It was estimated that as of November 2006 there are 39. 5 million people who are living with aids. 2. 9 million have died in 2006 alone because of it. What is AIDS? AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome a disease of the immune system characterized by increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections (dictionary. reference. com). A person infected with AIDS is vulnerable to infections and diseases that can sometimes be fatal. At present there is still no cure discovered to treat AIDS. There are drugs sold which can only prolong the life of the person infected with it.
In 1981, among heterosexual men and drug abuser in America AIDS was first identified. After it’s identification, evidence was found that the epidemic already grew and spread to heterosexual men and women, and even children in the African region. AIDS quickly spread around the globe and became a global epidemic. AIDS is the effect of the infection of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)(texinfo. library. unt. edu). HIV is only attracted with a specific cell with a specific structure. It specifically attacks our white blood cells, our defence fighting mechanism.
A certain type of white blood cell known as CD4 is very vulnerable to HIV. Once the HIV attacks the CD4 cell it creates a new HIV. The newly created HIV leaves the cell in search for other CD4 cells and destroys the CD4 cell source in the process. About 1000 CD4 cells per microliter of blood is the average density of CD4 cells a normal healthy person should have (info. hustonline. net). Once a person is infected with HIV the number of CD4 cells steadily decreases per year. As soon as the density of CD4 cells reaches 200 per microliter of blood, opportunistic infections and caners take advantage of the defenceless person.
This may lead to diseases and sometimes even death (info. hustonline. net & Encarta Encyclopedia). HIV can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, use of contaminated needles, and it can also be transferred from mother to child during birth or breastfeeding. On 1st three weeks of infection the person may experience symptoms like fever, headache, skin rash, sore lymph nodes and a feeling of discomfort (library. thinkquest. org). This phase is known as acute retroviral syndrome. After this state, the person then enters the asymptomatic state, a symptom-free period that may last for ten years.
At this state the person experiences a healthy like state, while the HIV continually replicate destroying the immune system of the infected person. When the density of CD4 cells drops to 200 per microliter of blood the person then enters an early symptomatic state that could last a few months to several years. At this state the person experiences dramatic weight loss and excessive fatigue, occasional fever, diarrhea and a fungal mouth infection called thrush (library. thinkquest. org). A known test to detect HIV is to test for HIV antibodies in the blood.
With the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a test is conducted with a blood sample and proteins from HIV. If the blood contains HIV antibodies there would be a color change in the mixture. This test is only reliable if performed to a patient who is infected with HIV for two to three months. There is no known cure fore AIDS, Hospitals focus on 3 areas of therapy for people with AIDS: antiretroviral therapy using drugs to suppress HIV replication; drugs and medications to prevent opportunistic infections and cancers; and psychological support to help people deal with living with emotional stress caused by living with AIDS.
At present AIDS has still no vaccine. It is believed that the best way to stop AIDS is to prevent the development of HIV infection. Health officials focus on social awareness regarding HIV infections. They warn people of risky behaviors that are linked to HIV infections like unsafe sex practices, sharing of needles between drug addicts. Many believe that AIDS is a troubling trend in humanity’s future. We can conquer AIDS with the proper knowledge, education and prevention of the disease.
Reference:
Number of people with AIDS June 22, 2007 http://www. avert. org/worldstats. htm AIDS June 22, 2007, http://encarta. msn. com/encyclopedia_761554539_4/Acquired_Immunodeficiency_Syndrome. html AIDS, Average CD4 density June 22, 2007 http://info. hustonline. net/fm855/show. aspx? id=51785 Symptoms of Aids June 22, 2007 http://library. thinkquest. org/04oct/00924/symptoms. html AIDS June 22, 2007 http://texinfo. library. unt. edu/texasregister/text/1994/1202adop. txt