ROLE OF ADOLESCENTS IN CONTROLLING OF

HIV-AIDS
Disease is the sickness of body or mind. It can be mild as sour
throat or serious as cancer. It can strike any part of the body and
affect a persons mental and emotional health. Cancer,
Tuberculosis, Brain Tumor, AIDS etc. are some of the diseases
which are really deadly and life threatening. But among them,
AIDS is the most dangerous and threatening.
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is final,
life-threatening stage of infection with Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV). HIV severely damages the immune system which is
the most important defense against diseases. Cases of AIDS were
first identified in 1981 in U.S.A. and since then billions of AIDS
cases have been diagnosed worldwide.
AIDS is caused by 2 viruses that belong to a group called Retro
Viruses. These viruses infect certain WBCs including T-helper cells
and Macrophages which play a key role in immune system. People
infected with HIV go through 3 stages of infection. They are:
1. Acute Retroviral Stage & Asymptomatic Period
2. Symptomatic HIV Infection
3. AIDS
The time a person stays in each stage varies and depends upon
many factors including medical treatment. AIDS can be
transmitted during all stages of infection. Acute Retroviral
Stage gets flu-like illness and usually goes away without
treatment. Symptomatic HIV Infection stage may show mild or
severe symptoms like rashes and dental illnesses, which may last
from few months to many years. The breakdown of immune
system leads to death within few years.

If compared to diseases like Malaria, Tuberculosis and Pneumonia,

AIDS is relatively a new disease that involves sex, drugs and
mainly affects young adults. For this reason, it has got a
widespread concern all over the world. Even if safe effective steps
and other medical methods against HIV are taken, AIDS cases
would still occur. This is because millions of adolescents are
already infected with AIDS. This worldwide problem has really put
a challenge in front of scientists who are attempting to develop
vaccines to boost the immune system of infected individuals.
The most important factor of transmission of HIV is the sexual
contact between the adolescents. Due to excitement, the
adolescents have sexual contact with a number of partners. Thus,
if a youth has sexual contact with anyone infected with HIV,
he/she gets infected. Such stuff should be avoided. Young
individuals can reduce the risk of infection by using protective
measures during sexual activity. They can also avoid it by not
having sex with infected individuals. But even then,
adolescents begin sexual activities at an early age, with many
partners or prostitutes, without using protective measures, and
then face consequences. What can one do with such individuals?
Education to adolescents about AIDS has become the chief
approach to prevent infection. Even the State and National
Government has understood the importance of giving education
about AIDS and have started public health clinics. Todays
adolescents have the advantage of public awareness programmes
started by international organizations like REDCROSS, which work
to increase awareness among adolescents. Adolescents should
take all advantages of such programmes to avoid that deadly
menace, AIDS. Due to such awareness programmes, these days
many individuals wear a red ribbon to support people infected
with HIV.
Individuals infected with HIV have been denied education and
jobs in many places. To prevent this, Government has made laws.

Preventing discrimination against AIDS patients is important for

moral reasons and maintain public health. When people are not
afraid of discrimination, they are more likely to seek earlier
counseling and test for HIV infection. This leads to less risky
behavior and earlier diagnose.
Thus, if the adolescents can understand the menace of AIDS
clearly and take steps to prevent its transmission, no doubt a day
will come when this evil will be wiped out completely from this
world.