Hiv/aids

HIV/AIDS

Awave of sickness fell across the nation. People developed flu-like symptoms, which then led to prolonged fever, swollen lymph glands, immense fatigue and night sweats, if the person in question showed any symptoms at all. People began dieing unexpectedly. No one knew what was causing the people to die so rapidly.

In 1983 the virus that caused this disease was finally identified as LAV (lymphadenopathy-associated virus) in France. Around the same time, the Americans discovered a virus thought to cause the disease they had now discovered was AIDS. They dubbed it HTLV III (human T cell lymphotropic virus-III) or ARV (AIDS related virus). Upon closer inspection of both viruses, they found they were, In fact, the same virus. They named this new virus HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

Now that the virus had a name, scientists needed more information about the virus. Scientist tested the virus non-stop. They discovered a number of things. Firstly, the virus was not hereditary, meaning it was not passed through genes to the youth. Secondly, they discovered the virus can be transmitted by four fluids: blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. Once these modes of transportation for the virus were discovered, sexual contact was quickly named the main cause for HIV transmission.

The first known cases of AIDS were mostly in homosexuals. Naturally, the public began to call this virus a "gay related disease". This came down heavily on the gay community, as if the burden of the already shunned sexual preference wasn't enough. Many people didn't know what HIV stood, for. The H is for Human, meaning it's a human transmission and can not be transmitted by a different species. The I stands for immunodeficiency, or a problem, or weakening of the immune system. The V stands for Virus, or a microscopic organism that carries a disease.

After HIV works its way into your system, you begin to develop AIDS. The A stands for Acquired, meaning getting from some means other then hereditary. The I stands for immunodeficiency, or a problem with the immune system and the S stands for syndrome, or disease. AIDS is an opportunistic infection caused by the weakening of the immune system by the virus known as HIV. By the time people with HIV develop AIDS, the virus has severely damaged the immune system. This leaves the person open to diseases a normally functioning or even slightly impaired immune system could weather. They May also suffer from cancers rarely found in a healthy body. The virus often enters the brain and other vital organs, causing loss of memory, difficulty performing simple motor skills, and loss of bodily functions. A diagnoses of AIDS is a CD4 count (a T cell that is part of the immune system) below 200 and an AIDS-related illness (opportunistic infection).

As of June 2001, there were 331,518 reported cases of people with AIDS in the United States. There are many more people who have HIV infection only, than people with full blown AIDS: between 850,000 and 950,000 people are estimated to be infected with HIV. Although it takes many years for HIV to develop into AIDS, scientists predict most people with HIV will eventually develop AIDS.

Nearly every country in the world has reported at least one aids case. The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS estimated that in July of 2002, 40 million people were living with HIV/AIDS in the world. Of these, 3 million were children, and 18 million were females.

HIV affects the immune system, but many people find themselves asking questions like "What is the immune system? Why is it so important?" and, "Where is HIV housed?" The immune system is a collection of cells and substances, including white blood cells, T cells and antibodies, which act as the body's defense against germs and bacteria. When the system works properly, white blood cells circulate through the veins and attack any organisms that shouldn't be there. Some of thee blood cells attack germs directly, by engulfing them; other cells make antibodies in response to invading germs. Antibodies usually defend against illness and infections, although this is not usually the case with HIV. Because HIV can change parts of its genetic make-up as it replicates, it can escape attack by the body's defenses. When the immune system is damaged, it is less effective at protecting the body against illnesses and infections.

People with HIV develop AIDS eventually, but not immediately, in most cases. The virus requires an incubation period. Since 1992, scientists have estimated that about half the people with HIV develop AIDS within ten years after being infected if they have not had proper treatment. The time between becoming infected with HIV and developing symptoms from AIDS is called the incubation period. During the incubation period, a person does not have symptoms; he or she is still able to infect others with HIV.

Earlier in this essay I mentioned an opportunistic infection. Opportunistic infections occur when the immune system doesn't work normally. HIV damages the immune system over time, weakening its defenses against disease. A person can be diagnosed with an opportunistic infection and still have an HIV diagnoses. Some the most common opportunistic infections include:

* Pnuemocystis Cainii pneumonia

* Tuberculosis

* Kaposi's