10 Facts About HIV/AIDS , World AIDS DAY

On World AIDS Day, 10 Facts About HIV/AIDS You Must Read

Did you know these 10 facts about HIV/AIDS?

Dr Niruta Sharma

Updated: 30 Nov 2016, 08:24 PM IST

The number of adolescent deaths from AIDS has tripled over the last 15 years (Photo: iStock)

Health News

(Even though medical science has overcome significant hurdles, HIV-AIDS still remains one of the biggest public health challenge, with millions of new cases being diagnosed every year. December 1 is the World AIDS Day which unites people in the fight against this deadly disease.)

AIDS is a major threat to society – the disease has the ability to wipe out the majority of human population. Globally more than 36 million people are living with HIV including 2.6 million children. In fact more than 2 million were infected last year itself.

The member countries of the United Nations agreed in September 2015, in a new set of global goals, to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Here are some facts about the deadly HIV-AIDS:

Fact Check: HIV-AIDS

In 2015, Cuba was the first country declared to have eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV (Photo: iStock)

1) HIV is the name of the virus and which causes AIDS (Auto immune deficiency syndrome). There are two types of viruses – HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the culprit in most cases, primarily a zoonotic virus present in chimpanzees, apes and monkeys; when and how it crossed over to humans in the last century is unclear. After human-to-human transmission it has reached an epidemic proportion.

2) HIV-1 has no cure, but efficient options for treatment are now available. With proper medication, the onset of AIDS can be delayed.

3) Once a person is infected with HIV, the virus attacks the CD4 fighter cells in the body and decreases immunity.

4) In the early stages of HIV, there are no symptoms. This is precisely why it is important to get tested if you are high-risk.

5) Who is high-risk? Anyone with multiple sexual partners, or anyone who goes to sex workers. Homosexuals compromise of 60 per cent of fresh cases, so men with same-sex partners must watch-out. Anyone who has used intravenous drugs, or has had a blood transfusion with infected blood, or even doctors and paramedics who handle HIV/AIDS cases all the time are also vulnerable. In the absence of any interventions, an HIV positive mother can transmit it to her child during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

6) The initial symptoms can be flu-like, fever, runny nose, headache, fatigue etc. This stage of HIV is called acute retroviral syndrome or ARS. Since these symptoms are hard to distinguish from regular flu, in this period, the person might unknowingly transmit it to others, especially their spouse.

7) As the disease advances, the immunity lowers, and slowly the symptoms of AIDS set in. Patients report loss of appetite, lose weight, vomit frequently, get diarrhoea; infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis, bacterial and fungal infections and even skin and soft tissue cancers can set in.

8) A study by the World Health Organisation estimated that one in every five HIV positive people are unaware of their status. Therefore, if you are in that vulnerable group, get yourself tested for HIV.

ELISA test, which is a kind of a blood test, is readily available in all hospitals. There are even some home testing kits for HIV. But remember that your positive status might not reflect for a good three months after unprotected sex. This three month window period is dangerous as HIV test will be negative but you can still spread the disease.

9) Once HIV test is positive one must go to a government hospital where dedicated ART (Anti Retroviral Therapy) clinics are run by specially trained staff. Here they give you free treatment for HIV. Once full blown AIDS is diagnosed, the patient needs to be admitted and treated as per the World Health Organisation’s guidelines.

10) Condoms are one of the best methods of prevention. Multiple sex partners is always risky. If you are going for a blood transfusion, make sure the hospital tests the blood before administering it to you. The medical fraternity should take care of positive patients according to the World Health Organisation guidelines.

And don’t forget that HIV does not spread by shaking hands or hugging. Like Charlie Sheen recently came out of the HIV closet, your partner needs to know it too. So don’t hide it and help curb the spread of this deadly disease. The World Health Organisation has pledged to make the world free of HIV by 2030.

(This story was first published on World AIDS Day in 2015)

Brimij Kull 🌳

CELTIS AUSTRALI

Celtis australis, commonly known as the European nettle tree, Mediterranean hackberry, lote tree, or honeyberry,[2] is a deciduous tree native to Southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor. The tree was introduced to England in 1796.

Scientific classification

Kingdom:

Plantae

Clade:

Tracheophytes

Clade:

Angiosperms

Clade:

Eudicots

Clade:

Rosids

Order:

Rosales

Family:

Cannabaceae

Genus:

Celtis

Species:

C. australis

Binomial name

Celtis australis

                     ⬆️ Distribution map

      

Common Names 

 In different countries, Celtis australis is known under the following common names:

• Albanian: carac;
• Arabic: الميس (mays);
• Bulgarian: копривка;
• Catalan: lledoner;
• Croatian: koprivić, obični koprivić, ladonja, farikul, fafarikula, pelegrinka, kostela, kostjela, koštela, košćela, koščela crna;
• English: the honeyberry tree, European hackberry, hackberry, nettle tree, Mediterranean hackberry;
• French: micocoulier;
• German: Zürgelbaum;
• Hindi: ku, batkar, khark, khirk, roku;
• Italian: perlaro, bagolaro;
• Kashmiri: Brimij
• Nepali: khari;
• Polish: wiązowiec południowy
• Portuguese: lódão-bastardo, lodoeiro, ginginha-do-rei, agreira;
• Romanian: sâmbovină
• Slovenian: koprivovec;
• Spanish: almez, lodón, ladón, ojaranzo, hojaranzo;
• Turkish: adi çitlembik;

Trade names are: nettle wood, brimji.

USES

It is often planted as an ornamental as it is long-living and resistant to air pollution. The fruit of this tree is sweet and edible, and can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves and fruit are astringent, lenitive and stomachic. Decoction of both leaves and fruit is used in the treatment of amenorrhoea, heavy menstrual and inter-menstrual bleeding and colic. The decoction can also be used to astringe the mucous membranes in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery and peptic ulcers. A yellow dye is obtained from the bark. The wood is very tough, pliable, durable and widely used by turners; the flexible thin shoots are used as walking sticks.

Mullein Verbascum 🌿

Mullein

Botanical name

Dense-flower Mullein - Verbascum densiflorum Bertol.

Family

Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)

Photo: ©  Saleem Yousuf Shah

📍Forest Block , Dah Ghoom Canal , North Bank

Useful information about the plant

Mullein is widespread in central and southern Europe, in Asia Minor, Morocco and many other places in the temperate zone. The genus name, Verbascum has been translated into English (Latin for 'Verbascum' = mullein). There are also indications that previously dried stems soaked with resin or wax soaked were used as candles or torches. With its abundant blossoms in golden yellow and looking like a large candle with its high stem the plant gives great honour to its name. A distinction is made between different types, and the Dense-flowered mullein is characterised by its height of up to 2m and flowers up to 5cm in diameter. The various epithets describe the features, such as Latin here "densiflorum" = densely flowered. The leaves are in a basal rosette and are arranged opposite each other on the stem and hairy like felt. The yellow flowers are slightly asymmetric and grow in clusters of 2-5 on a long tufted spear. Their petals grow together at the bottom, the upper 2 are somewhat smaller than the lower 3, outer hairy with fine wool. The 3 short-stalked stamens are conspicuously hairy, the two long-stalked stamens are leafless. Flowering time is July to September.

Medicinally used plant parts (drug)

The corolla, dried petals on it with the five stamens are used. The fine hairs of the petals and the three short haired stalked stamens give the dried flower a "woolly" appearance, which is why the drug is also known as "wool flowers." The commercial drug is mostly from farms in Egypt, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

Ingredients of the drug

Mullein flowers contain mucilage, flavonoids, iridoids and triterpenoid.

Descriptions of the quality

The quality of the mullein flowers - mullein (verbasci flos) - is specified in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.). According to the Pharmacopoeia also the flowers of the Common mullein (Verbascum phlomoides L.) and the Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.) may be used.

Medical Application

Recognised medical use

With catarrh of the respiratory tract (Commission E). The HMPC has classified mullein flowers as a traditional herbal medicinal product (see "traditional use").

Traditional use

Mullein flowers were classified by the HMPC as traditional herbal medicines (§ 39a AMG). Based on many years of experience mullein flowers can be used for the relief of sore throat symptoms associated with dry cough and colds.

Traditionally used in combination with other drugs to help the mucus in the respiratory tract (traditional use in accordance with § 109a).

Medicinal herbal preparations in finished drug products

cut drug to prepare tea, in tea blends (cough tea)

Finished medicinal preparations made with mulleinflowers are not available.

Dosage

Tea infusion: drink a warm cup of tea made from mullein flowers 3 to 4 times a day.

Preparation of a tea infusion

Pour around 150ml of boiling water over 1.5 to 2 grams of finely chopped mullein flowers (mullein) strain after 10 to 15 minutes. To make better use of the mucus of the drug prepare the infusion in cold water, strain after 2 hours and bring briefly to a boil.

Advice

There is currently no experience on the safety of using mullein flowers during pregnancy and whilst breast-feeding. Its use for coughs in children under 12 years old is not recommended, it should be dealt with by a doctor.

Side effects

None known

Interactions

None known

References

Drug monographs

HMPC, Commission E

Further reading

Wichtl: Teedrogen und Phytopharmaka, pg. 697

Schilcher: Leitfaden Phytotherapie, pg. 288

Van Wyk: Handbuch der Arzneipflanzen, pg. 336

Kommentar zum Europäischen Arzneibuch (Mullein flowers, no. 1853)

→ Medicinal plants

→ Glossary

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SHAHEEN 🦅

شاہیں

The Eagle

کیا میں نے اس خاک داں سے کنارا 

جہاں رزق کا نام ہے آب و دانہ

I am a scorner of the earth; where life is a handful of grains.

بیاباں کی خلوت خوش آتی ہے مجھ کو 

ازل سے ہے فطرت مری راہبانہ

My nature, like a hermit’s, loves wild solitude; I have saintly nature.

نہ باد بہاری، نہ گلچیں، نہ بلبل 

نہ بیماری نغمہ عاشقانہ

No breeze for me, no nightingale; no song of love, no song in the air.

خیابانیوں سے ہے پرہیز لازم 

ادائیں ہیں ان کی بہت دلبرانہ

I wing away from gardens, embowered with flowers enticing.

ہوائے بیاباں سے ہوتی ہے کاری 

جواں مرد کی ضربت غازیانہ

In wilderness the winds sharpen my ethereal flight.

حمام و کبوتر کا بھوکا نہیں میں 

کہ ہے زندگی باز کی زاہدانہ

I hunger not for birds of prey; mine is an austere life.

جھپٹنا، پلٹنا، پلٹ کر جھپٹنا 

لہو گرم رکھنے کا ہے اک بہانہ

To swoop, withdraw and swoop again is only a pretext to keep up the heat of the blood.

یہ پورب، یہ پچھم چکوروں کی دنیا 

مرا نیلگوں آسماں بیکرانہ

O East and west are for petty birds; mine is the world of boundless skies.

پرندوں کی دنیا کا درویش ہوں میں 

کہ شاہیں بناتا نہیں آشیانہ

I stoop not to make a nest; I am a dervish among the birds. 

(Translated by Mustansir Mir)