Editor's letter [Medi-Scope : issue 10 editorial]

Abstract

The last few decades of this century are experiencing the havock created by a new disease known to all and saundry as AIDS - the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Caused by a retrovirus (the Human Immunodeficiency Virus-HIV formerly known as Lymphadenopathy- Associated Virus-LAV or Human T-Lymphotropic Virus type III-HTLV III), this disease is effecting an alarmingly increasing number of people world-wide. Its fatal outcome within a few years of infection has instilled great fears in the entire populations particularly as it is being recognised that susceptible people include those outside the risk- groups-homosexual/bisexual males, IV drug abusers and recipients of blood and its products e.g. haemophiliacs. AIDS is basically a sexually transmitted disease although it has been transmitted through the use of infected syringes and needles, infected blood/ blood products and sex-toys. Vaginal intercourse is just as risky as anal intercourse. There is no evidence to suggest, however, its transmission through saliva (e.g. kissing or sharing of drinking cups), toilet seats, social and classroom contacts. Infants born to HIV positive mothers acquire the virus during intra-uterine life, parturition or subsequent breast-feeding.