What Is HIV?
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system by destroying a type of white blood cell (called CD4 cell) by making copies of itself inside these cells. As the primary function of these CD4 cells is to defend the body from illnesses, it gets progressively harder for a person affected by this virus to fight off even minor infections and diseases, let alone cancer.
What Are a Few Facts About HIV?
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HIV is the most common sexually transmitted infection.
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It is a virus that weakens the immune system and decreases the ability of a person to fight an illness or disease.
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There is currently no known cure for HIV. Once individuals get the virus, they have it in their body for a lifetime.
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But, it can be well-controlled with antiretroviral therapy (ART), and it has considerably reduced the number of deaths due to HIV infection.
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HIV can spread via contact with blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluid, anal fluid, or breast milk of an infected individual. Though it mostly transmits through sexual contact, there are cases where the infection transmits through the usage of objects used by the infected person, like a used razor, etc.
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HIV is not transmitted via sweat, saliva, or urine, which means one cannot get HIV by shaking hands, hugging, or touching a person with HIV.
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HIV often spreads during unprotected sex with an infected individual, sharing needles with drug abusers, or from mother to baby during childbirth or lactation.
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When HIV infection is left untreated, it can progress to AIDS.
What Are the Various Stages of HIV?
If individuals with HIV do not receive proper treatment, they will go through all three stages of HIV. However, HIV medication can halt or lessen the disease's course.
Stage 1 (Acute HIV Infection):
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Individuals are highly infectious and carry high levels of HIV in their blood.
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Many people experience symptoms similar to the flu.
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Get tested if one suspects HIV exposure and has flu-like symptoms.
Stage 2 (Chronic Infection):
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Clinical latency or asymptomatic HIV infection are other names for this phase.
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HIV continues to replicate in the body and is still potent.
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During this phase, people might not become sick or exhibit any symptoms, but they can still spread HIV.
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If HIV medication is used as directed, a person may never progress to stage 3 (AIDS).
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This stage could last for ten years or more, or it could advance more quickly without HIV medication. By the time this phase ends, the person may enter stage 3 (AIDS) due to an increase in the viral load.
Stage 3 (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS))
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The most serious phase.
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HIV can spread quickly and easily among those who have AIDS, as evidenced by their high viral loads.
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The immune systems of AIDS patients are severely compromised. They are susceptible to developing a rising number of serious illnesses or infections.
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Individuals with AIDS usually live for three years if they are not receiving HIV medication.
What Is AIDS?
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) refers to a set of symptoms caused by HIV. To determine if the person has AIDS, the criteria is a CD4 cell count of fewer than 200 cells per mm 3. The same would range between 500 to 1,600 cells in a normal healthy individual. Without treatment, HIV worsens in three stages: acute HIV infection, clinical latency, and finally, AIDS.
What Are the Few Facts About AIDS?
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The degree of immunodeficiency or the emergence of specific infections are utilized as markers for the progression of HIV infection to AIDS.
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AIDS is a group of illnesses and symptoms linked to acquired immune system deficiencies.
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The interval between contracting HIV and developing AIDS symptoms might range from 10 to 15 years.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of HIV?
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Fevers and chills.
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Joint pain.
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Fatigue and malaise.
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Rashes.
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Sore throat.
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Enlarged lymph nodes.
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Mouth ulcers.
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Rapid weight loss.
What Are the Various Ways to Diagnose HIV?
Research shows that the earlier the HIV is detected, the sooner the ART therapy can be started, and the better the viral load control and, hence, the quality of life. So, regular testing for HIV is important. Knowing the HIV status is also necessary to prevent spreading the infection to others.
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HIV Antibodies Test (ELISA and Western Blot): If individuals are to be screened for HIV for various purposes (job, blood donation, or after possible low-risk exposure), an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is the first test a doctor would order for them. If there is an HIV-positive result on the ELISA, the doctor would then order a more sophisticated test, such as the western blot test, for confirmation. This type of test is accurate only three months after a possible exposure as it takes that long for the immune system to produce enough antibodies at a level that can be detected by the test.
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Antigen or Antibodies Test (Combo Test): This test detects not only the antibodies produced by the body in response to the virus but also the p24 antigen, which is a part of the virus itself. So, it is reliable when done one month after the exposure, as p24 is present in blood in high concentrations a few weeks after exposure.
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HIV Nucleic Acid Test: This test detects the actual viral load. It is an expensive test that is not routinely ordered for screening purposes but to detect the rate of replication of the virus in HIV-positive persons. This test is reliable as early as 10 days post-exposure.
How to Prevent HIV?
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Apart from sexual abstinence, the only sure way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, is mutual monogamy (being in a committed relationship with a single person).
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If that is not practical, using a male or female condom correctly every single time is the best method to prevent HIV.
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Avoid high-risk sexual behavior such as unprotected genital, anal, or oral sex with a person whose sexual history is unsure of.
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Ensure the use of sterile needles every single time for drug shooting, body piercing, and tattooing.
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Consider pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if one is at high risk of being exposed to HIV (homosexuals and commercial sex workers).
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Take post-exposure prophylaxis within three days after being exposed to HIV-infected persons.
Why Is There No Cure for HIV Infection?
HIV belongs to a group of viruses known as retrovirus. The virus infecting an individual contains a DNA structure that gets mixed up with the DNA of the host body. Thus, this mix-up makes it difficult to form a treatment plan. This is why there is no cure for HIV infection. However, some medications can prevent viral multiplication in the host body. Antiretroviral drugs are given to prevent the multiplication of viruses, thereby reducing the viral load. It will enable the host’s immune system to repair itself. But this does not mean the infection can be permanently cured. Its complications can only be controlled.
Conclusion:
Acquired immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) is a life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The only way out of this is prevention. Once infected, the damages are going to be permanent. No drugs can cure the infection completely due to DNA mixing up ability. Be aware and stay safe.