HIV/AIDS-ETIOLOGY PAPAER

HIV/AIDS



AIDS

The World Health Organization defines AIDS as an infectious disease of a serious nature with a broad spectrum of clinical signs and symptoms due to the action of a virus that once entered the body, mainly attacks the immune apparatus, reducing their organic defences, leaving the infected individual vulnerable to multiple infectious agents that can cause death. (Altman ,2011 )

What causes AIDS?

AIDS is an infectious disease caused by a virus called Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV or HIV) or AIDS virus. Belongs to the family of viruses known as the Retroviridae and are known at present two HIV viruses, HIV-1 and HIV-2, both attacks the immune apparatus invading T cells ( Making Headway Under Hellacious Circumstances ,2009, 6)

Methods of Transmission of Aids Virus

The AIDS virus is found in all fluids and secretions, but the epidemiology indicates that there is contagion they have to contain high concentrations of it. Therefore, the evidence established that its modes of transmission are:

Sexual contact through male genital fluid (semen) and crevice vaginal secretions of women (discharge).

Parenternally through blood transfusion or blood products (plasma, platelets), organ transplants, artificial insemination, surgery, dental treatment with use of sharps, sharps manoeuvres with non-professionals (sharing needles and syringes among intravenous drug users , practiced tattooing)

The intrauterine or prenatal (known as vertical transmission). The transmission of the AIDS virus from a pregnant woman to her child during pregnancy, childbirth or through breastfeeding

Should be noted that there is no evidence to support the transmission of the virus by other routes of infection (tears, saliva, sweat, etc.).

The AIDS virus infection is followed by an asymptomatic period (without symptoms) that can extend from 2 to 9 years. There are few cases that cover this period much longer.

The specific hum oral response occurs between 2 weeks and 3 months post-infection and may be accompanied by transient signs compatible with infectious mononucleosis. The duration of this asymptomatic period depends among other factors:

the magnitude of inoculation

the level of the host immune

route of infection

Once you have the symptoms and signs of the syndrome, begins a progressive deterioration that can lead to death in the ensuing years, depending on the time of the early initiation of treatment. The AIDS virus can enter the body as free or more often incorporated into a cell infected. It will then be picked up by a macrophage, through which the virus begins its replication. (Barré-Sinoussi ,2008 , 220 )

What are the AIDS risk behaviours?

Unsafe sex

The most important route of transmission of HIV / AIDS in the world is sexual, homosexual, or heterosexual. In general, the risk of sexual transmission depends on the prevalence of infection among the sexually active population. Homosexual practices are associated with increased risk of infection especially relations a genital receptive partner being the most exposed. In practice the risk of heterosexual transmission of HIV / AIDS is bidirectional but the probability of male-female transmission could be 20 times higher than female-male transmission.

In all cases the risk increases when you have a sexually transmitted disease ...