Thinking to maintain your health?
Check out some blogs that can help you to learn something new!
Photo credit: by Dorothy Livelo from sketchify via Canva.com, by Camille Ramos from sparklestroke via Canva.com, by Canva via Canva.com.
AIDS- A Silent Death of Immune System
By GPT Admin 4December, 12, 2018
Introduction
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) in a more broader view, also known as advanced HIV infection is a type of spectrum disease caused by an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. Due to this spectrum virus, there might be no change in health or in some cases, the victim may have long time influenza-like illness. A person suffering from AIDS have a weak immune system. Not to mention, more the infection increases, more it affects the immune system that results in the risk of increasing of some other infections like tuberculosis and tumors. It is, in fact, the last stage of HIV where infection gets advanced and leads to the death of the patient if left unnoticed.
Etiology
HIV Diagnostic Tests[/caption]
There is no any special cause of AIDS, you might get infected with HIV and later may develop AIDS. HIV is the basic cause of AIDS that destroys CD4 lymphocytes resulting in impairment of cell-mediated immunity with consequent susceptibility to opportunistic infections. There are a number of reasons you might get develop HIV from the person who is HIV positive. The blood, vaginal fluid, breast milk and semen of HIV infected people are the causes of infection transfer from one person to another. Other possible causes include sharing needle (shooting drugs) of not detected viral infected patients or being born baby of an infected mother. However, no documented cases of HIV are found via tears and saliva transmission.
Gender Distribution
In the mid-1990s, AIDS was the leading cause of death. According to US CDC estimates, almost 1.3 million people are living with AIDS where 73% of about 56,000 new infections in men and 27% percent infection is noticed in women. But this rate has been decreased due to new and advanced treatments of AIDS.
Clinical Latency:
There’s a stage during symptoms, called Clinical Latency or chronic HIV. On the second stage, if treatment and diagnosing are not taken, the disease might stay for about three years to twenty years. At the end of this stage, most of the patients suffer from fever, weight loss, diarrhea, recurrent herpes zoster, severe pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical dysplasia, gastronomical problems, and muscle pains. Older age is associated with more rapid progression.
Signs & Symptoms
Now you must be thinking about how we come to know that we are HIV infected. Well, there are no obvious symptoms in some individuals. There is no physical evidence of HIV until unless blood tests are employed.
[caption id="attachment_565" align="alignnone" width="1280"]
Signs Of HIV/AIDS[/caption]
Within a few weeks of being infected, some individuals get
Fever
Pharyngitis
Mucosal ulceration
A headache
Stomach ache
Swollen lymph glands
Erythematous maculopapular rash mainly over the trunk
Sore muscles and joints for one or two weeks.
There is a possibility of a virus to multiply in body for few weeks/months before immune system responds. Some people consider it flu, but after these symptoms, one might stay healthy life for many years. Nevertheless, during this time, your immune system damages drastically.
Risk Factors
Following are the important factors that increase the risk of HIV acquisition
Injection Drug Use Transmission
Sharing needles
Intravenous use
The frequency of drug use
Sexual Transmission
Menstruation
Rectal or vaginal trauma
Increased number of sexual partners
Vertical Transmission
No peripartum prophylaxis
Prolonged rupture of membranes
Lower birth weight
Old gestational age
Diagnostic Investigations
HIV Antibody: Confirmation of HIV is by ELISA antibody testing.
PCR for HIV RNA
Viral load (HIV RNA): by CPR or bDNA or NASBA method
Currently, there is no way to “treat” HIV. However, antiretroviral therapy can prevent or reverse damage to your immune system. Most people stay healthy if they stay adherent to Antiretroviral therapy ( ART). There is significant protection against HIV who are vulnerable to become HIV positive. Bu PrEP ( pre-exposure prophylaxis) is only available that works only if taken regularly. Contact with your healthcare provider about immediate treatment as prevention.
