The Disease Hiv / Aids

To begin with, many scientists found that HIV is related to a similar virus found in chimpanzee after conducting many researched they believe the virus was passed down from monkey hunters to human. Moreover, the first known case of HIV was reported in 1920 in

HIV occurs in three main stages: acute HIV infection, clinical latency, and AIDS. In the first stage those infected are very contagious, sometimes suffering from flu-like symptoms; however, this often

With such badly compromised immune systems people with AIDS get a growing number of serious sicknesses, they are called opportunistic diseases. With no treatment, the AIDS patients predictably survive about three years. The most usual Symptoms of AIDS are fever, chills, swollen, sweats, lymph glands, weight loss, and weakness. The diagnosis of AIDS is when the CD4 cell counts drops below 200 cells/mm or if they acquire certain opportunistic diseases. Being infected with the HIV can increase the viral load in

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus and can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if not treated (About HIV/AIDS, n.d). Unlike some other viruses, the human body cannot fully rid itself of HIV completely, even with treatment. Simply put, once you contract HIV, you have it for life. This disease attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help the immune system stave off infections. When left to its own devices, HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells (T cells) in the body, making the person more likely to

Clinical Latency: The disease then moves into a stage called clinical latency. This period is sometimes known as asymptomatic HIV infection or chronic HIV infection. During this phase, HIV reproduces at very low levels, but it is still active.. You may not have symptoms or infections at this stage_._ This period can last up to 8 years or longer. Some people go through this stage faster than others. And spreading of HIV is possible during this phase. In the middle and end of this stage, the viral level begins to rise and your CD4 cell count begins to drop. As this happens, symptoms of the diseases begin to occur as the virus levels increase in your body.

It is believed that HIV originated in Africa in the chimpanzees. Humans then caught it from them. HIV “jumped species.”

“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 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,

HIV is a disease with multiple stages of severity. Persons who acquire this disease may unknowingly be a carrier for years without realizing it. At early onset of acute HIV infection (Stage 1), a few weeks after exposure, viral replication is rapid and there may be mild, generalized flulike symptoms such as low fever, fatigue, arthralgia, and sore throat (VanMeter, 2014). Following this brief illness, if any, of stage I the person would then go into Stage 2 or clinical latency. This period can also be referred to as asymptomatic HIV infection due to the low levels of HIV reproductions. For some, this period can last many years to a full decade or beyond, but without treatment many will go through this phase quickly. Those that test

As the disease becomes more severe and the virus persistently destroys the immune system, this is known as early HIV infection. With the virus becoming more intense symptoms may vary from fatigue, once again swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, weight loss, fever, oral yeast infection, and even shingles. With no treatment of the HIV infection, this virus will become AIDS within ten years. With AIDS present the immune system has been extremely damaged and weakened, like those common illnesses such as the flu would be extremely more dangerous because the immune system is so broken down. The sign and symptoms of this final phase of HIV is soaking night sweats, persistent fever, bad diarrhea, rash or bumps, odd white spots or uncomfortable ulcers on the tongue or even around the mouth, weight loss, and random persistent fatigue.

Within the first few weeks of contracting HIV, 70 percent of people will experience flu-like symptoms—fever, headache, upset stomach, and muscle soreness are among the most common initial signs of an HIV infection. A positive diagnosis is possible at this stage, but many will not associate their symptoms with an HIV infection, unaware they have contracted the

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

The accepted theory is that humans contracted the HIV virus from chimpanzees that were infected with the virus. The hunters then killed and ate the chimpanzees then were infected. Another theory is that the chimpanzees’ blood came in contact with the hunters open wounds which also spread the virus to the person from the monkey. In the United States however the HIV/Aids epidemic didn’t raise any eyebrows until 1981. The first cases of HIV came to light when mostly gay men and patients that were impaired immune systems got sick with this virus and no one knew what it was. Many people had various nicknames like gay related immune disease, gay cancer and even community acquired syndrome. In 1982 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also known as the CDC, came up with the name Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome which is also known as AIDS. Dr. Robert Gallo of the National Institutes of Health claims that a retrovirus was most likely the cause of AIDS. In 1985 AIDS is put into the spotlight after actor Rock Hudson died from AIDS related illness. Rock Hudson also left a large amount of money to the American Foundation for AIDS research to help find a cure. There was a young boy named Ryan White who become popular in the news. When Ryan was a young boy he was treated for his hemophilia with many blood transfusions. Later it was found that he had contracted AIDS and in 1985 he was not allowed to return to his school as a teenager

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT) is the most accurate way to detect the HIV virus in a patient. (Kapler, R. 2015.). There have been different generations of HIV tests that have come out. The 2nd Generation HIV test checks for only IgG antibodies. The 3rd Generation, which is now getting phased out that can test for IgG and IgM antibodies. The last test is the 4th Generation HIV test, which not only looks for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies, but also the p24 antigen or HIV RNA (Kapler, R 2015.). The 3rd Generation HIV test came out roughly in the end of the 1990’s to early 2000’s (Kapler, R. 2015.). This test still requires a follow up confirmatory test of either WB or IFA. Many of the tests that showed repeatedly reactive on the 3rd Generation test were coming back negative or indeterminate on the WB or IFA (Rothman, R., Saheed, M., Heish, Y. 2014.). These patients were getting diagnosed as negative and leaving the doctors but never returning to be retested. This is a big issue because of immune variability among patients. HIV antibodies can take up to two to 12 weeks to show up in the blood of individuals who have become infected (Rothman, R., Saheed, M., Heish, Y. 2014.). The weeks before a person actually seroconverts and has the antibodies in their system are when they are at most risk of passing HIV on to another individual. HIV RNA testing can actually detect HIV infection in the blood within 9 to 11 days post

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), and is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. AIDS HIV/AIDS deteriorates a person 's ability to fight infections. It can be transmitted through direct contact of a mucous member or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid and breast milk and through unprotected sex and needle sharing. An HIV test checks finding. Medications may subdue the virus and delay the onset of AIDS. HIV/AIDS has had a great impact on society, both as an illness and as a source clear-sightedness. HIV/AIDS cannot be cured but it can be treated, it requires a medical diagnosis, and lab test. (According to 2005-2015 WebMD, “HIV/AIDS Health Center”)