The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is an immune system disorder that can be contracted through sexual activity as well as other types of contact. (Healthy Living, pg. 79) If left untreated this virus can turn into AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). AIDS is the final stage of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). (aids.gov) AIDS is an incurable progressive disease that causes gradual destruction of CD4 T cells by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). (Diseases, pg. 431) A healthy adult has a CD4 T cell count of 1,000 or more but a person suffering from HIV could have a count lower than 200. CD4 T cells are crucial to the immune system; without them the immune system would not have the ability to fight off infections. One of the disquieting facts about AIDS is that the infected person may be asymptomatic for years. If the infected person does begin to experience signs and symptoms, their initial complaints are usually fever, rigors, arthralgia (joint pain), myalgia (muscle pain), maculopapular rash, urticaria (hives), abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. (Diseases, pg. 432) Fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, night sweats, mental deterioration, persistent cough, visual disturbances, intestinal inflammation, thick, white crust covering the inside of the mouth, sores in the mouth, anus, or nose, and sometimes dyspnea are among symptoms that often come along with AIDS. (Understanding and Caring for Human Diseases, pg. 346-350) Although there is no known cure for
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
Dan McClain is a sheriff in Scott County Indiana who opposed needle exchange programs until there was a surge in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outbreaks that were directly influenced by the drug Opana. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linking a HIV outbreak to Opana usage within Scott County in Indiana causes the need for extreme attention to this prescription pill. In March of 2011 Scott County experienced eight new HIV cases, and just two months later that number had increased to 81 new cases, causing a significant concern for Dan McClain. He is sheriff within Scott County and wanted to know how he could quickly intercept the worst HIV outbreak Indiana had ever experienced. The untimely involvement of Opana’s in
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
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 50% of youth with HIV in the United States do not know they are infected. (www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/age/youth). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a pandemic burden that has inundated the world for decades. Evident populaces persist more vulnerable than others. The control of this potentially lethal virus is possible nonetheless; early detection through screening and adequate treatment is needed to stop the blowout.
AIDS is a condition that develops when a person’s body has been weakened by HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus). HIV can spread through sexual contact or the sharing of needles. When someone has HIV, their immune system is weakened. When the immune system is weakened, an individual is susceptible to opportunistic infections. Kaposi’s Sarcoma, Candidiasis, Cryptococcus, Tuberculosis, Toxoplasmosis, Herpes Simplex, and a few of the opportunistic infections. The CD4 T-cell is slowly invaded. HIV uses the immune cell’s genetic material to reproduce itself and then kills the CD4 T-cell. An individual may not have any symptoms at this time. Once the CD4 T-cell count is below 200, the diagnosis is AIDS.
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS (auto immunodeficiency syndrome – the final stage of HIV) can be classified as one of the most devastating epidemics in United States history (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015). Although still an alarming concern in public health, due to prevention strategies and medical advances, the disease is less fatal and is treated as a chronic disease (instead of a death sentence, as in the past). There are currently 1.2 million people living in the US with HIV (CDC, 2015). The highest rates transmitted through sexual intercourse or injection drug use through the exchange of bodily fluids (CDC, 2015). It is estimated that 25% of those living with HIV are women, and only
Since the beginning of time, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been plaguing African American communities at an alarmingly higher rate than any other. The initial stereotype was that only homosexual, Caucasian men had this disease (which also helped contribute to the disease even further because blacks did not think that they had the possibility of contracting HIV). Poverty plays a huge role as well because those are the blacks most affected and since they are financially unable to afford proper, necessary treatment, they fall victim to this disease. Even though they may seem or look fine at one point in time, the virus can clearly take over their body once their CD4 cell count diminishes to less than 200 cells. This weakens the immune system and opportunistic infections now have the chance to invade the body and eventually kill the HIV (now AIDS) infected individual.
Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is one of the most important health challenges in the world, because it can be preventive. In the United States over 1.2 million people are infected with HIV, and roughly 1 in 5 people are unaware they are infected (CDC, 2014) One of the best and most effective ways to reduce the spread of the virus is by creating HIV awareness, by implementing intervention programs in high risk HIV communities. This paper will provide an overall view of HIV, risk factors/health behaviors and analysis on HIV intervention programs, and the responsibilities of health educators.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has become more commonly seen in the world. It is important to show compassion rather than judging that patient based on a virus. The hygienist plays an important role in making the patient feel comfortable and in a judgment free environment. The patient should not feel as if the disease or virus defines the overall character of the patient. Standards precautions are still the same when treating all patients with or without a compromising disease or virus. However, the hygienist should be aware of future signs and symptoms of the oral cavity due to HIV. Education on awareness will allow the hygienist to provide certain treatment to that particular patient to increase comfort and prevent further irritation.
HIV, also known as human immunodeficiency virus, is a lentivirus that targets the body’s immune system. Specifically, HIV targets white blood cells which are used by the body to defend against infection. The HIV virus destroys T helper cells and uses them to replicate itself inside of them. Without the proper treatment, HIV will eventually reduce the number of T cells in the body, making it more susceptible to infections and some forms of cancer. If enough T cells are destroyed, the body will be unable to properly defend against infection and disease. HIV is unique in that the disease itself does not kill the infected individual if left untreated, but instead opportunistic infections and diseases take advantage of the weakened immune system.
AIDS is the disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus type 1, or HIV-1 (referred to as HIV). HIV belongs to the retrovirus family, a group of viruses that have the ability to use cell 's ' machinery to replicate. HIV attacks the immune system by damaging or killing a specific type of white blood cell in the body called a T-lymphocyte, also called a CD4+ or T-helper cell. T-lymphocytes help the immune system perform its important task of fighting diseases in the body caused by invading germs. As a result of HIV infection, the immune system becomes weakened and the body has trouble battling certain infections caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Many of these infections are highly unusual in people with healthy immune systems. They are called opportunistic infections because they take advantage of a weakened immune system. People with HIV disease not only are more likely to contract these infections, they are more likely to have them repeatedly and to become much more sick from them.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been a major public health issue in the African-American community of the United States since the 1980s (Shisana et al., 2014). The documentary “ENDGAME: AIDS in Black America” shows the widespread nature of HIV in the black community. According to Renata Simone, producer of the documentary, “African Americans make up about 12 percent of the nation’s population, but account for almost half of all people infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.” The documentary features personal stories and interviews with those who are infected with HIV. Simone attributed the spread of HIV/AIDS in the black community to unprotected sexual activity, drugs, tainted blood transfusions, prostitution, and the stigma surrounding the disease.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a fairly common diagnosis with an estimated 1.1 million people in the United stated who carry the infection and is predominantly seen in homosexual Caucasian and black males.1 Prognosis for individuals with HIV is vastly different and is dependent on many different variables. The Center for Disease and Control (CDC) has classified the HIV virus into 3 stages based on the symptoms and the pathological progression of the virus. The first stage of the virus lasts usually one to four weeks, which presents with similar symptoms of mononucleosis (2 p 367). Stage two of the virus roughly lasts about ten years, at which point the CD4+ t cell levels drop to around 1000 cells/microliter (2 p367). During the final stage, stage 3 occurs when the CD4+ T cells levels drop to 200 cells/microliter, and the person is now infected with AIDS and the progression of the infection may be very rapid (2 p367). Ultimately, the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is a complex immune virus that is capable of destroying ones immune system, leaving their body defenseless.
In the early 1970’s, scientists in Japan and the United States began to study animal retroviruses to gain further knowledge about viruses that caused leukemia. Although animal retroviruses existed in non-human primates, it was believed that human retroviruses did not exist. However, after the T-cell lymphtropic virus was isolated from a patient with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, the human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV) became the first human retrovirus discovered and marked the beginning of scientific milestones.
Adults are not the only population affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Children are also affected by this virus. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), in the United States, there is more than a 90% decline in children who are infected with HIV prenatally since the mid-1990s. This is due to HIV testing and preventive interventions. The most common route of HIV infection in children is through perinatal transmission. Perinatal transmission is when a mother passes the infection to her baby. This transmission is through labor and delivery, breastfeeding, or during pregnancy (CDC, 2013).