The Outbreak of AIDS in the United States

The Symptoms of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Human Immunodeficiency Virus has left a deep imprint on citizens affected today. The first recognition of AIDS occurred in the 1980’s and informed Americans to be more careful of their sexually activity. Some symptoms were similar to the common cold but were taken seriously after it lead to deaths. People assumed that HIV was spread by sitting on toilet seats or even hugging. The truth was that HIV couldn’t be spread as easily as everyone thought.

Many people use the terms HIV and AIDS interchangeably which is not exactly accurate. AIDS is defined as the most advanced stages of HIV infection (Russel, 86). It was discovered in the mid-eighties that HIV can be transmitted from one person to another through sexual contact, contact with infected blood or from mother to baby in breast milk. It then settles into the t-cells of the body and progressively destroys them. In 1985 a major study was done so that scientists could get a better idea of the structure of the virus and the exact effects it would have on infected individuals.

HIV has had a dramatic effect on the history screening and testing of blood donations. Since May 1985 all blood donated in the United States received testing for HIV antibodies, p 354. Still there are cases of negligence when the collection of blood is done. In 1983, a blood center knowing that blood from homosexual and bisexual men should not be accepted. The blood center even had a written policy stating that donors who volunteer that they are gay should not be allowed to give.

It is similar to other viruses because it needs to take over cells in the body to survive but it is different in the sense that the body cannot fight it off. The final stage of HIV is AIDS which is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. At this stage the body's immune system is severely depleted. It is the most severe damage that can be done. A big question that many people always seem to have on this topic is when did HIV become so prevalent in the United States.

Few modern health issues have received as much media interest and controversy as the AIDS virus. The AIDS virus was first named in 1981 to explain a collection of diseases that developed as a result of a compromised immune system. Individuals who were young and apparently healthy were showing signs of conditions that were typical of those with a severely depressed immune response. It was also noted, at the time, these conditions were limited to the gay community. As the disease became more prevalent, individuals, groups, and communities responded in fear and hatred toward the population they believed to be responsible for this epidemic, the gay community.

Throughout history, diseases have plagued humanity. Syphilis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) are two diseases, which have had significant impacts on the development of medicine. Due to the discovery of antibiotics such as penicillin, doxycycline, and tetracycline, syphilis is no longer prevalent in society and considered a serious disease. The symptoms of syphilis and the effects it had on people are nothing but a distant memory in the collective memory of society. Many people are unaware of syphilis and therefore unable to recognize its resemblance to the one of the most serious diseases of modern medicine, HIV/AIDS.

This disease is caused by the virus known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) (Structure of HIV), which attacks cells in the immune system, leading to the system's inability to resist harmful organisms. It damages the cells in the immune system, causing the body to lose the ability to fight off infections and diseases. During the course of infection, CD4 T-cells (a special type of infection-fighting white blood cells) are disabled and killed as their numbers decline. From 1981, when the first cases of AIDS were reported, through mid-1995, more than 476,000 individuals had contracted AIDS in the U.S. More than 295,000 of these individuals died. These numbers do not include those infected with HIV.

[5] The pathophysiology of HIV is indicative of a retrovirus. At the cellular level the most distinct feature of AIDS is the depletion of the helper-inducer lymphocytes or T-helper cells. The specific antigen CD4 present on these lymphocytes appears to be the target of the AIDS retrovirus. HIV does not usually cause disease as soon as it is acquired and therefore in most cases, has a latency period which may be variable. The ultimate problem in this disease is the progressive immunosuppresslon due to the lack of lymphocytes.

12 Apr 2013. Web. 10 Feb 2014. Jacobs, Jeffrey. “Anesthesia Alert: Q & A on Anesthesia Drug Shortages.” Outpatient Surgery Magazine.

AIDS (Acquired ImmunoDifficiency Syndrome) weakens the body¹s immune system so it is sensitive to infection. The AIDS virus primarily attacks the T lymphocytes, which are a main part of the immune system. The virus is also incubated in cells called macrophages, where it is accidentally sent to other, healthy cells in the body like neurons and lymphatic cells. After HIV is contracted, the person looks and feels healthy for up to 20 years before symptoms start occurring. During this time, the person can give the virus to another even though it cannot be detected by sight or smell.