According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2008 approximately 56,000 people in the United States were newly infected by HIV. It is a disease that affects millions of people globally and from all walks of life. Many advances in HIV treatment have been made, in both efficacy and streamlining; therefore, it is important that persons who are at risk get themselves tested.
Definitions
HIV is human immunodeficiency virus while AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV is a viral infection that affects the body's immune system by destroying T cells, which fight off infections. AIDS is the late stage of HIV in which the body's immune system is compromised, leaving the body susceptible to infections and illnesses that someone with a normal immune system can fight off. These illnesses are deadly to persons who have an immune system that is not working properly.
Origin
According to the CDC, scientist theorize that HIV originated in West Africa in chimpanzees that were hunted for meat by humans. Humans came into contact with infected blood, resulting in a viral infection that has spread through Africa and into the rest of the world.
Transmission
Transmission of HIV occurs when there is contact with infected blood or bodily fluid. HIV can be transmitted through sexual contact, contact with infected needles during injection drug use, contact with infected sharp materials used in health care settings and during childbirth or nursing.
Prevention
AIDS prevention focuses on reducing high-risk behavior. This includes having sex without condoms; persons who inject drugs should not share needles. In health care settings, universal precautions should be used to prevent contact with contaminated supplies and sharps. In addition, women who are pregnant and are at risk should get tested so that the proper precautions can be taken to prevent transmission to the child. In addition to stopping high risk behavior, the spread of HIV can be prevented through promoting testing in high-risk individuals. If a person knows their status, education can be done to prevent the spread while the appropriate treatment can be given to prevent the progression to AIDS.
Stages
When a person gets infected with HIV, they develop a primary infection. This can last for up to two weeks. Antibodies develop in up to three months and then they seroconvert to a positive HIV status. There is an asymptomatic stage, which can last for several years, and then there is an early and medium stage symptomatic period. This stage consists of the development of mild illnesses. When the damage to the immune system is severe, AIDS develops and results in opportunistic infections, or infections that people get with a compromised immune system. Getting tested, and getting treatment for HIV is the best way to prevent or delay the progression to AIDS.
