Hiv / Aids : A Deadly Disease

For centuries, “AIDS has been spread through sexual contact and direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood, semean, and breast milk” (Disease background). Also, is spread through perinatal transmission which is when an AIDS-infected mother gives birth and passes the virus on to her child. The virus develops rapidly in the first few months affecting the immune system and preventing the body from fighting infections. The sex trade began to grow around the same time AIDS started to spread. Many say that, “most of the first AIDS cases were recorded in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1920, and by 1980 the disease was spreading in different parts of Africa” (Origin of HIV and AIDS).

Nearly three decades ago, there was an increase in deaths of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Developing countries have experienced the greatest HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality, with the highest prevalence rates recorded in young adults in sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa over three million people are killed by this disease (Macfarlene3). After this epidemic spreaded in Africa and killed people it branched out to other countries in the world.

The disease known as AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is the final stage of HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, which causes an exceptional amount of damage to the immune system. Certain white blood cells known as lymphocytes are destroyed, resulting in loss of the body's ability to protect itself against disease. Victims undergo an increased susceptibility to infections, various types of cancers, and neurological disorders. The origins and widespread epidemic of AIDS occurred from the 1970s to 1990s in the United States. There are a number of factors that may have contributed to the sudden spread including widespread drug use, the blood industry, and international travel. The 1970s saw an increase in the availability of heroin

Due to the colonization and urbanization of Africa the disease began to spread quickly, inventions like the car and poor hygiene in hospitals allowed the space for the disease to become more widespread.

This history of HIV/AIDS as a blurry timeline before the 1980’s since that was around the time reports came in which eventually become an HIV report. The origin of HIV can be traced back to the early part of the century. Some believe that in the 1920’s chimpanzees from the Congo came into contact with humans (Avert, 2016). Though reports were not identified as HIV until the 1980’s, the belief that HIV was already scattered throughout four other continents may have been incident (Avert, 2016). Even though for the past 30 years the world has been diligently working to find a cure and pushing prevention, we are still struggling each year with increasing diagnosis. The beginning of HIV did end with lots of death, but now with our improved antiviral medication there is hope for many.

HIV is a virus that can lead to AIDS. Patients infected with HIV often shows no symptoms until the disease has progressed to AIDS. HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids, but cannot be transmitted through casual contact. Most commonly, HIV is transmitted through sexual contact. It may be transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, such as needle sharing or accidental needle sticks in a healthcare setting. It may also be transmitted during pregnancy or birth from mother to child. It cannot be transmitted through casual contact such as hugging, playing sports or touching something that was touched by someone infected (CDC, n.d).

During the initial infection, the infected are reported to experience a period of influenza-like symptoms, which are soon followed by an extended period of time without any visible anomalies. As the conditions of the infected person worsen, it causes more and more problems with the immune system. The complications plaguing the immune system makes it difficult for the immune system to effectively combat disease. This results in the infected person becoming more likely to get infections. HIV spreads primarily via sexual intercourse conducted without adequate protection. Other ways to contract the disease are: contaminated blood transfusions, hypodermic needles, and passing from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.

It can be transmitted through blood and or unprotected sex. “They are being infected through unprotected sexual intercourse, drug use and babies being born with AIDS because the mother is infected” (Horton). AIDS can cause death and AIDS lowers your immune system until the point to where your body cannot push itself anymore. AIDS is a deadly disease, and since there is not a cure for AIDS many people have died from it. There are currently millions of people living with AIDS. But sadly also more than half of a million of them has died from AIDS. Most people are afraid to do checkups because they afraid to come out positive. If you have had unprotected sex before and you have the following symptoms: Swollen lymph nodes (lymph glands), Diarrhea, Fever, Cough, and unintended weight loss you may need to seek medical attention immediately. You are not vulnerable to AIDS unless you tend to keep doing things that may have you catch it. Also AIDS can be transmitted through breastfeeding. Such things as saliva and tears do not transmit the disease to others. There is a thing called antiretroviral treatment which slows down the process of AIDS for whoever may have it. Doctors say the antiretroviral treatment reduces the risk of death but also is genuinely expensive and has side effects to it. Another thing that the doctors say is that you can live from up to 6 months all the way to 11 years without any treatment. Even though

When it was first reported, scientists were unaware of the how many people were infected with HIV and how many developed AIDS. By the mid-1980 it was suggested that more than 100,000 men would have already been infected with the virus. In 1983, females were infected with this virus, and at that time, scientists believed it come from heterosexual sex. In the same year, children were infected with this virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that casual contact could transmit that virus. However, later that year, scientists said that HIV/AIDS could only pass to someone through sex, by sharing and injection syringe, though breastfeeding, and through contact with the blood of someone infected with the virus (History of HIV/AIDS Overview).

According to Weiss RA. (2008) ). The AIDS plague has already caused the deaths of over 50% its victims. All HIV-infected persons are at higher risk for diseases and death from opportunistic pathogens and neoplastic complications because of the AIDS manifestation. Once HIV infection started, it spread is driven by numerous factors. The arrival of the virus in the 20th century gave a resource for spread not only in the present but also in past human pandemics. According to Mayer K. et al., (2008) Development has led to increased numbers of people at

The disease AIDS is an acronym for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The first known case of the AIDS virus was found in 1970’s. The AIDS disease was made aware in hospitals among male patients who had same-sex relationships. The two main areas of this disease at that time was in New York and Los Angeles. “In 1982 the AIDS disease was enhancing Kaposi 's sarcoma and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia” (Scavnicky, 2011). In order for a person to be diagnosed with AIDS is due to having the HIV virus. The first HIV virus was detected around 1950. It was considered to have originated from monkey’s or chimps. It later had been spread to humans. The AIDS name had surfaced after the latter stages of HIV have

HIV and AIDS have affected millions of people throughout the world. Since 1981, there have been 25 million deaths due to AIDS involving men, women, and children. Presently there are 40 million people living with HIV and AIDS around the world and two million die each year from AIDS related illnesses. The Center for Disease Control estimates that one-third of the one million Americans living with HIV are not aware that they have it. The earliest known case of HIV was in 1959. It was discovered in a blood sample from a man in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Looking further into the genetics of this blood sample researchers suggested that it had originated from a virus going back to the late 1940’s or early 1950’s. In 1999,

When it comes to HIV/AIDS, it is still today regarded as the most critical epidemic that affects a significant number of people in the world’s population. HIV statistics for the end of 2013 indicate that around 35 million people are currently living with HIV worldwide, 38 percent less than in 2001. In the same year, around 2.1 million people became infected with HIV and 1.5 million died of AIDS-related illnesses. HIV and AIDS are found in all parts of the world, however some areas are more affected than others (“Global HIV & AIDS Epidemic,” 2014).

Since the beginning of the epidemic, AIDS has killed more than 30 million people worldwide, including more than 500,000 Americans. AIDS has replaced malaria and tuberculosis as the world's deadliest infectious disease among adults and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Over 13 million children have been orphaned by the epidemic. A person who is HIV-infected carries the virus in certain body fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. The virus can be transmitted only if such HIV-infected fluids enter the bloodstream of another person. This kind of direct entry can occur (1) through the linings of the vagina, rectum, mouth, and the opening at the tip of the penis; (2) through intravenous injection with a syringe; or (3) through a break in the skin, such as a cut or sore. Usually, HIV is transmitted through:

HIV, or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a virus which damages and kills cells of the immune system. It attacks the T-cells, key cells of the immune system, and uses them to make copies of itself. After being infected with the virus it progressively interferes and eventually destroys the immune system's ability to fight the anti-genes. HIV may develop into the syndrome AIDS, the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV is an STD - a sexually transmitted disease - and therefore most commonly it is spread through sexual contact, and the virus mainly enters the body through the penis, mouth, lining of the vagina or vulva during sexual activity. HIV can also be spread through sharing syringes or needles with someone who is infected with the