence. Indeed, AIDS is the plague of the 21st century.
AIDS virus
Researchers studying HIV understood the mechanism of its vital functions. He, like any virus, is a microorganism that exists due to the host cell. By attaching itself to a cell, an ordinary virus introduces its DNA into the cell and, becoming its master, produces new viruses. The immunodeficiency virus acts from the opposite: its genetic information is first included in the RNA with the help of the transcriptase enzyme, and then in the cell’s DNA. Such viruses that adapt to host DNA via transcriptase are called retroviruses. These include the plague virus of the 21st century - AIDS.
HIV has such a genetic apparatus that allows it to multiply 1000 times faster than other viruses. In addition, it has a high degree of variability. It is higher than the variability of the influenza virus 30-100 times. This was confirmed by laboratory studies, which found the variability of strains not only in different patients, but also in one patient examined at different times. This fact posed a big problem for doctors: it is difficult to get a vaccine against this plague of the 21st century - AIDS - due to such a rapidly changing type of strain.
How is HIV transmitted?
In the course of studying the problem of AIDS around the world, the following biological fluids were identified through which a person can be infected:
- Blood.
- Breast milk.
- Seminal fluid.
- Vaginal discharge.
It should be noted that AIDS can not be infected through food, water, hugs, as well as by airborne droplets. Mosquito bites also do not transmit this disease. The saliva and tear of an AIDS patient are not contagious if they do not have blood, so there is no reason to isolate patients.
One disease - two problems
About 10 people become infected with the immunodeficiency virus every minute in the world. These people get a serious lifelong illness and look into the future with fear. At this time, they especially need the support of others. But our society is wary of contacts with such patients, sometimes they are not supported and shunned, in some cases they become outcasts. Therefore, AIDS disease reveals two problems at once:
- How to stop the spread of HIV.
- How to make society not turn away from HIV patients.
Outreach among the population
AIDS belongs to the group of socially dangerous diseases. He discovers the evils of society, without which he cannot exist. In order to stop this formidable disease, relentless educational work is required. This outreach needs to be carried out with the entire population, but special attention needs to be paid to adolescents, for example, having conversations with them, such as “AIDS is the 21st century plague.”
These conversations for teens of different ages should be conducted in different ways. But with children of 9–11 years old it is already necessary to speak frankly about this problem.
Class hour "AIDS - the plague of the 21st century"
December 1 is World AIDS Day. On this day, a lesson is traditionally held in all high school classes, the theme of which is devoted to AIDS prevention.
The teacher in the opening remarks should indicate to students the existing problems. Talking about wars and the environmental crisis, it must be emphasized that the spiritual void and corruption of youth threatens the very existence of mankind. Drugs and AIDS lead to self-destruction of a person. Therefore, the younger generation should be informed about the problem and know how to behave in this situation.
Each teacher should develop a classroom hour “AIDS - the plague of the 21st century” and make a plan. The following items must be mandatory components of such a plan:
- Signs and definition of the disease.
- Ways of infection.
- Groups of people more likely to get AIDS.
- Stages of the development of the disease.
- Disease prevention measures.
- Your attitude towards HIV patients.
High-risk groups for AIDS
The conversation at the AIDS - 21st Century Plague school should include a clause about AIDS risk groups, that is, groups of people who are most likely to get AIDS:
- People who use drugs.
- Sexual orientation.
- Persons who have made sex their means of income.
- People who have received someone else’s blood.
- Residents of areas where AIDS is widespread.
- Doctors, in particular, surgeons whose patients are people with AIDS.
Stages of the development of the disease
The open lesson “AIDS - the 21st Century Plague” should be held at the school with invited parents. Some parents do not know how to start this important conversation with the child. But if it has already been started at school, it will be easier to continue the conversation at home. In this lesson, one of the points in the plan is to raise the question of the stages of the development of the disease.
After HIV infection, it takes 2-6 weeks for antibodies to appear in the blood. It is at this time that you need to take a blood test to determine HIV, you will not be able to find the virus earlier. At this time, the infected people feel a deterioration in their state of health, which after some time normalizes and the disease goes into the stage of the incubation period.
HIV has a long incubation period, which can reach up to 10 years. But more often the disease manifests itself in 2-3 years, after which the last stage of the disease begins. Here you can see the differences between HIV and AIDS: AIDS is the last stage of HIV.
AIDS Prevention
In an open lesson at school and in extra-curricular activities “AIDS is the Plague of the 21st Century”, the main topic on which students need to focus should be on AIDS prevention. It should be fully disclosed, let the teenagers take part in it, expressing their opinion.
It is known that AIDS can be obtained in different ways, but most often people with random sexual relations get it. No wonder this disease is called a disease of behavior. This idea should be conveyed to the students, emphasizing that the choice of sexual partners should be approached clearly, sex should be safe, that is, with a condom.
HIV patients and our attitude towards them
Success in dealing with a terrible disease depends on how society treats these people. Firstly, they are not dangerous if they behave rationally. Secondly, for purely humane reasons, they deserve compassion. And thirdly, isolation of HIV-infected people can lead to aggression on their part, then all educational work on AIDS prevention will be destroyed.
The world has adopted the symbol of the fight against AIDS - a red ribbon in the form of an inverted letter V. It symbolizes worldwide support for HIV patients.
AIDS is a disease of society and it is necessary to fight it by the whole society, having made outreach among the population, especially among young people, the main means of struggle. The result of the work should be reasonable and responsible behavior of the population in relation to their health.