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THE ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS) DISEASE
Umm
Iman : There has been a lot of talk about AIDS; does it have
any relationship with reproduction ? What is AIDS ?
Dr
Ahmad :
It
is a recent killing disease. The term "AIDS" is an
abbreviation for the phrase : "the disease of acquired
immune deficiency syndrome." It causes the affection of the
immune system of the body. This, in turn, brings about the
inability of this system to perform its task with the same
capability as before; that is, prior to its affection. This
makes the infected person liable to be affected by many
infections that do not affect a healthy person. These days,
AIDS is spreading very rapidly in some regions of the world.
This disease stems from a virus called "HIV", or the virus
responsible for the loss of immunity in humans. This virus
attacks the T4 lymph cells, amongst the functions of which
is to attack microbes and to get rid of them. When the virus
attacks these lymph cells, it multiplies in them, which
leads to the reduction of their ratio [i.e that of the lymph
cells] in the blood. The infected person's immunity against
different diseases diminishes. As any of the viruses, it
multiplies only in living infected cells. However, it
differs from other viruses in that it secretes a special
enzyme allowing for the copying of genitic information.
Umm
Iman : How do we know that AIDS is present ?
Dr
Ahmad :
The
disease can be latent for several years with no symptoms
appearing, then they will start to appear. Since the AIDS
disease consists in loss of immunity which leads to
affection by a host of diseases- its symptoms differ in
accordance with the type of infection. The most widespread
symptoms are:
1.
A continuous increase in temperature.
2.
Skin ulceration and exanthema.
3.
Strong diarrhea for more than a month, which brings about an
intense slimming (this is why AIDS is called the "slim"
disease, which means a severe weight loss, especially in
African environments).
4.
General swelling of the lymph glands.
5.
Continuous inflammation in the upper part of the chest and
the throat.
6.
Acute cases of bronchitis and lung inflammations.
7.
Skin cancer (called cancer of Kaposi).
8.
Inflammations in the eye net which may bring about complete
loss of eye sight (blindness).
9.
Perturbations in the brain functions as well as
inflammations in the membrane cover of the brain
(meningitis).
Umm
Iman : Is AIDS transmitted through hand-shaking ? How does
the contagion take place ?
Dr
Ahmad :
No.
We must know that the contagion takes place via the body's
liquids, like: saliva, blood, sperm, the infected mother's
milk, brain tissues, the liquid surrounding the brain (brain
marrow) and the spinal marrow.
Means of contagion :
1.
Abnornal sexual intercourse: because the membrane lining of
the anus and the rectum walls is very thin and easy to tear
during the sexual operation. This causes the speeding up of
the contagion.
2.
Intravenous injection via non-disinfected needles: this
occurs frequently in intravenous drug injections in
situations of drug addiction.
3.
Normal sexual intercourse: this way is widespread in Africa.
4.
The transfusion of contaminated blood, especially in the
cases of blood diseases requiring frequent transfusions;
e.g. abnormal liquidity of the blood.
5.
Newborn children of AIDS infected mothers.
6.
Finally, there are 2% of the infected people for whom the
source of contagion is unknown.
Umm
Iman : How is the diagnosis arrived at ?
Dr
Ahmad :
In
view of the fact that the disease remains latent for a
number of years before the symptoms appear, the best means
to effect a diagnosis, when AIDS is suspected, is a blood
examination (diagnostic serology). This is done in order to
uncover the infected bodies or cells. This takes place,
especially, before blood transfusion. There are many tests,
amongst which are: (a) the "Elisia" serologic test, which is
based upon colour changes for making the infected cells
stand out; (b) The "Western Blot" test, which shows the
infected bodies (or cells) in the virus' protein.
Oftentimes, if the result of the "Elisa" test is positive,
we resort to the "Western Blot" test for confirmation. If
these tests are conducted six months before the infection
and their result is negative, they must be repeated a second
time, because the infected cells need a period ranging from
a month to six months (in order to exhibit the infection).
When the symptoms appear, this makes the diagnosis operation
easier, in addition to the blood tests. The observance of a
group of symptoms in a person below the age of sixty, who
does not take any immunity impeding medecines like the
cortisone, means that the patient is infected by AIDS.
Umm
Iman : How do we avoid being infected by this disease ? What
are the means of treatment ?
Dr
Ahmad :
The
means of prevention (or prophylaxis) are the following :
1.
Adherence to what is mentioned in the noble Islamic Shari'a
as concerns the prohibition of adultery, pederasty,
sodomizing women, and drugs. Allah (the Most High) says:
"And come not near unto adultery. Lo! It is an abomination
and an evil way." (Surah Al-Isrā’ (The Children of Israel);
v. 32)
2.
The testing of blood before transfusing it to the one who
needs it. Refraining from donating blood when one is
suspecting infection.
3.
Prohibiting pregnancy for any woman (or her husband) who is
infected by AIDS.
4.
The use of preservatives (for males and females) when in
doubt (about a possible infection).
5.
Research is being conducted on producing an injectable serum
to be administered to those exposed to the AIDS infection :
e.g. doctors and other people who care for the AIDS infected
patients. However, its success has not been established up
to now.
Umm
Iman : Is there any cure for this abominable disease ?
Dr
Ahmad :
There does not exist, for the time being, an efficient cure.
However, there are some attempts to produce a treatment for
it.
First : There are attempts to treat the symptoms like the
production of anti-bodies, diarrhea preventing medecines,
anti-fungal medecines, antiparasites medecines.
Second : The strengthening of the immune system of the body
by using medecines like the "Interferon".
Third : The taking of medecines against the HIV virus, like
"Zidofiodine," "Zidotimidine" or "Repiniarine."
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