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...]
December 1 – World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day was first declared by the World Health Organization and the United Nations General Assembly in 1988. Friday will mark the 25th anniversary since HIV and AIDS were discovered in humans. AIDS or acquired immuno deficiency syndrome was first reported in the United States in 1981. Since then, it has become a global health problem affecting all regions, countries and communities. In 1983, the human immuno deficiency virus (HIV) was identified as the cause of AIDS. HIV Virus Structure: AIDS is a global pandemic, with nearly 40 million people across the world living with HIV. AIDS remains a worldwide concern, with the disease claiming more than 2.8 million lives in 2005, and 4.1 million more becoming newly infected with HIV, the precursor to AIDS. The HIV/AIDS epidemic started rather late in South-East Asia, the first case being reported in Thailand in 1984. An estimated 38.6 million adults and children were living with AIDS at the end of 2005. In India 5.7 million Indians were HIV positive and the country has the 2nd largest number of HIV infections in the world after South Africa. The WHO says AIDS has claimed more than 25 million lives since 1981, making it the deadliest ever epidemic in the world's history. How HIV Spread? Through blood-to-blood contact, which includes sexual contact or sharing needles with an infected person. Mothers may pass the virus while breast-feeding, as well as during pregnancy and delivery. Heterosexual contact with an infected person is the most frequent cause in the United states. Effects of AIDS: The virus multiplies in the body and destroys the immune system. A person with HIV infection can look and feel healthy but still transmit infection to others. After a gap of many years, the body defenses become weak and other organism such as TB, fungi, other bacteria, etc can infect the patient easily. These are called opportunistic infections Approximately 50% of HIV-infected persons will develop AIDS after 7 to 10 years of infection. The average survival time for a … [Read more...]
