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Hhv 8 Pathology

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Disease and Pathology
Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is commonly known as Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). “A disease will become an emerging infectious disease when the incidence in humans has increased in the past two decades” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). KSHV/HHV-8 has been around since 1872, it was first discovered by Dr. Moritz Kaposi (MacGill). This virus is known as one of the human cancer viruses, it causes Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma and the plasma cell variant of multi-centric Castleman’s disease (Thakker). HHV-8 has numerous modes of transmission and can be spread both sexually and non-sexually (MacGill). It is most common for people who are healthy and infected to not show any symptoms …show more content…

Asymptomatic individuals can transmit the infection to an uninfected partner through exposure to the viral shedding saliva or genital secretions (National Institutes of Health). If the individuals’ immune system becomes suppressed than they will start to show growth of abnormal tissue, typically purple or red, under the skin, in the lining of the mouth, nose, throat or in other organs (MacGill). The severity of this disease can lead to multi-organ failure is the individual is not treated correctly or manifests faster than the immune system can withhold (National Institutes of Health). This disease is more common in people that already have a compromised immunity such as transplant patients, elderly and people with HIV/AIDS (MacGill). A suspected skin lesions can be confirmed by punch biopsy (MacGill). Internal lesions can be confirmed KSHV by using X-rays, a colonoscopy, or endoscopic examination …show more content…

A person who may be at risk can also manage their risk by testing for the virus that causes KSHV. The HIV vaccine and antiretroviral drugs may also have an impact on preventing AIDS related KSHV ("What's New in Kaposi Sarcoma Research and Treatment?"). Other people who are cancer or transplant patients can’t do much to prevent KSHV besides that drugs that boost the their immune system in order to fight off the infection. “The human herpesvirus-8 seroprevalence among the general population in the United States is 1% to 5%” (National Institutes of Health). Men who have sex with men have the highest prevalence rate at 20%-77% (National Institutes of

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