Apparent Strong Links Detected Between AIDS And VD’s – Part I
During the 9th international congregation on AIDS, the scientists professed to more lucidly comprehend the reason behind why individuals infected with other STD’s or sexually transmitted diseases were more prone to contracting H.I.V. – the virus causing AIDS.
Numerous scientists stated that heightened endeavours against all STD’s would aid in curbing H.I.V. transmission. The scientists cited the instance of Sweden wherein both STD’s and H.I.V. infections were cited at the lowest.
Dr. Marie Laga, of the Institute of Tropical Medicine located in Antwerp, Belgium shed light on the fact that the employment of latest laboratory procedures in the past year has elucidated the link that was discovered in many former studies. Those studies have revealed that sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis, gonorrhea, chancroid amongst others could raise the likelihood of H.I.V. transmission manifolds.
Dr. Laga stated that the risk of H.I.V. transmission is raised due to two major ways. One way being that inflammation generally causes a surge in production of the infection-combating lymphocytes and other WBC or White blood cells that could erupt through the mucous membranes in the genital area. As the AIDS virus majorly targets these cells, their occurrence augments the group of cells that are more prone to assault.
The second way being that there is an increase in the number of WBC in the vaginal secretions and semen due to genital infections. Hence, a partner who is H.I.V. positive and carrying another sexually transmitted disease alongside would be a carrier of a greater number of infected cells and hence pose a significant risk of transmitting it to the other partner.
The infection spreads when the virus enters the white blood cells called the CD-4 lymphocytes. Cells vulnerable to such kind of assault are uncommon in the female genital tract and in circumcised men.
However, the virus is widely present in cells irritated due to other diseases that are present in the seminal, vaginal and cervical emanations.
Dr. Laga additionally mentioned that the virus is present in lesser amounts in the secretions of the vagina and cervix as compared to in the semen. This disparity implies that the existence of sexually transmitted diseases in women might increase the H.I.V. transmission from women to men.
Dr. Laga mentioned about the presence of inconsistency in the information regarding whether sexually transmitted diseases hastens the succession from viral infection to AIDS.
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