Introduction
HIV is one of the most deadly viruses affecting the human immune system. Scientists across the globe work day and night to search for the cure of the HIV bit to date no solution has ever worked. Despite there no cure for HIV, scientists have developed various treatments to assist the victim live longer and fight opportunistic infections. The paper discusses the case of a young female who had other symptoms diagnosed with HIV.
Common modes of HIV transmission in the developed countries and the populations at a greater risk of acquiring HIV
The HIV infection is transmitted through open cuts and breaks in the skin. It is also transmitted through mucous membranes, such as the ones inside the anus or vagina. Moreover, the virus is transmitted through direct injection. Transmission of HIV can happen through, sexual contact with an infected person or even sharing needles, syringes, and other injection equipment. Babies that are born to HIV-positive mothers can be infected with HIV before, during or after birth when the mother breastfeeds the child. Consequently, in a health care setting the professionals can be infected if they are stuck with sharp objects that have HIV-infected blood. During the blood transfusion, HIV can be transmitted to the receiver. Nevertheless, this aspect is rare because there is a careful screening of blood before transfusion can take place (Morison, 2001).
Youths are at a higher risk of contracting HIV in the developed countries. In the US, approximately 9800 people aged 13-24 were diagnosed with HIV in the year 2010.Men that has sex with men also contract the HIV at a high rate. Though gay men are a representation of about 2% of US population, they most of them suffer from the virus. Additionally, heterosexual partners were found to be at a higher risk of getting the virus. In 2010, U.S. heterosexual women were most affected with the virus (Bertozzi, 2006).
How Ms. Dellinger medical history and physical complaints correlate with diagnosis of HIV infection
Ms. Dellinger medical history correlates with symptoms of HIV-infected person. Her white blood cell count is abnormal. There are abnormalities in the serum calcium, and arterial blood gasses. The drug and alcohol tests were negative. She had described her symptoms as, nausea, exhaustion, generalized body aches, and muscle weaknesses before taking the tests. Patients who suffer HIV infection demonstrate similar symptoms as those described above. The HIV-infected person experiences such symptoms as, fever, fatigue, and rash. Other symptoms are swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, and body muscles weaknesses (Blower &Farmer, 2003). Therefore, the medical history and physical complaints correlated with the HIV infection diagnosis.
The purpose of Western blot tests and why it was ordered for Ms. Dillinger
The purpose of the Western Blot test is to perform a further test for the HIV infection. The test involved a series of blood screening activities and used to confirm the HIV infection in a patient. A series of blood screening is done to carry out the test. Apart from the Ms. Dillinger case, the test can be when the patient is a drug user, he or she has had unprotected sex, a person with an STD and a person who had undergone blood transfusion (Fearon, 2005).
The Western Blot test was ordered for Ms. Dellinger because they wanted to confirm if she had the HIV infection.
CD4 + T-cell and its role in the immune response
The CD4+ T cells trigger the immune response during an infection. They do not neutralize the infection, though. They trigger an immune response by recognizing an antigen on the surface of a virus-infected cell. They then secrete lymphokines that stimulate B cells and the killer T cells to kill the antigens (Zhu & Paul, 2008).
The reason for ordering CD4 plus T- cell count for Ms. Dellinger
The CD4 plus count was important, to assess the strength of the immune system. The CD4 count is the measurement of the number of blood cells present in a cubic millimeter of blood. A higher number indicates that the immune system is strong and in check (Sabin & Phillips, 2009). For Ms. Dellinger, the medical practitioner decided to do the count, before administering any HIV treatment to determine the strength of her immune system.
The relationship between the CD4 plus T-cells, HIV, and AIDS
The HIV attaches into the CD4 T-cells, uses the genetic material inside the cell, and replicates. As new cell comes out of the cell, the CD4 T-cell dies. The process continues where virus multiplication occurs while the CD4 cell decrease. Human body manufactures CD4 cells every day, but the virus replicates at a fast rate; hence, weakening the immune system. The CD4 cell count may decline to a certain level where other opportunistic infections attack the body. AIDS is the advanced stage of the HIV infection. It results from a weakened immune system. Victims of AIDS have a very low count of CD4 T cell. An AIDs victim has approximately 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. Other opportunistic infections also attack the body. They are pneumonia, tuberculosis and other fungal infections (May et al., 2014). Therefore, an AIDs victim has fewer CD4 T-cells compared to the HIV victim.
Conclusion
HIV infects the immune system of a human being. During this process, symptoms arise such as weakening of body muscles, fever, fatigue, and nausea. The virus decreases the immune system by attacking the CD4 plus T-cells. One cannot tell whether he or she suffers from the infection unless a medical practitioner carries out a test.
References
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