Transcript PPT-AIDS Crisis

Mr. Phipps
U.S. History
AIDS
Definition: Acquired
Immuno Deficiency
Syndrome
– AIDS is a severe
immunological disorder caused
by HIV
– Transmitted primarily through
venereal routes or by exposure
to contaminated blood or blood
products
– Results in a defect in cellmediated immune response
– Manifested by increased
susceptibility to opportunistic
infections and to certain rare
cancers, especially Kaposi's
sarcoma.
When, Where, Who, and Why
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The first few cases of AIDS were
discovered in 1983
Several young gay males in San
Francisco in 1983 were shown to be
exhibiting symptoms of Kaposi’s
Sarcoma, a type of cancer, which was
syptomatic of HIV/AIDS
While it was considered a “Gay plague”
AIDS affected all types of people,
including heterosexuals
AIDS population highest with risky
behaviors and at risk groups:
particularly drug-users, sexually active
people, people with multiple sexual
partners, bi-sexual sex activity, gay
sex, and unprotected sex with any
infected partner, hemophiliacs, and the
poor
Treatments
AZT: an antiviral drug used
in the treatment of AIDS
which has side effects of
liver damage and
suppression of bone
marrow
• Most HIV/AIDS drugs are
used for treating regular
infections and none of
them are cures
The Beginning
The Myth: Nobody got AIDS
from a monkey
• And the Band Played On talks
about Patient Zero, a flight
attendant who spread the
disease through unprotected sex
(Proved false)
• Unsure of how AIDS actually
started
• U.S. attention coincided with
the outbreak of Kaposi’s
Sarcoma in SF in 1983
Effects on Society
• Created increased prejudiced
attitudes and activities
targeting the LGBT community
• Prompted many protests over
Reagan’s lack of funding for
AIDS Research
• Forced increased research for
AIDS treatment with some
treatment options, including the
AZT “cocktail”
AIDS in Culture
AIDS Today
• Africa – 20% = 5,000,000
• India - 8% = 3,970,000
• Urban neighborhoods
around the U.S. - .6% =
900,000
• Many people still living
with AIDS and receiving
treatment