COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Communicable Diseases

Communicable Diseases: HIV/Aids

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to expand the boundaries of our knowledge by exploring some relevant and factual information relating to analysis of Communicable Diseases: HIV/Aids. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is a state of profound immune-deficiency that develops as a result of the immune system of the human being weakened over a passage of time. AIDS is caused by the immunodeficiency virus known as the HIV (Fan, Conner & Villarreal, 2011). The paper covers relevant information about the virus and history of the disease. Apart from that, the paper also presents the symptoms and causes of AIDS. The diagnostic criteria for the disease are mentioned and the means of transmission of the disease are highlighted. The paper also discusses the possible treatment methods known up to date (Weeks, 2011).

Evidence-based intervention of HIV AIDS

A prospective longitudinal analysis of clinical markers in 102 patients with primary HIV infection was performed to assess the risks and benefits of early treatment intervention. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the phase of HIV infection at the time of initiation of treatment. Preseroconversion was defined by the presence of HIV-1 RNA and negative results of HIV-1 antibody testing. Postseroconversion status was defined by positive results of HIV-1 antibody testing with evidence of seroconversion occurring within the previous 12 months. Fourteen patients who subsequently underwent a structured treatment interruption were excluded from analysis. The study was significant for the following observations (Mandell, 2010):

41 patients (40 percent) were treated during the preseroconversion phase and 55 (54 percent) had already experienced seroconversion.

There was no significant difference in absolute CD4 counts or time to virologic suppression for the pre- and postseroconversion groups.

Time to viral suppression was similar regardless of treatment regimen.

A blood test is considered mandatory for the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS infection in a person. The blood test do not actually detect the viruses, in fact it examine the production of antibodies is enough to fight viruses (Johanson, 2008). Generally, the body takes between a month and six weeks until it produces enough antibodies to register on one of these tests. Thus, if this virus is found in during the practices is considered risky, and it is advised to wait a period “window” of three months before undergoing HIV testing (Mandell, Bennett & Dolin, 2010). This procedure of these tests is very simple and helps in the determination if the virus is present in a person or not. In fact, after the detection of the viruses through the test, some additional tests are performed to validate the diagnosis. This allows a diagnosis of infection earlier than the detection of antibodies in blood, as they do not appear before 4-6 weeks (Weeks & Alcamo, 2011).

Treatment and Cure

Those diagnosed positive with HIV can prolong a healthy life style while increasing their life expectancy through using newly developed drugs. Therefore, HIV has lost the terror of the first years, and now corresponds more of a chronic disease with demanding lifelong ...