HIV is a renowned lentivirus that leads to HIV infection and subsequently AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). AIDS is a state in human beings in which the immune system’s progressive failure permits cancers and other opportunistic infections, which are equally life-threatening, to thrive. There are two types of HIV; HIV-2 and HIV- 1. HIV-1 is the most infectious type and is more common as compared to HIV-2. The average survival time without treatment after infection is approximately 9 to 11 years based on the virus subtype (Glass & Stolley 8). Infection with HIV occurs when body fluids such as breast milk, semen, blood, etc. from an infected person are transferred to a healthy individual. HIV infects the very critical immune system cells such as the macrophages, dendritic cells, and helper T cells (CD4+ T cells). Infection with HIV leads t
...o a reduction in the number of CD4+ T cells through mechanisms such as the pyroptosis of infected T cells, killing of infected cells by cytotoxic lymphocytes or by HIV itself, and apoptosis of bystander cells that are uninfected. Cell-mediated immunity consequently is lost when the numbers of CD4+ T cells drop below a critical point, and opportunistic infections become increasingly persistent (Glass & Stolley 19).
Though the first HIV/AIDS diagnoses took place in the 1980s, scientists believe the origins of HIV date back to around the early portion of the 20th century and late 19th century in the central Africa region. They speculate that HIV mutated from Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (the chimpanzee version of HIV), which is found in the central chimpanzee of central Africa. They surmise that the transmission of SIV to human beings occurred whe
central chimps were hunted for their meat and contact was made with infected blood. Thus, as time went by, the virus gradually spread through Africa and to the other parts of the globe. In the US, HIV is known to have existed from around the mid-1970s (Glass & Stolley 27).
The time it takes for the symptoms of HIV to manifest vary from person to person, but the average period is about ten years. The symptoms occur in stages. Some of the initial signs include swollen lymph glands, slight fever, fatigue, headaches, and muscle aches. These symptoms may endure only for a few weeks then vanish for years. At this point, it is hard to tell whether one is infected or not (Glass & Stolley 35). AIDS usually sets in in the most advanced stages of HIV infection. Besides a severely damaged immune system, an individual with AIDS may have a thrush on the tongue, severe yeast infections around the private parts, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, infections with myriads of opportunistic diseases, and reduced mental abilities amongst other signs (Weiss 1275). The symptoms usually persist until the patient dies if there is no intervention.
Though there have been reported cases of complete recovery from the disease, HIV has no known cure. Once infected, a person has to live with the malady for life. About 1.2 people are living with HIV in the United States, with roughly 40,000 new HIV diagnoses each year (CDC). HIV/AIDS patients are usually prescribed medicine combinations known as “AIDS cocktails” i.e. highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). These drugs are designed to give the immune system a thrust to prevent the development of, or
relieve AIDS symptoms. HAART is very expensive drugs so not all HIV patients may access it. HAART can have grave and uncomfortable side effects. It only works for some individuals and may do so for limited periods. Despite these setbacks, HAART has succeeded to prolong the lives of many AIDS patients (Glass & Stolley 67, 71). Nevertheless, HIV remains a primary cause of death.
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