In the fall of 1981, the centers for disease control of the United States government began to receive an increasing number of unusual and disturbing medical reports.  A rare type of cancer was occurring frequently in certain groups of people.  This cancer is called Kaposi’s sarcoma.  In addition, increasing reports of rare infections occurring alone or with the cancer were noted.  The infection was frequently a rare pneumonia.  The people who seemed to be most susceptible were active male homosexuals.  As time went on intravenous street drug users and persons with hemophilia were found to be affected as well.

Large-scale investigations were undertaken and showed that a disease new to the U.S. was spreading rapidly.  In order to understand this new disease (called acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or aids) we need to describe a little of the body's defense system against cancer and infection.

In order to survive, the body must be able to detect and destroy any harmful substance entering it.  To do this, a complicated protective system has been placed in our bodies.  This includes several kinds of specialized cells and other defense chemicals.  These all interact to destroy any invader.

This mechanism works very much like a military defense system.  The first line of defense would be the skin and mucus membranes lining the mouth and nose.  There are both physical and chemical barriers to the entry of anything foreign into our bodies.  If any enemy, such as infectious organisms, starts to penetrate, the chemicals try to neutralize the invader.  If that barrier fails, special white blood cells called macrophages and lymphocytes take over.  These cells can precisely identify the strangers. 

The lymphocytes are of two varieties, "t" cells and "b" cells.  The t lymphocytes are like the generals.  They send different orders to the different cells.  Some cells command "full speed ahead".  They are called "helper t cells".  Others tend to make the body hold back on its defense activity and are called "suppressor t cells".  This balancing act keeps the body from either overreacting or under reacting to the threat.  If the suppressor cells aren't working well, the person's defenses attack the body's own cells.  If the helper cells aren't working well, the attack against the invading organism is hampered.

The B lymphocyte cells are like the attack troops.  They follow the commands given by the t lymphocytes.  They do this by pouring out ammunition in response to the t cells orders.  This ammunition is called "immunoglobulin".  Immunoglobulin along with other proteins, are usually effective in destroying the enemy. 

Now back to aids.  It is now known that aids is caused by a virus.  This virus is quite fragile. In fact, it can be very easily destroyed.  It's found in different body fluids.  If the person is infected with the aids virus, the concentration in blood is very high.  In addition, it is found in spermatic fluid. Therefore sexual contact and the use of contaminated needles during illicit intravenous drug use are the most common ways that the disease is spread in the u.s.  This virus, called the human immunodeficiency virus, damages the t cells and prevents them from directing the body's defense.  This allows the infectious diseases or certain cancer cells to have a field day--invading the body at will.

Because the body's defense system is no longer operating normally, infections and cancers that would otherwise be destroyed may cause severe health problems.  In fact, if the situation is not corrected by medicines the disease will be uniformly fatal.
The list of persons who are most at risk for contracting aids and dying from this disorder is revealing.  While initially the epidemic had its greatest impact on homosexual males that has rapidly changed.  Intravenous drug users and hemophiliacs make up another significant segment of this "at risk" population.  Any person who received injections of contaminated blood products (including blood transfusions) before 1985 can be added to the list.  Bisexual males along with female sex partners of infected males (including prostitutes) are also at risk along with other heterosexuals who are not monogamous.  Perhaps two of the most alarming changes in the distribution of this disease is the rapid rise of aids in teenagers and the presence of the disorder in babies born to mothers who have aids.

How can you know if you have aids?  Symptoms are very much like those of the common flu. They include fever, sweats, swollen glands, unexpected weight loss, diarrhea and loss of appetite, along with fatigue that lasts more than a couple of days.  The incubation period from exposure to the disease to the first signs and symptoms of its presence appears to range from a few months to five years or more.

There is a screening blood test to determine if an individual has been exposed to the aids virus. The blood test actually checks for the presence of antibodies against the aids virus.  A positive test means that the person being tested may have been exposed to the virus in the past. 

There is a possibility that the positive result is an error.  This is called a false positive.  Because of the serious nature of aids, further testing must be done to confirm or deny the results of the initial screening test. I must repeat that.  A positive aids test does not necessarily mean that the individual actually has aids. More tests are needed to determine who has the disease.
If you have been in intimate contact with any of the groups of people mentioned in this message, and if you develop signs of pneumonia, peculiar rashes, swollen glands, chronic diarrhea or other unusual symptoms which can't be accounted for or are persistent--see your physician right away.  Although many of those diagnosed as having aids have eventually died of their infections or cancer, intensive research is underway to find a way to stop the disease.

There is no known cure or vaccination available at this time.  Approaches to stopping the disease include drugs for the infection and cancer, and possibly interferon (a "t" cell product).  The best answer is prevention.  Avoid multiple sex partners particularly those in high-risk groups and the practice of shooting street drugs intravenously and sharing used needles.

If you still have questions about aids, please contact your physician.  He will be keeping up-to-date on this most serious problem.  A national hotline is available to answer further questions you might have.  Call 1-800-342-aids.