ABSTRACT
This chapter entails a discussion of HIV/AIDS and focuses on some of its main features, the problems they pose both for the understanding and control, and the nature of responses AIDS has generated. It is divided into three parts. The first examines the scenario regarding information and problems of interpretation. The second deals with the AIDS situation, particularly focusing on the major characteristics and trends. Lastly, the question and patterns of agency responses are discussed. Clinical studies suggest that while, the onset of AIDS is characterized by persistent, generalized swelling of lymph nodes, fever and night-sweats followed by what is commonly known as AIDS-related complex developing later into full-blown AIDS, the complications manifest themselves differently in different populations. The chapter has focused on HIV/AIDS and discussed it from the point of view of the major features, distribution patterns and responses that it has generated.
