MEDICAL SURFARI: THE FACTS ABOUT AIDS

Since the first reported cases of AIDS in the early 1980's over one-half million people in the United States have developed this condition and about half of them have died, leaving the death toll for this disease more than four times the number who died in the Viet Nam War.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that can remain dormant in the body, sometimes for years, before becoming active and weakening the body's immune system. This virus has been linked to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and this is the final stage of a progressive disease resulting from the body's inability to fight infections and other diseases. Unfortunately, at this time there is no cure for AIDS and it eventually results in death.

Often the term AIDS is used inappropriately to describe people with HIV infection. Not all HIV infected people develop AIDS -- the complete breakdown of the immune system. A person with HIV infection may fall into one of three groups: those who feel completely healthy, those with mild illness and those with life-threatening AIDS.

However, regardless of the degree of illness with HIV infection, anyone who has been infected can infect others. In people with HIV infection the virus is present in blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. The infection is spread to others when one of these fluids comes into contact with an open sore, a cut or the fragile mucus membranes of the mouth, vagina, penis or rectum.

There have been no reported cases of HIV transmission from the following:

-- saliva

-- tears

-- insect or animal bites

-- eating food handled by someone with the virus

-- sharing toilets, telephones or clothes

-- sharing silverware, plates or drinking classes

-- touching, hugging or kissing someone with the virus

-- playing sports with HIV infected people

-- keeping close company at school, church or work with someone who has the virus.

One of the most common ways that the virus is transmitted is through unprotected intercourse. Another common way is through the practice of sharing infected drug needles for illicit drugs. In some cases mothers who are HIV positive have passed the virus on to their newborns and there is evidence suggesting that HIV can be transmitted through breast milk.

Those who work in healthcare are also at risk for an accidental needle stick or cut with a contaminated needle or instrument. Ever since the blood screening programs implemented in 1985, the risk of contracting HIV through blood transfusion has nearly been eliminated and there is absolutely no risk of contracting HIV by giving blood since a new sterile needle is used for every blood donation.

If you have been exposed to HIV your body will usually develop antibodies against the virus within six months of infection and these can be detected in the blood, thereby confirming the presence of infection. HIV affects each person differently. If the disease progresses, most pass through some common general stages.

Dr. Scott Gibbs is a Cape Girardeau neurosurgeon and editor-in-chief of Mosby's Medical Surfari. You may e-mail questions to him at drgibbs@semissourian.com or write in care of the Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699.