HIV means-Human Immunodeficiency Virus. AIDS- means- Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV is a virus and AIDS is a disease. Once the HIV virus enters into the human body, after 2-3 weeks, it causes ‘’ Acute Retroviral Syndrome’’. Symptoms and Signs of AIDS: Fever Pain in the muscles (Myalgia) Pain in the throat Swelling of the lymph glands Rashes on the skin Diarrhea and headache Vomiting The above symptoms subside within 2-3 weeks and antibodies are produced. After again 2-4 weeks of time, the patient becomes positive for HIV tests. Once the patient is positive for HIV, there after the patient will be free from any symptoms for 8 years (on average), then he or she develops HIV infection or AIDS. After the development of AIDS, patient may live for 1-3 years only. This is the normal history of the disease if the patient did not take any treatment for this infection. After the virus enters the body, the CD4 count increases and the viral count increases. CD4 count and related diseases: Normal count is 700-12000. 1. When CD4 count is 500 or slightly more: Disease that are present are, 1. Acute retroviral syndrome 2. Candidial vaginitis 3. Enlargement of lymph nodes. 2. CD4 count is 200-500: 1. Pneumonia 2. T.B 3. Herpes zoster 4. Candidiasis in the mouth 5. Kaposi sarcoma. 3. When CD4 count is 200 or less: 1. Pneumocystis carini pneumonia 2. Tuberculosis 3. Other opportunistic diseases develop in the body and also neurological changes takes place and patient loses mental balance. 4. CD4 count 100 or less: diseases present are 1. Herpes Simplex in severe stage 2. Candidial Oesophagitis. HIV is of two types- HIV1 (more common) and HIV2 (less common). Tests to diagnose HIV: 1. First of all test (screening) be done with Enzyme Immune Assays (serological Assay). If it becomes positive, then confirm this with Western blot test. This is the standard procedure. It is better to do any positive tests, two times, to confirm the diagnosis. Window period: First 3-6 months, usually, the routine tests show negative … [Read more...]
HIV, AIDS and Depression
Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) is first present itself in the blood. It does not mean the patient is suffering from AIDS. HIV sero-conversion takes 8-10 years to become AIDS. How HIV/AIDS Spreads: Due to sex: 42.2% Due to Blood transfusion: 15.96% Drug addiction: 13.5% For HIV to become AIDS, the time taken is 6-8 years. Now, the highly active Anti retro viral treatment (HAART) is giving some solace to the patients. Most of the HIV patients suffer from depression and social alienation. This makes the patient to commit suicide. So, counseling has major role in the treatment of AIDS along with medicine. … [Read more...]
25% of American girls have sexually transmitted diseases
25% of American teenage girls have at least one sexually transmitted disease (STD), according to a sexual health research study released by Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Human Papilloma Virus infection is the most common sexual disease in American girls. 50% African-American girls have at least one STD but only 20% of white teenage girls are infected by sexual diseases. 15% of girls have more than one STD. 4 most common sexual infections in teenage girls: 1. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) - causes cervical cancer. 18% of teen girls are affected. 2. Chlamydia – affects 4% of American teenage girls. 3. Trichomoniasis – 2.5% of girls are affected by this infection. 4. Genital Herpes – this sexual disease occurs in 2% of U.S teenage girls. The sexual disease research study was done on 838 girls (14-19 age group) in 2003-04 government survey. Among them, only 50% of girls had participated in sexual intercourse. Prevention of STDs: CDC recommends the 3-dose HPV vaccine for girls ages 11 and 12 and boosted doses in ages 13 to 26. Chlamydia screening is recommended for all sexually active women under age 25. Chlamydia infection and Trichomoniasis can be treated by antibiotics. … [Read more...]
Analysis: Sex diseases in United States
Incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is once again rising in United States, according to a national wide survey by CDC. Chlamydia is the most common reported STD followed by Gonorrhea. According to Centre for Disease Control (CDC), around 19 million STDs were reported in 2006 in United States. Most of the sexually transmitted diseases are reported in young women and homosexual men. 50% of new STDs are occurring in people aged between 15 and 24. Most of theSTDs were reported in black people. Chlamydia is the most common reported STD: Chlamydial infection causes abdominal pain, ectopic pregnancy, infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease in women. Most of women with Chlamydia infection act as silent carriers without any disease symptoms leading to widespread of the disease. More than 1 million new chlamydial cases were reported in US in 2006 alone. According to CDC, Chlamydia infection is the most common underreported infection due to its symptomless nature in most cases. Gonorrhea Infection: Gonorrhea cases which were in decline from 1975 to 1997 are once again rising from 2005 due to better detection methods and increase in resistant strains to antibiotics. Increase in usage of methamphetamine, a sex stimulant, is the major culprit behind this rise. Syphilis Infection: Syphilis infection is also on rise with 1,000 more new cases are reported in 2006. Congenital Syphilis cases are rising after declining for 15 consecutive years. Most of the new syphilis cases were reported in homosexual men. These homosexual men account for 65% primary and secondary syphilis cases. United States was miserably failed to eradicate this deadly disease. 14% increase in syphilis infections from 2005 to 2006 was an alarming signal for authorities. How to prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases: 1. To prevent sexually transmitted diseases, CDC recommended annual screening in sexually active women (aged 15-25). 2. Men should use condoms to prevent the spread of STDs. Please share your experience with sexually transmitted diseases. … [Read more...]
