PART I.

INTRODUCTION
A. Background
Caring for someone with AIDS is no easy task. Not only does it require
physically caring for someone with AIDS, but it also means facing your own
concerns about the diagnosis and eventual outcome of the disease. Most
people fear an AIDS diagnosis in spite of the fact that the disease can
generally be treated.
Learning more about AIDS is an essential first step for caregivers
because of widespread myths and fears about the disease. People are afraid
of "catching" AIDS and, even today, a diagnosis of AIDS can feel like a death
sentence.
It can be difficult to learn about a disease when you do not know where
to start. This paper provides general information about AIDS, including what
caregivers can do to help people with AIDS.

B. Problems
1. What is AIDS?
2. Who gets AIDS?
3. What are common symptoms of HIV and AIDS?
4. How to do pain management with AIDS?
5. What you can do to help someone with AIDS?

C. Purposes
1. To learn and get more information about AIDS
2. To know some best steps that we need to face and communicate with
people with AIDS
3. To avoid something that can cause AIDS

PART II.
2

EXPLANATION

1. The Definition of AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) occurs when infection
with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) destroys the bodys natural
protection from illness. The immune system weakens to the point where it can
be invaded by opportunistic infections and certain cancers. These infections
would not cause problems for healthy people. For people with AIDS, they may
cause serious or even life-threatening problems.
Blood is an important part of the bodys immune system. White blood
cells help protect people from disease. Certain white blood cells called T cells
perform a crucial role. Some of the T cells are "helper" cells that signal other
cells to do their jobs. HIV attacks and destroys the "helper" T cells. When
enough cells are destroyed, the immune system no longer works and the
patient has AIDS.

2. People who Suffer from AIDS

In the United States, there have been more than 700,000 reported
cases of AIDS since 1981. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) estimates that as many as 900,000 Americans may have HIV. AIDS is
now the fifth leading cause of death among people between the ages of 25
and 44 in this country. (Adapted from the National Institutes of Health
HIV/AIDS Fact Sheet, December, 2000)
3

Unfortunately, there are many myths about how HIV is spread. People
may wonder if they can "catch" HIV. The disease is contagious but it cannot
be spread from person to person through the air. It is usually spread through
sexual contact with an infected partner. HIV can also be spread through
contact with infected blood. This can occur when drug users share needles or
syringes.
Myths about how HIV is spread
1. Food utensils (cutlery)
2. Towels and bedding
3. Swimming pools
4. Telephones
5. Toilet seats
6. Mosquito bites
And all off them are the wrong fact.

AIDS risk factors

1. Sharing drug needles or syringes.
2. Sexual contact (including oral, anal or vaginal sex) with
someone who is HIV positive
3. Having another sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis,
herpes, chlamydial infection, gonorrhea or bacterial vaginosis
4. Babies can be infected by an HIV-positive mother during
pregnancy, birth and, breast feeding
3. Common Symptoms of HIV and AIDS

Many people have no symptoms of HIV. Some have flu-like symptoms

a month or two after getting the virus. These may include fever, headache,
tiredness, and enlarged lymph nodes (these are organs of the immune
system in the neck and groin). These symptoms usually go away before they
are identified as HIV.
HIV and AIDS symptoms :
1. Large lymph nodes or "swollen glands" that may be enlarged for

more than three months.

2. Frequent fevers and sweats.
3. Skin rashes or flaky skin that does not go away.
4. Short-term memory loss.
5. Slow growth or frequent illness in children.
6. Cough and shortness of breath.
7. Seizures and lack of coordination.

8. Difficult or painful swallowing

9. Confusion and forgetfulness
10. Nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and/or vomiting that do not go
away
11. Vision loss
12. Unexplained weight loss
13. Fatigue or unusual tiredness
14. Severe headaches
15. In children: conjunctivitis (pink eye), ear infections, and tonsillitis

(Adapted from information provided by The National Institute of Allergy

and Infectious Diseases, 1999)
4. Pain Management to Handle People who Suffer From AIDS

People with AIDS someday have abdominal pain, throat pain and
headache are some of the most common types of pain experienced. You can
help by making sure the patient gets proper treatment for pain when it occurs.
How you can help obtain treatment for pain :
1. Find medical practitioners who understand people with AIDS-related
pain.
2. Ensure regular visits to AIDS pain specialists.
3. Ask questions of doctors and discuss your concerns.
4. Administer pain medication as prescribed.
5. Offer to massage sore or painful areas, if your physician approves.
6. Encourage the use of relaxation techniques to relieve stress and
decrease pain.
7. Find ways to avoid and manage stress in the household.
8. Distract people with activities he/she enjoys.
9. Watch for signs of pain or other discomfort.
10. Help the patient rate and record his/her pain in a daily pain journal.
11. Contact your medical practitioner if pain is not relieved by medication.

5. What You Can Do to Prevent HIV AIDS

1. For healthy people, abstinens, safe sex

2. For HIV-positive patients, abstinens, safe sex, not donate blood or
organs, prevents pregnancy, telling sexual partner before befor or after
known to be infected
3. For drugs abuser drugs, stopping the use of injections that used
together, follow the rehabilitation program.
4. For health professional>> using latex gloves at every contact with body
fluids, use disposable needles.

PART III.
CLOSING

A. Conclusion
HIV AIDS is a disease caused by a virus called HIV (human
immunodeficiency virus). This virus attacks the immune person, causing the
person susceptible to other diseases and can be difficult to recover. This
disease can be transmitted to others. However, unlike the myth of
transmission
1.

described

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2.

Use

sex

above.

Transmission

with

someone

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can
who

syringes

3.

occur

when:

has

HIV

alternately
Transfusion

B. Opinion

To avoid this disease is suggested that individuals do not use drugs,

because of the use of these drugs is feared to be caused by HIV infected
needles frequently used. In addition, if you want to accept blood transfusions
from donors better knowing the identity of the donor first.

REFERENCES

Departemen Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. (1989). AIDS Petunjuk Untuk

Petugas Kesehatan. Jakarta : Depkes RI
The National Istitute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 1999