1. INTRODUCTION
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) forms part of the genus Lentivirus, which itself forms part of the family Retroviridae. The virus is the cause of the disease called Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which primarily results in a decline in the hosts immune system, making the host susceptible to life-threatening infections and diseases. HIV may be sub-divided into two separate types namely, HIV-1 and HIV-2. The difference between the two is mainly that HIV-1 is more easily transferred then the transfer rate of HIV-2, while the rest of the symptoms, characteristics, and outcomes are approximately the same. The virus occurs as a free floating virus particle as well as within infected immune cells such as CD4+ T-cells.
2. DISEASE PROGRESSION
Below is a General overview of how one could describe the progression of HIV
ACUTE INFECTION
CLINICAL LATENCY
AIDS
Figure 1: Overview of disease progression
The acute infection stage is often defined by acute retroviral syndrome (ARS), which is characterised by fever, lymphadenopathy, pharyngitis, skin rash, myalgias, and other common flu-like symptoms. These symptoms generally start occurring within the first 2-4 months of infection but could take up to 3-6 months to show. This stage of diagnosis is often written off as the common flu therefore necessary measures are not taken and a crucial point of defence against the HIV-1 virus, from a medical perspective, is overlooked.
Clinical latency, also known as asymptomatic HIV infection, is characterised by a lack of symptoms and an apparent healthy CD4+ T-cell count. The HIV-1 virus is still present and active during this period but a relatively stable viral load is maintained. This p...
... middle of paper ...
...ment and Prevention of HIV Infection, lecture notes distributed at the University of Columbia , New York. URL http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/medical/pathophys/id/2009/hivantiColor.pdf. [Accessed: September 26, 2013]
[7] Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection – Treatment Overview. URL http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/tc/human-immunodeficiency-virus-hiv-infection-treatment-overview. [Accessed: September 27, 2013]
[8] Antiretroviral Drugs—PEP, PrEP and Treatment as Prevention. URL http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/Transmission_17146.shtml. [Accessed: October 6, 2013]
[9] Daily Dose of HIV Drug Reduces Risk of HIV Infection. URL http://www.n
iaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2010/Pages/iPrEx.aspx. [Accessed: October 10, 2013]
[10] Microbicides. URL http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/microbicides/microbicides/en/. [Accessed: October 11, 2013]
6 | Page
Human immunodeficiency virus infection / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system transmitted between people by the mixing of bodily fluids. It is an extremely deadly disease that has killed over thirty-six mi...
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS is cause by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) of genus lentivirus which is one part of the retroviridae family. There are two types of HIV which had been identified, HIV-1 and HIV-2. Shape and structure of HIV is roughly spherical with diameter of 1/100000 of a millimeter. HIV had a viral envelope which coats the external surface of the virus.
A significant research investment has been made in helping to reduce the burden of HIV-1 infection worldwide. Antivirals help delay the onset of AIDS. Vaccine research has achieved some minor victories. Animal models allow more thorough and representative study of HIV-1. While HIV/AIDS still remains a major concern for the global community, continued research will doubtless bring further advances, helping to prevent infections before they occur and to provide better outcomes for those already infected with HIV-1. Fortunately, the battle with HIV/AIDS—though far from being over—is going better than it ever has before.
HIV goes through several different movements before it leads to AIDs. The first step is the serioconversion illness. This symptoms of this illness is very similar to the flu and an affected individual will typically experience this 1-2 months after connection with HIV. The next phase is asymptomatic infection in which the patient does not have any symptoms. During this step the immune system is starting to go downhill. A great deal depends on how long this phase will last such as, how fast the HIV virus replicates and how the patient’s body deals with the virus. Some patients can stay in this phase for almost 10 years without any signs or symptoms. Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy is when the lymph nodes become infected and enlarged. The HIV affected patient can endure swollen glands during any stage of the disease. The next phase of the disease is symptomatic infection. During this time symptoms will reveal themselves and often opportunistic infections, but AIDS has not developed yet (Masur H, 2007). The final phase is AIDS. The patient’s CD4 T-cell count is below 200 cells/mm3 and the patient is starting to have severe immunodeficiency. Patient begins to have severe opportunistic infections an...
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retro virus that causes AIDS. HIV is a virus that can only be contracted between human to human. HIV weakens your immune system because this virus is destroying cells that fight diseases and infection in your body. A virus can only produce itself by taking over a cell in the body of its h...
Although antiretroviral treatment has reduced the toll of AIDS related deaths, access to therapy is not universal, and the prospects of curative treatments and an effective vaccine are uncertain. Thus, AIDS will continue to pose a significant public health threat for decades to come.
Spink, Gemma. "AIDS." AVERTing HIV and AIDS. 23 Dec 2009. Web. 11 Jan 2010. .
“In 1980, a life-threatening human immune dysfunction of unknown origins was noticed in Central Africa, Europe, and the United States” (Poindexter, 2007, p. 6). In 1981, in the United States, the disease was first reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Unlike numerous other viruses, the human body cannot rid itself of HIV. That means that once you have HIV, you have it for life (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). Currently, no cure exists for HIV. Thankfully, with giant leaps in today’s medical and technological advancements in pharmaceutical research this disease is now considered to be a chronic condition. Today, with proper medical management and compliance the infected p...
According to the World Health Organization, HIV/AIDS is the leading infectious killer in the world with the death toll estimated around 36 million people (WHO, 2014). HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is very different from other communicable disease because the virus takes over cells in the body and weakens the immune system. It does that by destroying healthy, important cells that fight off disease and infection. The reason your immune system cannot fight this virus is still a question many scientists are seeking to answer, (AIDS, 2014). Scientists know that HIV is capable of being undetected in the cells of our bodies for long periods of time. The HIV virus invades our T cells, which are in charge of cellular immunity, and is able to duplicate itself in these cells and then destroy them. When too many T cells become destroyed the body is unable to fight off this virus, which leads to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS, (AIDS, 2014).
HIV affects the immune system, especially a type of T cells (CD4 cells). Over time, HIV destroys the overal...
For my final paper I chose to write about the treatment of HIV and AIDS. At first I will explain what HIV and AIDS are, what they can do to your body and how to get infected. After that I will outline what the pros and the cons of HIV and AIDS treatments are.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) leads to the life threatening Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV only lives in the blood and other bodily fluids. Concentrations of HIV are small in vomit, sweat, tears, and saliva and cannot be transmitted by those fluids. The main transmission is through fluids like semen, vaginal fluids, and rectal mucous during sexual contact, breast milk and amniotic fluid passing to children, and blood during transfusions and exposure. Beginning stages of HIV start with the acute infection. During the first 2 weeks to a month after exposure to the HIV infection, most infected individuals with display symptoms of a severe flu. The symptoms include fever, swollen glands, sore throat, rash, muscle and joint aches and pains, fatigue, and headache. The early period of infection is known as the “acute retroviral syndrome” (Stages, 2013). Once the virus is out of the acute stage it enters into the latency stage where it continues to replicate but no symptoms are shown. As the infection progresses and the immune system beco...
Many people with AIDS do not show symptoms for a long time, even for over ten years. The cause, HIV, is an STD. Human immunodeficiency virus attacks the T-cells, part of the immune system, and uses it to duplicate itself and spread. When the number of immune cells in one cubic milliliter of blood is less than 200, the infection is referred to as AIDS. The amount of time it takes for the cell count to fall so low varies from person to person, sometimes because of certain drugs or because the immune system is naturally less resistant to the disease (“Learn about HIV/AIDS.”).
Furthermore, HIV research has led to the acquisition of a wealth of knowledge in regards to treatment of the disease. In the mid-1980s, there was no known treatment whereas today there are over 30 agents. The most effective of them is combination therapy, which is far superior to individual therapy in “achieving complete suppression of HIV replication, durability of treatment response, prevention of development of HIV drug resistance, and reduced HIV and non-HIV-associated morbidity and mortality” (Abel et al, 2013). The therapy has had such positive results that recent data has shown that people with an HIV infection who have an undetectable viral load on therapy and achieve and...
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) first came to light in 1981. There has been a long and arduous global effort on the prevention of HIV/AIDS. HIV is a virus that is spread through body fluids that affect the specific T-cells of the immune system. Without treatment HIV infection leads to AIDS and there is no cure for AIDS. HIV infection can be controlled and the importance of primary pre...