HIV/AIDS
Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retroviral disease that leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV belongs to the family of retroviruses that work slowly called lentiviruses. It could take up to several years for an HIV-positive individual to feel symptoms. the HIV virus is transmitted through blood-to-blood and unprotected sexual contact. The HIV virus infects and destroys the CD4+T Cells, which are the body’s primary infection fighters, leading to a lack of T cells in the blood stream. HIV/AIDS weakens the immune system, leaving the patient vulnerable to deadly opportunistic infections. This deterioration of the body’s lymphoid and immune organs is a crucial trait of the immunosuppressant that characterizes the AIDS virus. Therefore, AIDS is nothing more than the final stage of HIV infection. The American Center for Disease control defines AIDS as the point at which a patient with HIV has less than 200 CD4+T cells system wide as well as 26 different opportunistic infections which may afflict the body.
To understand HIV, it is important to consider the type of virus that the human immunodeficiency virus is. HIV is a retrovirus. Scientists define retroviruses as any virus that contains two RNA strands per virus cell in which the organism only contains RNA, not DNA. These viruses contain an enzyme called reverse transcriptase that reverses the host’s cellular DNA. Usually these viruses change DNA into RNA, which is crucial to the virus’ reproduction. The virus constantly copies itself. Leaving the victim with permanent genetic damage; retroviruses integrate into the rest of the body’s genetic makeup. HIV is set apart from the rest of the retrovirus family is that the virus uses the body’s CD4+T cells as its host, converting each disease fighting cell to a replica of the original virus.
Transmission
With almost 30 years of research, the cause and origins of HIV/AIDS is still unknown. However, scientists have been able to identify how exactly the HIV virus is spread. The HIV virus is spread through sexual contact, blood-to-blood contact, intravenous needle sharing, breast milk, vaginal fluid, semen, pre-ejaculate. In sexual contact, transmission occurs when an unprotected sexual act is performed. HIV is transmitted through the secretion of sexual fluids into the oral, anal or vaginal cavity. Blood transfusions also were a possible means of HIV transmissions but most blood donors are screened for HIV before they donate in the developed world. Small concentrations of the HIV virus is found in urine, saliva, and tears; however, there are no recorded cases in which someone became infected through contact with these bodily fluids. The virus can also be passed on from an infected mother to child. This can happen during gestation, during childbirth, and from breast milk. One in four untreated HIV-positive mothers will pass on the virus to her child. However, mothers who are treated with a combination of retroviral drugs and cesarean section pass the virus on to their children at a significantly less frequency.
HIV is not transmitted through casual touching, skin to skin contact, sharing towels, bedding, swimming pools or toilet seats.
What is an Opportunistic Infection?
An opportunistic infection is any disease that attacks the body of an HIV-positive individual due to their compromised immune systems. These infections seize the opportunity to attack the person’s body due to its weakened immune system, some opportunistic infections associated with HIV are considered rare in people with healthy immune systems. Sometimes opportunistic infections that are considered non-life threatening in a person with a healthy immune system can be life-threatening in an HIV patient. There are 26 indicator infections that attribute HIV’s transformation to AIDS. There are three different categories of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: A,B, and C. The criteria for AIDS is as follows:
Category A
• Asymptomatic HIV infection
• Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy
• Acute (primary) HIV infection with accompanying illness or history of acute HIV infection (29,30) Category B
Category B
• Bacillary angiomatosis
• Candidiasis, oropharyngeal (thrush)
• Candidiasis, vulvovaginal; persistent, frequent, or poorly responsive to therapy
• Cervical dysplasia (moderate or severe)/cervical carcinoma in situ
• Constitutional symptoms, such as fever (38.5 C) or diarrhea lasting greater than 1 month
• Hairy leukoplakia, oral
• Herpes zoster (shingles), involving at least two distinct episodes or more than one dermatome
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
• Listeriosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease, particularly if complicated by tubo-ovarian abscess
• Peripheral neuropathy
Category C
This type of AIDS has all of the above.
How is HIV diagnosed?
A blood test can confirm is a person has HIV or not. The test looks for antibodies, in the blood, that are associated with HIV. A positive result for HIV does not mean that someone has AIDS. Experts estimate that half of those of are infected with HIV will get AIDS within 10 years. It is recommended that anyone who is sexually active be tested at least once every six months. Early diagnosis of HIV is important because an individual can take the steps to get treated as quickly to slow the HIV virus’ transition to AIDS; thereby protecting themselves from opportunistic infections. Another reason that early diagnosis of HIV is important is because it can help to stymie the spread of the virus as abstention of sex and sharing needles is required of those infected. Women who are at risk and planning on getting pregnant should be tested to reduce the risk of passing on the virus to their children.
Symptoms
Not everyone with HIV report symptoms but there are some symptoms that are experienced early on and more serious symptoms that indicate more advanced HIV infection. The symptoms for early HIV infection are as follows:
• Fever
• Rash
• Swollen Glands
• Achy muscles and joints
• Loss of appetite
The symptoms of advanced HIV infection are typically felt eight to nine years after initial infection. The following symptoms are:
• Persistent enlarged lymph nodes
• weight loss
• persistent fatigue
• Night sweats
• Frequent fevers
• chronic diarrhea
• genital sores
• skin rash, or flaky skin
• joint stiffness and pain
• blurred vision
• short-term memory loss
• bone pain
• Thrush, fungal infection of the mouth caused by the fungus Candida. Mouth lesions are also common.
• Repeated bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.
Symptoms of AIDS
• A CD+T cell count of 200 or less.
• One or more of 26 opportunistic infections or conditions.
Treatment
The main type of treatment of HIV/AIDS is a drug therapy that utilizes a type of drug known as antiretroviral drugs. These drugs are also known as AVRs, Anti-HIV, Anti-AIDS, and HIV antiviral drugs. Some patients need to take more than one drug, doctors refer to this type of HIV/AIDS treatment as combination therapy. The types of antiretroviral on the market are as follows:
• Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors – these antiretroviral attack HIV by interfering with the virus’ production of reverse transcriptase that allows the virus to replicate. This drug has been on the market since 1987.
• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors – These antiretroviral drugs attack HIV in a similar manner to NRTI but inhibits the production of reverse transcriptase to hinder viral replication. This drug has been approved for use against HIV since 1997.
• Protease inhibitors – These drugs inhibit the protein protease that also allows the HIV virus to replicate. This drug was approved in 1995.
• Fusion or early inhibitors – These drugs prohibit the virus from entering and integrating with the T-cells. First approved for treatment of HIV in 2003.
• Integrase inhibitors – This antiretroviral attacks HIV by inhibiting the enzyme that allows the virus to insert its genetic material into human cells.
Side effects vary from person to person and it is impossible to predict exactly how each individual will be affected. Some people take antiretroviral treatment for years with few problems, while others find the same drugs intolerable. Nevertheless some characteristics and pre-existing conditions, such as high blood pressure or hepatitis infection, are known to increase the risk from certain side effects. Due to the variety of reactions, doctors should assess these factors before advising patients on which drugs to choose.
Myths and Misconceptions of HIV/AIDS
Due to its transmission associated with countercultural social behaviors, HIV/AIDS has a strong social stigma. HIV-positive people are people too and one should always respect all of humanity. This stigma against HIV-positive individuals is rooted in both rational fear and irrational fictions that are produced out of fear of the virus. It is therefore important to dispel common myths regarding the virus.
HIV/AIDS is a homosexual’s disease. The virus has an equal ability to infect all individuals regardless of sexual preference. Having unprotected with anyone with HIV infection will cause HIV transmission. 16% of men and 78% of women contract HIV through heterosexual contact.
HIV/AIDS is an immediate death sentence. When the HIV viruses were first identified, the death rate of those with HIV/AIDS was extremely high. Antiretroviral drug treatments have decreased the death rate significantly over the years, extending the life of millions who are afflicted.
Those who receive treatment cannot spread the virus. This statement is not true at all. Although treatment can prolong the lifespan of one who has HIV or AIDS, this does not mean that the individual is no longer capable of infecting others through the means listed earlier in this article.
It’s easy to tell is someone is HIV positive. Without blood testing, it very difficult to tell if someone has HIV. Most individuals who have infection are asymptomatic, meaning they do not show any outward sign of HIV. That is not a valid excuse to have unprotected sex with someone who’s HIV status is unknown. Get tested.