Aids

Introduction

HIV is the abbreviation of “Human Immunodeficiency Virus”. We can explain HIV as a virus that damages or kills cells within body's immune system and makes body deprive of its immunity. AIDS is an acronym of “Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome”. It is considered to be the most advanced stage in HIV disease. HIV usually happens because of unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person. It also happens by exchanging drug needles or in contact with the blood of an infected one. Women can also transfer this virus to their babies during childbirth or pregnancy.

The initial signs in HIV involve infection in swollen glands and flu symptoms. They can appear and leave month or two after the infection. Severe indications may not emerge until months or years. Blood test can confirm if a person has HIV infection or not. Professional doctor can test for a referral or call the national hotline numbers. There is no cure, but there are medicines to combat HIV infection and infections and cancers that come with it. People can live with the disease for many years.

Discussion

HIV infection (AIDS): What is it?

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a type of virus that can cause a deadly disease called AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Infection with HIV progressively weakens the immune system, that is to say, the body's natural defenses against disease. If left untreated, serious diseases may occur. Normally harmless infections such as flu or bronchitis may get worse, become very difficult to treat or even death. In addition, cancer risk is significantly increased.

What distinguishes HIV and other viruses is that it attacks the immune system by taking control of CD4 T cells. The latter role is to coordinate the immune response when a virus is present. When HIV uses CD4 cells to spread, it damages them and destroys them.

Contagion

HIV is transmitted through body fluids: mainly by blood, but also through semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. In most cases, the virus is contracted at the time of unprotected sex or sharing syringes among injecting drug users. The risk of transmission through kissing with saliva exchange is practically zero.

In most industrialized countries, homosexual acts between men are the most important route of infection. However, heterosexual transmission has risen sharply since the beginning of the epidemic.

HIV is not transmitted in the following ways: You cannot contract it by a handshake, through sweat or tears. It is not carried by insects. We do not contract on toilet seats or swimming in public pools, by sharing food or using linen, towels and telephone of an infected person.

The epidemic

In North America, the first signs of the epidemic emerged in the late 1970s. Homosexual men were the first affected.

The HIV virus was isolated in 1983.

The first antiretroviral drug, AZT, was discovered in 1987. Triple therapy, significantly more efficient, became available in mid 1990.

About 40 million people worldwide currently live with HIV. Two-thirds of them reside in sub-Saharan Africa.

In Canada, just over 2,600 new HIV cases (presence of HIV antibodies, confirming the infection) were reported in 2008 2. However, this underestimates the true number of cases because it is estimated that 20% to 30% of Canadians infected with HIV are unaware of being. Those most affected were men aged 15 to 39 years.

Course of infection to AIDS

1st phase - primary infection. In the weeks after infection, about one-third of those affected have symptoms similar ...