Hiv_Paper

HIV/AIDS Name University of Phoenix Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one of the most deadly diseases today. The virus that is responsible for AIDS is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death in individuals between the ages of 25-44. HIV belongs to a subset of viruses called retroviruses or slow virus. The virus infects the lymphocytes. Once the virus infects the lymphocytes, the virus replicates within them and them kill them and spread to others. The lymphocytes normally activate B-cell lymphocytes, and once this is done the body’s immune response is crippled. Once the virus slowly begins to attack the immune system, they kill off the healthy immune cells. The body once it has been crippled is open to infection and tumors. The destruction of the immune function leads to AIDS. AIDS is the final stage of HIV. There are four stages of HIV and they are as follows: 1.) The period following the infection is called the window. 2.) The second sage is call seroconversion. At this stage the body begins to develop lots of antibodies to fight off the virus. 3.) The third stage is called symptom free. During this stage the infected person many not have any symptoms. 4.) The final stage is AIDS. This stage is when the TCELL drop to below 200. HIV is an infection that leads to AIDS. The difference between HIV and AIDS is HIV is the virus and AIDS is the last stage of the virus. (http://www.essortment.com/all/hivaidsdiffere_pdo.htm) HIV can be transmitted in many ways. It is transmitted by body fluids, and that includes blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. HIV is also transmitted by unprotected anal, oral, or vaginal intercourse. A mother can transmit HIV to her child during birth and while breastfeeding. Individuals also can transmit HIV by sharing needles while using drugs. There was a time that individuals were getting infected blood by a blood transfusion. Today blood is screened. The center where the blood was donated will contact the individual if infected blood has been provided to the center. The person that has provided the infected blood will receive a call and the center will inform the person of the findings. Once the enzyme-linked imunosorbent assay (ELISA) test is positive then a test will be repeated and the test will be confirmed using a Western blot test. (Mulvihill et al., 2006) The immune system has changed, once a person no longer has HIV. HIV destroys cells in the body called CD4 T-Cells. The cells are a white blood cell. The immune system weakens the body and is unable to defend against bacteria, viruses and other germs and this is when the body develops AIDS. The innate immunity is when the body keeps harmful material from entering the body. The innate immunity fails in an AIDS patient because the immune system is weakened. The immune system protects the body from harmful substances. The immune system recognizes and destroys the substance; however an AIDS patient immune system is unable to protect. (http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/000821.htm) There is no cure for HIV infection or AIDS and there is no vaccine to prevent the HIV/ AIDS. The anti-HIV medications are used to slow the progression of the infection. The medication can suppress the virus. The drug is used to control multiplication of the virus. Once the drug therapy begins after the infection, the better chance the person the immune system will not be destroyed by HIV. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is also recommended for HIV treatment. HAART combines three or more anti-HIV medications. Individuals that take the anti-HIV medications can lead a normal life and the medications at times can have the virus undetectable in their bloodstream. (Mulvihill et al., 2006) The precaution to prevent the spread of HIV/ AIDS is the responsibility of the individual. A person cannot look at another person and tell if they have the virus. A person should know their partner’s status. They should make the person do a HIV test and inquire about the results. The only way to assure that the person cannot get HIV/AIDS is abstinence. Abstinence is refraining from sex and sexual contact is a way that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted. A person can also prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by using condoms. The person must make sure they get a condom made of polyurethane, instead of lambskin. Lambskin condoms are not effective in preventing the spread of AIDS. Individuals that use drugs should not share needles. Sharing needles can transmit HIV/AIDS antibodies through the bloodstream. A person can also prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by regular screenings. Mothers who are HIV positive should not breastfeed. There are medical advances that may prevent the child from infecting the unborn child. The last way a person can prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS is by avoiding another person’s blood. If a person is bleeding or if u is dealing with another person’s blood then the person should have on protective clothing such as gloves or masks to prevent from being infected. There are times that a person may need a blood transfusion; however the blood is screened and a person should no longer get HIV/AIDS. A global awareness campaign to fight against the spread of AIDS is World Aids Campaign (WAC). WAC offers a quarterly campaign that offers a newsletter on AIDS around the world. The awareness from the campaign is to assist people around the world about AIDS. The awareness wants to hold leaders and people around the world to keeping a promise. They assist with information about care, prevention treatment, and support. The awareness campaign usually provides different information. The campaign’s goals are to help in any way that they can for the people that are dealing with the disease. The information that is provided by the global awareness can assist with funds to help find a cure. The campaigns are worldwide. December 1 is World Aids Day. This is the day that everybody is provided with the different ways the disease can be transmitted, the number of people that are affected by the disease and who most likely will come in contact with the disease. The goal is stop the spread of AIDS. Global campaigns assist in many ways and there are many people that do not have the information that is provided during the campaigns. The focus of the program is to provide materials, posters, and websites with information throughout the year. Support is one of the greatest things from the campaign. There are many people that feel as though they do not have any support. The WAC organization work closely with civil society organizations and celebrities around the world to get information to the people. Many people do not support things that they do not have any knowledge about and this is why the campaigns are successful. ( http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/en/WAC2) HIV/AIDS is the cause of death of death for many Americans. The disease once was known for taking the lives of homosexuals and people on drugs. The disease has now evolved to everyone. There is not a cure for the disease; however there is much prevention for the disease. The prevention is up to the individual, by making a positive choice of prevention they will get a negative result n the HIV/AIDS test. There are many people today with HIV/AIDS living a healthy life and you may not now that the person is living with the disease. The medications that are assisting them can also make the disease undetectable in their bloodstream. The disease once took many lives of people, because there was not a lot of information provided to people. Today many people live for several years with the disease.