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BIOLOGY Aftergettingintothebodyoftheperson,thevirusentersintomacrophages where RNA genome of the virus replicates to form viral DNA with the help of theenzymereversetranscriptase.ThisviralDNAgetsincorporatedintohost cell’sDNAanddirectstheinfectedcellstoproducevirusparticles(Figure7.6). The macrophages continue to produce virus and in this way acts like a HIV factory.Simultaneously,HIVentersintohelper T-lymphocytes(T ),Heplicates andproduceprogenyviruses.Theprogenyvirusesreleasedinthebloodattack otherhelperT-lymphocytes.Thisisrepeatedleadingtoaprogressivedecrease in the number of helper T-lymphocytes in the body of the infected person. Duringthisperiod,thepersonsuffersfromboutsoffever,diarrhoeaandweight loss.DuetodecreaseinthenumberofhelperTlymphocytes,thepersonstarts suffering from infections that could have been otherwise overcome such as those due to bacteria especially Mycobacterium, viruses, fungi and even parasites like Toxoplasma. The patient becomes so immuno-deficient that he/sheisunabletoprotecthimself/herselfagainsttheseinfections.Awidely used diagnostic test for AIDS is enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA).TreatmentofAIDSwithanti-retroviraldrugsisonlypartiallyeffective. Theycanonlyprolongthelifeofthepatientbutcannotpreventdeath,whichis inevitable. Prevention of AIDS : As AIDS has no cure, prevention is the best option. Moreover, HIV infection, more often, spreads due to conscious behaviour patternsandisnotsomethingthathappensinadvertently,likepneumonia or typhoid. Of course, infection in blood transfusion patients, new-borns (frommother)etc.,maytakeplaceduetopoormonitoring.Theonlyexcuse may be ignorance and it has been rightly said – “don’t die of ignorance”. In our country the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and other non-governmental organisation (NGOs) are doing a lot to educate people about AIDS. WHO has started a number of programmes to prevent the spreading of HIV infection. Making blood (from blood banks) safe from HIV, ensuring the use of only disposable needles and syringes in public and private hospitals and clinics, free distribution of condoms, controlling drug abuse, advocating safe sex and promoting regular check-ups for HIV in susceptible populations, are some such steps taken up. Infection with HIV or having AIDS is something that should not be hidden – since then, the infection may spread to many more people. HIV/AIDS-infected people need help and sympathy instead of being shunned by society. Unless society recognises it as a problem to be dealt with in a collective manner – the chances of wider spread of the disease 140 increase manifold. It is a malady that can only be tackled, by the society andmedicalfraternityactingtogether,topreventthespreadofthedisease. 7.4 C ANCER Cancerisoneofthemostdreadeddiseasesofhumanbeingsandisamajor cause of death all over the globe. More than a million Indians suffer from Reprint 2026-27