HIV

HIV in United Kingdom



HIV in United Kingdom

Introduction

The infection which causes the virus Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). In older times, HIV was considered as a fatal disease which cannot be treated. However, in present times as the technology has evolved strongly then HIV is believed to be a chronic disease and it can be treated effectively with the help of medication. The medication can be of a prolonged period may be of many years still HIV is curable.

The most rising health issue in the United Kingdom is HIV. In the United Kingdom, the overall pervasiveness of the HIV is comparatively low than other countries as new diagnoses and treatments rise every year since 1981 (Marrinan, 2007, pp.1). The number of people living in the United Kingdom with HIV is rapidly increasing year by year. This limit of the people has reached an estimate of 96,000 people (90,800 - 102,500) at the end of 2011.

These people are unaware of their infection, and their percentage is about 24% (19% - 28%), which is drastically increasing (HPR, 2012). The overall dominance of HIV among people is 1.5 per 1000 population. In 2011, the new diagnoses of HIV were 6280 in the United Kingdom (Wan, 2012).

Discussion

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a viral disease that causes the HIV infection. During this infection, the virus attacks the human body and obliterates the fighting cells to the infection. These cells are the CD4 of the immune system of the human body.

The loss of CD4 cells makes very complicated and hard for the body to fight against the infections. AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is the higher stage of the infection HIV.

Transmission of HIV

The infection of HIV is spread or transmitted through the genital fluids, semen, blood, or breast milk of a female that is infected with HIV.

People that are infected with the HIV can transmit this virus at any stage of this infection. However, its treatment at early stages can help people in living a long life. See Appendix No. 1 & 2 for annual HIV diagnoses in UK.

Men having Sex with Men (MSM)

In the United Kingdom, by the mid of 2012, almost 54,558 MSM had been diagnosed with HIV. Among this group, the number of advanced HIV diagnoses is gradually increasing since 2001. This is because of the increase in HIV testing and high risk of sexual behaviour.

Heterosexual Sex

The HIV diagnoses transmitted through the heterosexual sex in the year 2011 were mostly due to people who acquired this infection abroad. The heterosexual sex causing HIV within the UK is also increasing swiftly.

Injecting Drug Users

This group has played a minor part in the HIV epidemic in the United Kingdom than in other countries. Through this transmission route, almost 132 people were infected from HIV in 2011 in UK. However, almost 5639 people are HIV infected through this process since the beginning of HIV in UK.

Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT)

Inspection of mother to child transmission of HIV depends on the private deliberate ...