What if there was a disease that thousands of people a day contracted with no vaccine or cure, what do you think the world would look like? The world would look much like it does today, as there is a disease that infects thousands of people each and every day with no vaccine or cure. That disease is HIV/AIDS. A disease that is so powerful its position in our society has moved from epidemic to pandemic. In this paper we will explore HIV/AIDS and my one-day journey at one of Delaware County’s largest full service HIV/AIDS providers and how it changed my perspective on the disease and the people who carry it.
What is HIV/AIDS? HIV is an acronym for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus can only attack humans, hence the name, and reproduces by taking over the T-cells (or CD4-cells which help fight off infections) and uses them to make copies of itself (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services). Unlike most viruses the human body cannot seem to shake HIV, which means once you have HIV you have it for life. HIV is transmitted through certain bodily fluids and they are blood, semen (including pre-seminal), vaginal secretions, breast milk, and rectal fluids. AIDS, which stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is the last stage of HIV, but it is important to note that not everyone with HIV will succumb to having AIDS. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2014) people who acquire AIDS have immune systems that have been severely deteriorated which
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection is a long-term (chronic) viral infection. HIV kills white blood cells that help to control the body's defense system (immune system) and fight infection. HIV spreads through semen, pre-seminal fluid, blood, breast milk, rectal fluid, and vaginal fluid. HIV is commonly spread through sexual contact and sharing needles or syringes, because these behaviors involve exchanging bodily fluids. Without treatment, HIV can turn into AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), an advanced stage of HIV infection. AIDS is a very serious illness and can be life-threatening.
HIV has flu-like symptoms. The symptoms include fever, chills, rash, night sweats, sore throat, etc. If a person doesn’t take a medicine called ART (antiretroviral treatment) their immune system will weaken and then they will develop AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). The symptoms of AIDS are rapid weight loss, extreme and unexplained tiredness, pneumonia, memory loss, depression, etc. Symptoms of HIV can start between a few months and more than ten years. HIV can only be spread through certain bodily fluids. Most of the time it is spread sexually. It can spread by blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. In the United States HIV is usually spread through anal or vaginal sex without taking medicine to prevent HIV or using a condom. HIV is also spread by sharing needles or syringes. HIV can live in a used needle for up to forty-two days. HIV does not survive long outside the body. It also cannot reproduce once it is outside its host. HIV also cannot be spread by tears, sweat, or saliva as long as it is not mixed with blood. HIV is a biosafety level three agent which meant it
HIV is communicable disease that is caused by virus. This particular virus attacks the immune system which means people who suffer from HIV find it more difficult to fight of infection than the average person who does not suffer from HIV. This disease can be transmitted by direct contact, generally it is transferred by sexual contact between partners in fact 95% of those who suffer from HIV are contracted it this way. It can also be contracted by using dirty needles or any other contaminated tool. It can also be contracted by sharing sexual toys. HIV is commonly found in a person’s bodily fluids this means it is spread through, Sperm, vaginal and even anal fluids, breast milk and blood are also common.
Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome, which is popularly known as AIDS is a deadly disease as it attacks and adversely destroys body’s immune system. AIDS is brought about by a virus called Human Immune-Deficiency Virus, better known as HIV. This virus is minute, even invisible to a powerful microscope and can remain in the body for years without showing any visible symptoms. AIDS is the final stage of infection of the virus. It takes a period of about 10 years between being infected with HIV developing AIDS. The first case of AIDS infection in America was detected in 1959. Later, AIDS emerged as a fatal widespread disease in the 1980s in almost all countries in the world. This started with
When the AIDS and HIV virus crept its way into the human-race, it quickly, and without warning, claimed the lives of millions. Then when its destructive wake had finally been abated, it left behind several untold mysteries. Throughout the course of this class, all the new material we have been exposed to has added some unique piece to the puzzle of the AIDS epidemic. Each puzzle pieces have ranged from speculations on how the AIDS epidemic had begun, to what exactly has the epidemic done. We have also tackled the question and how it forced a change in society. Our newest piece of the puzzle is the documentary “The Age of AIDS,” by William Cran. Although this documentary did not surprise me in its content, it did, however, affirm certain types
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is defined by the Mayo Clinic as "A chronic, potentially life-threatening condition which is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV damages the immune system, and interferes with the ability the body has to fight the disease causing organism" (Mayo Clinic, 2014). HIV is an infection transmitted sexually. Another mode of transmission for HIV is by exposure to infected blood, or it could also be transmitted from the mother to the unborn child during the course of pregnancy, at childbirth or through breastfeeding. It may take several years for the HIV virus to weaken the immune system
AIDS stands for “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome”. AIDS is the final stage of HIV, and occurs when your immune system is badly damaged. AIDS is a very dangerous disease. People who have AIDS only typically have 3 years to live once they are diagnosed. Medical treatment is needed to prevent death from AIDS, without treatment, those infected have about a year to live (What Is HIV/AIDS?). AIDS is a life-threatening disease, but it comes with many more complications and consequences.
What is HIV? Depends on the introduction of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “HIV” stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a particular virus that taking over and destroying the immune cell to impair human immune system and only infect mankind. The AIDS that people called frequently is the final stage of HIV infection that stand for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. As a matter of fact, people have detected this disease for several years, but until September 24, 1982, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first time terms “AIDS” for this virus. (AIDS.gov,
The definition of AIDS is a disease in which there is a severe loss of the body’s cellular immunity, greatly lowered the resistance for things like infections and other bacteria’s and malignancy. The disease first started in the continent of Africa, which was apart of the chimpanzee version of a virus much like immunodeficiency virus. Which was known as simian human’s virus, this disease mutated and then manifested into the HIV virus once human beings began to hunt chimps. The disease Aids can be spread through the blood stream in a person, through cuts and things like that. Also it can be spread through unprotected sex and through the transactions of bodily fluids between different people. Once AIDS first was sited in
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, If left untreated, HIV attacks the the body’s nervous system and also cells that try to stop diseases or std’s, after a while HIV will kill to many of those cells to the point where there won't be enough to fight off any diseases and will start to break down the immune system. Most commonly from unprotected sex and sharng needles with the infected. HIV is transmitted from blood, sperm, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. HIV cannot be transmitted from saliva, HIV can also be transmitted from damaged tissue, open cuts, kissing or touching, mosquitoes, or blood transfusions. Aids is the more advanced stage of HIV. The symptoms are similar for both sexes-> chills, fatigue, fever, genital sores, mouth sores, muscle aches, rashes, sore throat, and
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. This is a sexually transmitted disease that will eventually morph itself into a disease known as AIDS, which stands for acquired immunodeficiency. HIV breaks down the immune system where it becomes extremely difficult to fight diseases that attack the body. Though HIV is most commonly transferred sexually, other way like through contact with infected blood, or from a mother to a baby through child birth, and if that doesn’t do it then the person who is infected could infect the child through breast feeding. AIDS is known as a disease where there is an extremely lessen amount of the body’s cellular immunity cells. This causes danger of being infected, by any kind of disease, since the immune
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), is an infection that is sexually transmitted. It can be spread by contact with any blood that carries the infection or from mother to child through birth. Also, If a mother is infected with HIV after the birth of her child, the infection can still be passed on through breast feeding. HIV attacks your immune system, mainly focusing on the T-cells. T-cells (T lymphocytes) are a type of white blood cell that are very essential for human immunity. There are many different kinds of T-cells but can be put into two main groups; helper T-cells and killer T-cells. Killer T-cells use X-Ray vision
What is HIV/AIDS? HIV stands for “human immunodeficiency syndrome,” while AIDS stands for “acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.” AIDS is the final stage of HIV, which causes severe damage to the immune system. In our world today, over 35.3
AIDS is one of many outbreak diseases that have hit the U.S. It has spread all over the world and has been a major epidemic to our society. The disease started in the U.S. in the 1980s and has spread all over the states. AIDS is spread from person to person by unsafe sex, blood, and a mother’s birth milk because it is one of many transmittable diseases. You cannot get it from kissing, hugging, or just by random touch as some people might think. AIDS does not have a cure, but the symptoms can be reduced by treatments. AIDS has the ability to change a person or family’s life forever and it is important to know about this disease
HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS. A member of a group of viruses called retroviruses, HIV infects human cells and uses the energy and nutrients provided by those cells to grow and reproduce. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease in which the body's immune system breaks down and is unable to fight off certain infections, known as "opportunistic infections," and other illnesses that take advantage of a weakened immune system. When a person is infected with HIV, the virus enters the body and lives and multiplies primarily in the white blood cells. These are the immune cells that normally protect us from disease.