HIV and AIDS – The human immunodeficiency virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Description of HIV and AIDS

HIV virus, which affects the white blood cells, called T-cells (CD4). These cells are part of the immune system. They fight off infections and diseases. As a result,, HIV makes person vulnerable to serious diseases.

AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection. It is the result of serious damage to the immune system. This type of infection, that only occurs in people with weakened immune systems.

Causes

The HIV virus is transmitted through contact with HIV-infected blood or other body fluids. They include sperm, vaginal secretions and breast milk.

AIDS appears in the destruction of T cells, caused by the HIV virus.

HIV is transmitted through:

• Sexual contact with an HIV-infected person, especially intercourse or anal sex;
• From mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding;
• Thrust from an HIV-infected needle;
• Blood transfusion with HIV-infected blood (rare cause today, due to testing of all donated blood for HIV infection);

In rare cases, HIV can be transmitted through:

• Blood from an HIV-infected person gets into an open wound of another person;
• Sharing of personal hygiene items with an HIV-positive person (Shaver, toothbrushes, etc.).

Risk factors

Factors, that increase the likelihood of HIV infection or AIDS:

• Having multiple sexual partners;
• Homosexual acts with other men, and high-risk behavior (unprotected sex, the use of drugs during sex);
• Woman, who has sex with other men and women, and is a way of life with a high risk of infection;
• Injecting drug use, especially with used or dirty needles;
• Have regular contact with HIV-infected blood or other body fluids (work in health and correctional facilities);
• Born to HIV-infected mothers;
• Acceptance of blood donors, tissues, bodies, and artificial insemination;
• Being in geographical areas with a large number of AIDS patients;
• Have sexual relations with partners, that, perhaps, already infected with HIV.

Symptoms of HIV or AIDS

HIV may not cause symptoms for a number of years.

Early symptoms may appear a month or two after infection. They can last a few weeks. These include:

• Rapid weight loss;
• Dry cough;
• Sore throat;
• Recurring fever;
• Night sweats;
• Strong, unexplained fatigue;
• Swollen lymph nodes in the armpits, neck or groin;
• White spots on the tongue or in the mouth or throat;
• Headache;
• Discomfort of the world;
• Rash;
• Depression;
• Irritable mood;
• Memory loss or other neurological disorder.

After the initial, passing symptoms, there may be no symptoms for months or years. Then, following problems may occur during 1-3 years:

• Swollen lymph nodes throughout the body;
• Fungal infections of the mouth, polish, fingers;
• Repeated vaginal infections (yeast and Trichomonas);
• The development of the set of warts;
• Exacerbation of certain diseases, such as eczema, psoriasis, herpes infection;
• Shingles;
• Night sweats;
• Weight loss;
• Chronic diarrhea.

These disorders may continue 10 years or more, before HIV progresses to AIDS. It happens, when the levels of T cells fall below a certain level, and opportunistic infections occur. Examples of opportunistic infections and other complications of AIDS include:

• Thrush (overgrowth of yeast);
• Pneumonia (in particular, Pneumonia);
• Invasive fungal infections (thus causing the brain and / or lung infection);
• Toxoplasmosis;
• Tuberculosis;
• Viral infection of the brain;
• Kaposi's Sarcoma;
• Lymphoma;
• Cervical cancer;
• Eye diseases, due to cytomegalovirus infection;
• Severe intestinal infections, especially Shigella, Salmonella, and Campylobacter;
• Severe weight loss (wasting syndrome);
• Severe skin rashes;
• Reaction of drugs;
• Mental health problems, including depression and dementia.

Diagnosis of HIV infection or AIDS

On the basis of the symptoms the doctor may prescribe the following tests:

• ELISA test (By enzyme immunoassay) – used for the detection of HIV:
  • 95% infected will have a positive test within three months of infection;
  • 99% infected will have a positive test within six months of infection;
• If the ELISA test is negative, but there is a suspicion of HIV, the test is repeated again after a period of 1 to 3 months;
• Western blot analysis of the blood is usually done, to confirm the diagnosis, if ELISA was positive.

Treatment for HIV or AIDS

Medications can prevent, delay, or reduce the development of AIDS in many people, HIV infected.

Drugs to fight HIV

These drugs are often used in combination. They are often referred to as AIDS cocktails. These include:

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors:

• AZT (Zidovudine or ZDV);
• DDC (Zalьcitabin);
• Didanosine (Dideoxyinosine);
• D4T (stavudine);
• 3TC (lamivudine);
• Эmtricitabin (Эmtryva);
• Abacavir (Ziagen). Some patients, abacavir can cause hypersensitivity reactions, which can be life-threatening. Researchers found, screening for a particular gene can help prevent the reaction.

Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors:

• Delavirdine (Reskriptor);
• Nevirapine (Vyramun);
• Efavirenz (Stokryn);
• Etravirine (Intelence);

Protease inhibitors:

• Ritonavir (Norvir);
• Saquinavir (Invirase);
• Indinavir (Kryksyvanom);
• Amprenavir (Agenerase);
• Fosamprenavir (Lexiva);
• Nelfinavir (Viracept);
• Lopinavir (Kaletra);
• Atazanavir (Reataz);
• Tipranavir (Aptyvus);
• Darunavir (Prezista);

Combined pills:

• Atripla (Efavirenz, tenofovir and эmtritsitabin);

Other drugs:

• Enfuvirtid (Fuzeon);
• Raltegravir (Isentress);
• Maraviroc (Selzentry).

Preparations, for the fight against AIDS-related infections and cancers

People, who developed AIDS, often take drugs, which prevent:

• Pneumonia;
• Thrush;
• Repeated herpes infections;
• Toxoplasma brain infections.

HIV or AIDS

To prevent HIV infection must be:

• Abstain from casual sex;
• During sex, use a condom;
• Do not use other people's needles for injecting drugs or narcotics;
• It is necessary to limit the number of sexual partners;
• We must avoid sexual partners, who are HIV-infected or injection drug users;
• It is necessary to avoid transfusions of unscreened blood;
• Health care workers or correctional institutions:
  • Wear appropriate gloves and facial masks during all procedures;
  • Wash hands thoroughly and properly dispose of needles;
  • Carefully follow universal precautions;
• If you stay in a house with an infected person:
  • Wear suitable gloves, when handling HIV-infected bodily fluids.
  • Imposes on all cuts and wounds, their HIV-infected person's armband;
  • Do not use together any personal hygiene items, such as razors, toothbrushes, etc.;
  • Properly dispose of needles, used to treat.

Recent studies have shown, that circumcised men were significantly less likely to develop HIV infection compared to uncircumcised men.

To prevent the spread of HIV, if a person is infected with HIV, necessary:

• Abstain from sex;
• During sex, use a condom, for every act of intercourse, which results in the exchange of body fluids;
• Taking prescription drugs;
• Inform about the illness of former or potential sexual partners;
• Do not donate blood or organs;
• Women, if you want to get pregnant, you must talk to your doctor. There are ways to reduce the risk of giving birth to HIV-infected;
• If you have a child, not to breastfeed.