HIV/AIDS

What is HIV/AIDS? 

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and it is caused by the HIV virus, or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is an STD, Sexually Transmitted Disease, and it can also be transmitted through sharing needles. When the virus enters the body, it binds to CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4) receptor (macrophage), whose functions are to get rid of foreign particles that are in the body, fighting and protecting from diseases, and then the virus reproduce in the macrophages. The spread of HIV virus results in different mutations of cells where it starts killing off the T-helper cells. The T cells are lymphocytes that are the arms of the adaptive defense system in the immune system. When there is a huge decrease in the T-helper cells in a body, that's when the person is in danger of having AIDS. AIDS is acquired when the immune system loses its ability to fight off pathogens and cancer. Pathogens are harmful or disease-causing microorganisms. 

Is HIV/AIDS contagious/infectious?
Yes, it is infectious. Like stated earlier, it is a sexually transmitted disease and it can also be transmitted through sharing needles or anything that gets in contact with blood.

Curable or no?

There are no cure for HIV/AIDS but medications can slow the progression of the disease. 

Scientists fear that the rapid evolution of HIC will make the effectiveness of medications and vaccines worse.

Brief Facts/Statistics: 

• A person can also be born with HIV, if the mother has it because they share the same blood cells. 
• AIDS was discovered in 1981. 
• AIDS has killed more than 22 million people worldwide.
• About 21% of those infected with HIV in the United States are unaware of their infection.
• 2011 data shows that approximately 34 million people around the world are living with HIV.
• In Philadelphia, youth (13-24) represent 25% of all newly diagnosed HIV cases.
• About 1.7 million people in the United States are infected with HIV. 

People who has HIV infection goes through three phases before turning into AIDS. This process takes years and there are no range as to how long it will take. 

• 1st Phase: 

First phase is little no signs of the infection, it is also called the asymptomatic stage. A test The virus inside one's body reproduce at a very increasing rate for weeks. This illness lasts for a few weeks because the body's plasma cells make antibodies to fight the virus. Phase 1 can last more than 10 years. Even during this early stage, a person can still be infectious, in fact it spreads more efficiently than the after phases where its more intense. The only sign that this phase can show is if the person visits the doctor and they come up with a result of HIV positive. 

• 2nd Phase:

During this phase, the immune system starts failing. The infection's symptoms are shown where the person starts getting fevers, fatigue, diarrhea, etc. The symptoms are shown below. It is also stated that the infected person tends to become more forgetful and experience abnormal thinking patterns. 

• 3rd Phase:

The most fatal phase, where the HIV infection is turning over to AIDs. Symptoms worsen at a deadly pace. The immune system starts lacking T-helper cells, which are the cells that recognize antigens, who fight to guard from invaders/viruses as mentioned earlier. The T-cells can drop down to 100 cells per cubic millimeter of blood, where in a normal body, there are 600 to 700+ cells. 

Symptoms Range from each phases:

• Asymptomatic stage, little to no symptoms, only a positive HIV test.
• 2nd phase: : Fever, Fatigue, Diarrhea, Weight loss, coughing, and lymph nodes swellings. 
• 3rd phase which is the when the infection is turning into AIDS: Fevers higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, Chronic diarrhea, headaches, white spots on the tongue, blurred vision, skin rashes and major weight loss. 

How can you prevent it?

Safe sex, using a condom shuns the transmission during an intercourse. Not sharing needles, and avoiding contact from blood.