Assignment 6c - Research Paper
November 29, 2014
Alex Pungello rpungello@knights.ucf.ed Richard Pungello
No modern nation is immune from the effects of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, on its population. The Republic of Italy is no different.
To understand how the Human Immunodeficiency Virus has taken shape within the Republic of Italy, it is first important to define and understand what this virus is in general terms. Human Immunodeficiency Virus is quite similar to other viruses, including the viruses that cause influenza –the flu- or the common cold.
There is an important difference, however; over time, an individual’s immune system can clear most viruses out of the body. That unfortunately is not the case with HIV; the human immune system cannot rid itself of this virus. HIV inflicts this damage by contaminating immune cells in the body called CD4 positive T cells; these cells are vital to the body for fighting infections (Douek, Roederer & Koup, 2009). Human Immunodeficiency Virus, in essence, converts the CD4 positive T cells into manufacturers that produce even more of the HIV virus; these go on to infect other healthy cells, eventually destroying the CD4 positive T cells (Douek et al., 2009).
As CD4 positive T cells are lost and the individual’s immune system deteriorates, a person will become more prone to illnesses and common contagions (Douek et al., 2009). AIDS is diagnosed when an HIV-positive person has one or more of these
HIV or the Human Deficiency virus is like other viruses including the flu, but the one thing that makes this virus so different than any other is that the body is unable to clear this one out completely. Once someone is infected, there is no cure. Over time, HIV can also hide or mask itself in the body's cells. The cells within a person's body that fight off infection are called CD4 cells or T cells. HIV attacks these cells and copies or replicates itself inside these cells, then destroys them. HIV over time will destroy so many of these cells that the body is unable to fight off infection anymore. When this starts happening, AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome happens which is the final stage
As the immune system becomes weakened it becomes more susceptible to other infections and diseases as well. There is no current vaccination available to prevent HIV. ("Bloodborne pathogens: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia")
What is HIV? It is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS if not treated. The Kaiser Family Foundation (2008), states that HIV attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help the immune system fight off infections. If left untreated, it reduces the number of T-Cells in the body, making the person more likely to get other infections. Also noted is the fact that HIV destroys so many of these cells that it renders the body helpless in fighting off the infections, while it takes advantage of the weaker immune system. This occurrence is part of the
Description: HIV, also known as human immunodeficiency virus, attacks the immune system allowing the patient's body to not be able to protect itself. “HIV attacks and destroys the infection-fighting CD4 cells of the immune system. The loss of CD4 cells makes it difficult for the body to fight infections and certain cancers. Without treatment, HIV can gradually destroy the immune system and advance to AIDS” (National Health Institute). The disease was believed to originated in the Congo during the 1900’s, but now is present
Normally, if an individual is already immunosuppressed by another health issue, the addition HIV can only further affect their immunity. When dealing with HIV, the cell-mediated immunity is affected. Components of this immunity, such as T cells and phagocytes that ward off foreign particles that enter the body are greatly reduced. The T cells are depressed by the Human Immunodeficiency virus which allows the body to be easily attacked by any foreign particle. Being immuno-depressed by this virus, promotes difficulty when trying to ward off another virus. An example of this would be if a person who has HIV contracts pneumonia, a health concern where fluid enters the lungs, they would most likely die. This due to the fact that pneumonia was able to invade and take over their immune system because HIV suppressed their immunity and the body was not able to fight off the
“HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help the immune system fight off infections” (AIDS.Gov, 2016).
HIV/AIDs is a huge epidemic still plaguing society today. The lack of knowledge and technical advances has caused an increasing number of cases. It has made its way around the world since the 1940s, causing countries to join together in the fight against AIDs. With all the campaigning that has been done the numbers of cases continue to rise. Countries have separated the disease into three patterns to make it easier to distinguish the effects that AIDs has on different regions of the world. As well as what subtypes sprout from what areas. HIV/AIDs can be spread in many different ways. The future is still uncertain for the victims whom lives have been dramatically changed by this deadly disease.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects the cells of the immune system. In particular, HIV attacks and destroys the T helper lymphocytes, or T-cells, which are crucial to the immune system and immune response. (These cells are also called CD4-positive lymphocytes because HIV uses the protein CD4, present on the surface of the cell, to attach itself and pry its way into the cell.) Each day, your body produces millions of CD4+ T-cells to help maintain your immunity and fight off invading viruses and germs. Once HIV is in your body, the virus is able to copy itself over and over, increasing its ability to kill CD4+ T-cells. Soon, infected cells outnumber healthy T-cells.
HIV and AIDS are sometimes used interchangeably, although there is a significant difference, and some HIV positive individuals will never develop Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Testing HIV positive means there are antibodies present in the system. HIV is classified into two phases: symptomatic and asymptomatic. Individuals show signs of a compromised immune system during the symptomatic phase, although with treatment advances, many are living asymptomatically. The progress of the illness can often be evaluated by looking at one’s CD4 and viral load
HIV corrupts the CD4 cells or T –cells, which weaken the immune system disabling the T-cells from detecting invaders such as viruses and bacteria. As more and more T-cells are destroyed, the immune system weakens and eventually progresses to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV/AIDS thrives in the blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast
Two to four weeks after infection a person can experience flu-like symptoms. This is when the virus begins to rapidly replicate, and during this time is when the HIV virus count is highest and the CD4 count drops rapidly. The lower the CD4 count the more susceptible the body is to other infections. Although HIV can be spread during any stage, there is a higher chance of spreading the virus because of the high virus load per cubic millimeter of blood. The second stage is known as clinical latency also known is inactivity, dormancy, asymptomatic HIV, and chronic HIV infection. Amid this aspect of infection the virus is active in the body, but there are low levels in the blood. Contagion is still existent, so precautions are pertinent. Affected humans can reach chronic HIV infection stage rapidly, but can be prolonged for a more than a decade with proper treatment. The final stage of HIV infection is known as AIDS, which means acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, meaning that the CD4 cell count is less than 200 per cubic millimeter of blood. Normal CD4 counts range from 500-1600 per cubic millimeter. During this stage the body can no longer protect itself from antigens. Common infections such as the common cold can ultimately be fatal to the
HIV and AIDS are often thought of as the same thing but in actuality, they are two different illnesses. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells, mainly CD4 also known as T-cells, that fight disease and infection. If HIV is left untreated, it can lead to AIDS. AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is the ultimatum condition when HIV is left untreated and is the most dangerous and life-threatening disease derived from it. There are three stages of HIV: The early stage, The clinical latency stage, and the late stage which is AIDS. According to The Foundation for AIDS Research, “nearly 37 million people are now living with HIV and 1.2 million people died from AIDS in
For about a hundred year, Human Immunodeficiency Virus has existed on the face of the earth. It is a virus to the human body transmitted from one person to another though physical contact such as sexually, breast feeding, needles, body fluids, etc. It has been one the world’s number one health issues. Millions of people have been effected by this virus and the number of the infected a year continues to grow, drastically! Sadly, after years of research there is still no cure for this deadly virus.
HIV is global pandemic stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, weakens the immune system by destroying the important cells in our body that fights against disease and infection. Our immune system is able to clear out most of the viruses from our body, but once you have HIV , you have it for lifelong. HIV can hide in our body cells for long time and it can attack the T cells and CD4 cells, a key part of our immune system to fight infections and diseases. Overtime, the HIV may attack so many of CD4 cells and our body is no more able to fight against infections. When this happens, HIV can lead to AIDS, the final stage of HIV infection. HIV can be transmitted through sexual contact, injection or drug use, pregnancy, breast feeding, occupational exposure, and rarely through blood transfusion and organ
AIDS is one of the most commonly known sexually transmitted diseases. The last stages of HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, are what we know as AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV is similar to other viruses like the flu or common cold except the human immune system cannot destroy the virus. The virus can hide in the cells of the body for long periods of time and attacks important parts of the immune system like T-cells or CD4 cells. Once HIV destroys a lot of CD4 cells the human body can no longer fight against infections and diseases. AIDS is diagnosed when the body cannot fight against disease and the patient has one or more specific opportunistic infections (OIs), different types of