Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Or Aids Essay Example

the greatest risk to individuals' lives.

It has been recognized that HIV infection of the brain can lead to neuropsychiatric symptoms. Furthermore, HIV infection can result in complications such as fever, diarrhea, significant weight loss, and enlarged lymph nodes (see LYMPHATIC SYSTEM). When individuals infected with HIV display some of these symptoms but do not meet all the criteria for AIDS diagnosis, they receive a diagnosis of AIDS-related complex or ARC. However, there is an increasing belief that asymptomatic HIV infection and ARC should be viewed as stages of an irreversible progression towards AIDS rather than separate entities. In the late 1970s, a growing number of previously healthy individuals were found to be experiencing specific rare forms of cancer and severe infections.

In 1981, these disorders were first reported and mainly affected homosexual and bisexual men. However, it was later found that intravenous drug users, hemophiliacs, and those receiving blood transfusions were also at a higher risk of getting the disease. Additionally, sexual partners of infected individuals were also prone to infection. Research on AIDS patients showed a significant decrease in T4 lymphocytes which are crucial for coordinating the body's immune response against invaders.

In the past, there was a belief that the defect found in AIDS patients was acquired through the same means. However, Robert Gallo at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and Luc Montagnier at France's Pasteur Institute discovered a distinct T-cell lymphotropic virus in 1983.

The virus was initially referred to as human lymphotropic virus (HTLV) III, lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV), and AIDS-associated retrovirus (ARV). It is now officially designated as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). There is substantial evidence supporting its role as the causative

agent of AIDS. HIV-2, a variant strain, has been detected but is uncommon outside of Africa. The precise origins of HIV, both biologically and geographically, remain unknown. Nevertheless, this seems to be the first instance in modern history where the virus has extensively spread among humans. Related viruses have been identified in animals, particularly certain African monkeys; however, these do not cause illness in humans.

The HIV virus is a retrovirus that possesses RNA genetic material. When observed through an electron microscope, it presents as a compressed cylindrical core with two viral RNA molecules safeguarded by a rounded outer envelope. Like other retroviruses, HIV features a distinctive enzyme known as reverse transcriptase. This enzyme has the capability to generate a DNA copy of the viral DNA. Consequently, the virus can invert the standard procedure of genetic information and incorporate its own genes into its host's genetic material.

The activation process of the virus is crucial in controlling HIV infection as it can remain inactive for a variable and often prolonged period before becoming active once again. A critical stage in this infection arises when the virus binds to a receptor on a host cell, facilitating its entry into the cell. Research has demonstrated that CD4, predominantly present on T4 cells' surface, serves as this receptor. Although HIV mainly targets T4 cells, any other cell with CD4 molecules on its surface can also be infected. Consequently, monocyte and macrophage cells play a significant role as targets for HIV infection.

HIV can be found in various bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, saliva, tears, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, breast milk, and certain cervical and vaginal secretions. However, it is widely recognized

that HIV primarily spreads through three pathways: sexual intercourse (both vaginal and anal) with an infected individual; exposure to infected blood or blood products through non-digestive means; and transmission from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy or childbirth. These three routes are responsible for approximately 97% of AIDS cases in the United States. Among these cases, around 60% are attributed to transmission among homosexual men. Although heterosexual transmission only accounts for about 5% of cases in the United States, it plays a significant role in Africa and Asia.

Approximately 21% of AIDS cases are seen in intravenous drug users who contract HIV by sharing needles. The implementation of current practices, such as screening blood donors and testing donated blood and plasma for HIV antibodies, has significantly reduced the number of transfusion-related cases to around 1%. Nevertheless, there is a worrying increase in new AIDS cases among women in reproductive age brackets. In major cities across North and South America, Western Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa, AIDS has become the leading cause of death for women aged 20 to 40.

Black and Hispanic women in the United States are disproportionately affected by AIDS, representing 17 percent of the female population but accounting for 73 percent of women with AIDS. This disparity is also reflected in infant mortality rates, as more than 80 percent of HIV-infected children under 13 acquire the virus from their infected mothers. Between 24 and 33 percent of children born to infected women will develop the disease. It is worth noting that there is no scientific evidence supporting the transmission of AIDS through ordinary nonsexual conduct. Numerous careful studies have confirmed that family members

do not become infected with AIDS, even after prolonged household contact with infected individuals, unless they are exposed via the aforementioned routes.

Health-care workers have the potential to acquire HIV through contact with infected blood or accidental needle sticks. After becoming infected, individuals may not exhibit any symptoms or may develop an illness similar to mononucleosis. The time it takes for AIDS to progress after initial infection varies from 6 months to 11 years. It is estimated that around 26 to 46 percent of those who contract the virus will experience advanced AIDS within slightly over 7 years.

AIDS typically leads to a rapid deterioration, resulting in death within three years for most patients. The decline in T4 cells, which are crucial for immune responses, makes the body vulnerable to infections and cancer. The most common and life-threatening infection is Pneumocystic carinii pneumonia (PNEUMONIA), which often occurs first and causes the highest number of deaths. Other infections include parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii (TOXOPLASMOSIS) and Cryptosporidiosis; fungi like Candida (CANDIDIASIS) and Cryptococcus (FUNGUS DISEASES); mycobacteria including Mycobacterium avium, intracellulare, and tuberculosis (TUBERCULOSIS); as well as viruses like cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, and zoster (HERPES). AIDS patients, especially children, have a higher susceptibility to bacterial infections. Additionally, many individuals with AIDS develop cancerous conditions like Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Hodgkin's disease.

Patients with KS often exhibit minimal signs of immunological dysfunction, indicating that other factors may contribute to the development of these cancers. Additionally, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas such as immunoblastic and Burkitt's-type lymphomas, along with primary brain lymphomas, are observed in these patients. These tumors demonstrate high levels of aggressiveness and have limited response to chemotherapy, particularly in AIDS

patients who have previously encountered opportunistic infections. Roughly 60 percent of HIV-infected individuals experience neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is widely acknowledged that HIV can thrive and multiply within the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.

This condition can cause a range of symptoms, including meningoencephalitis (also known as encephalitis) and dementia. Current evidence suggests that HIV-infected monocytes in the bloodstream initiate the infection in the brain, although there is limited evidence supporting direct infection of neuron tissue by HIV. Individuals with HIV may experience abnormalities in blood cells, such as anemia, decreased white blood cell counts, and platelet deficiencies. Additionally, scientists have found that the virus can directly infect and replicate within bone marrow cells, which are responsible for producing circulating blood cells. As a result, bone marrow may serve as an important reservoir for HIV in infected individuals and potentially contribute to the spread of the virus throughout the body.

HIV is linked to a range of syndromes, such as nephritis, arthritis, and pneumonitis. Multiple factors contribute to the progression of HIV infection and AIDS by increasing susceptibility to infections and promoting viral activity. Other sexually transmitted diseases also play a significant role in this aspect. Genital skin and mucous membrane damage can facilitate the transmission of the virus.

Microbes commonly found in AIDS patients, along with mycoplasmas, are believed to act as co-factors based on laboratory studies. In the fight against HIV infection and AIDS, biomedical scientists are pursuing two main strategies. One strategy aims to create a vaccine that can generate neutralizing antibodies against HIV to safeguard individuals who encounter the virus. The other approach involves identifying and developing therapeutic agents to combat HIV infection and

AIDS. Presently, there is no existing vaccine for preventing infection; nevertheless, experts anticipate that a vaccine could become available in the next ten years due to recent advancements.

Despite the variations of the virus, HIV has numerous strains and can rapidly mutate within an individual's body. In the early 1990s, human volunteers across the globe were conducting trials for potential vaccines. Advances are also being achieved in managing HIV infection and its complications through two main approaches: antiviral drugs that directly target the virus and immunomodulators that bolster the immune system. Furthermore, continuous endeavors are underway to enhance treatments for particular opportunistic infections and neoplasms.

Developing effective treatments for HIV is a major challenge due to its intricate life cycle. Unlike other pathogens, HIV attacks the immune cells responsible for detecting and fighting against intruders. This makes it difficult to eliminate the virus without harming an already weakened immune system. Moreover, there are probably multiple places in the body where HIV can survive, making treatment more complex while minimizing harm to healthy cells.

Macrophage cells play a dual role in the replication of HIV. They assist the virus and at the same time conceal it from detection by the immune system. These mobile cells are vital for spreading HIV throughout the body, including to the brain. When searching for effective treatments, it is important to take into account additional factors. Because the brain is a significant site of HIV infection, any substance that fights against HIV must be able to cross the blood-brain barrier (see BRAIN).

Long-term or lifelong treatment may require oral administration of AIDS therapies. After testing various options in humans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

(FDA) has approved only two agents: azidothymidine (AZT) and dideoxyinosine (DDI). AZT inhibits virus replication and has shown significant life extension and delayed onset of full-blown AIDS in some patients. However, potential toxic side effects may limit its use in certain cases. DDI functions similarly to AZT but is recommended for individuals who cannot tolerate it. Several other promising drugs are currently undergoing clinical trials.

Various drugs are available for treating significant opportunistic illnesses. Ganciclovir or foscarnet can be used to address eye infections and prolong patient life. Additionally, aerosolized pentamidine is effective in combating Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, which helps protect AIDS patients from dementia. The FDA's delay in approving new AIDS medications has political implications that have surfaced. Activists are urging the government to expedite authorization by postponing specific tests that assess effectiveness and life-extending capabilities until after the drug is released into the market.

Activists argue that patients with life-threatening diseases and no alternative therapies should still have the right to choose drugs with a faster approval rate, despite concerns about unforeseen side effects.

In order to prevent the spread of AIDS in the absence of an effective vaccine or therapy, efforts focus on education and risk reduction. By avoiding risky behaviors, it is possible to virtually halt the further transmission of AIDS due to its limited routes of transmission. This goal can be achieved through education initiatives led by local community groups, statewide organizations, and national governments. In 1988, the US Public Health Service created a simple brochure providing information on HIV infection and AIDS.

The brochure was sent to every household in the country. Even though it is often difficult to achieve behavior change, studies

of the groups most affected by AIDS in the United States have shown positive signs that such change is starting to happen. In March l983, the major U.S. blood-banking organizations took steps to lower the chances of HIV transmission by asking individuals at higher risk of AIDS to not donate blood. They also expanded their screening procedures to exclude anyone with a history of risky behavior for AIDS or any signs or symptoms suggesting AIDS. In early l985, a test for directly screening blood for HIV antibodies was developed and made accessible.

Antibodies, which typically take a long time to form, indicate that a person has come into contact with the virus but do not determine if they will develop AIDS, although this is highly likely. Currently, all blood used for transfusions or blood product manufacturing undergoes testing for the antibody. This process involves an initial screening test called the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), followed by confirmation of positive results with a more specific test known as the Western Blot. Any blood that tests positive on either of these tests is completely removed from the pool of blood donations.

Tissue and organ banks follow a similar procedure to blood donations, ensuring the use of sterile equipment, which eliminates any risk of HIV infection. The AIDS epidemic greatly affects various facets of medicine and healthcare. According to the U.S. Public Health Service, the total cost of treating all individuals with AIDS in the United States in 1991 is estimated at $5.3 billion, a figure projected to rise to $7.8 billion by 1993. In 1991, the Public Health Service allocated $849 million to AIDS research.

Individuals who have been exposed

to HIV are facing challenges when it comes to obtaining sufficient health insurance coverage. The cost of AZT, for instance, can reach an average of around $6,000 per year, although in 1989 the manufacturer of the drug did offer free distribution of AZT to children infected with HIV. The annual expense for DDI is somewhat lower, at $2,000. The impact of the epidemic on society as a whole is becoming more and more apparent. AIDS tests are now mandatory in the military services.

There have been various suggestions for obligatory screening of different groups including healthcare workers. This is particularly relevant after a Florida dentist, who had AIDS, apparently transmitted the disease to five patients before his death in 1990. Several countries, including the United States, have implemented strict regulations to test long-term foreign visitors and potential immigrants for AIDS. Additionally, they also conduct tests on returning foreign nationals. In the United States, it is common to see efforts to segregate school-age children with AIDS from their classmates, or even exclude them from school entirely. However, governmental and civil rights organizations have effectively opposed these restrictive measures.

The physical and economic costs of the AIDS epidemic are expected to be high, regardless of the resolution of social issues. However, there are ongoing efforts at various levels to address the problem, providing hope for successful strategies against HIV-induced disease.