Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a chronic disease caused from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which causes damage to the immune cells that protect the body from bacteria and viruses presented in daily life. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 1.1 million Americans are infected with HIV, and 21% of them do not know they have it. When the cells become so damaged, AIDS develops and can lead to death.
Causes and Transmission
AIDS results from the progression of HIV, a sexually transmitted disease and can spread through blood, semen or vaginal secretions in the body. Transmission also includes contact with infected blood or blood product.. Sharing needles and syringes for recreational drug use remains a very dangerous and high-risk behavior for developing HIV. In addition, a mother can transmit HIV to her children through pregnancy, delivery and breast-feeding. According to the Mayo Clinic, nearly 600,000 infants become infected with HIV each year.
Symptoms
Some people may develop flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, headache, fever and swollen glands but may not connect those symptoms with HIV. However, according to Mayo Clinic, some people with HIV and AIDS may experience no symptoms for eight or nine years or more. As the virus multiplies, later symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, diarrhea, cough and fever. The latest phase of HIV, when AIDS has developed, symptoms such as night sweats, fatigue, chills and fever, dry cough and shortness of breath, headaches, blurred and distorted vision, chronic diarrhea and weight loss prove common. Symptoms of HIV in children include problems gaining weight and growing normally, delayed mental development, problems walking and severe infections such as pneumonia and tonsillitis.
Complications
HIV and AIDS patients can become severely susceptible to many diseases due to theirs weakened immune system. Bacteria present in daily life can cause serious complications such as Bacterial pneumonia, mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), tuberculosis, salmonellosis, and bacillary angiomatosis. Viral infections such as hepatitis, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, human papillomavairus (HPV), and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy present other potential complications. Fungal infections such as candidiasis and cryptococcal meningitis, and parasitic infections such as toxoplasmosis, and PCP can also occur. Lastly, other complications include wasting syndrome, some cancers and neurological complications such as AIDS dementia complex.
Diagnosis
The tested blood or oral mucus contains antibodies to the HIV virus in positive individuals.Tests include ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), Western blot tests, home tests, and rapid tests which can give a result in around 20 minutes. Since AIDS develops from HIV, it becomes important to identify the official parameters of the condition. The CDC defines AIDS as the presence of a positive HIV-antibody test plus a CD4 lymphocyte count of 200 or less (normal range is 800-1200) or the development of an opportunistic infection such as an infection that occurs when the immune system is impaired.
Treatment
No cure currently exists so treatments and drugs can help extend the life of those diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. According to the Mayo Clinic, current guidelines focus on achieving the maximum suppression of symptoms for as long as possible. Anti-retroviral drugs prove the most common drug for HIV and AIDS sufferers as these drugs inhibit the growth and multiplication of HIV viruses and vary depending on the stage of HIV.
Prevention
Education is key in prevention to know how the virus is transmitted and how to protect yourself. Not engaging in unprotected sex proves extremely important. Using condoms can decrease risk as well as male circumcision according to MayoClinic.com. Also, using a clean needle for drug use, tattooing or piercing can help prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.
