Good Example Of The Terrifying Normalcy AIDS Essay

Stephen Gould the author of “The Terrifying Normalcy AIDs” tries to explain the magnitude and prevalence of AIDs the society. HIV/AIDS stands for Human Immune Deficiency /Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome. The disease affects the human immune system. It’s a life threatening condition for it makes the body to be unable to fight off most infections that may attack. There is still no cure for HIV/AIDS but there are many remedies that are being used currently to wane the effects of the disease. The emergence of new infections is one of those factors that are making the fight against the disease to progress slower than it was initially anticipated.
According to Gould, AIDs is a natural phenomenon because it affects the minority groups within the society. He further gives a clear insight on some of the aspects attached to the disease. Through examining and evaluating the disease, the prevention measures and the effects of the disease are incorporated into the respective analysis. The preceding analysis proffers symptoms, causes of the disease, examining whether there are other types or forms of the disease, some of the additional tests, possible forms of treatment, and examining whether there is treatment for the disease. The depicted entities portray some of the key aspects that align with the topic under the study hence facilitating clear understanding on the concept of the study. Understanding the definition and the description of AIDs, a clear insight is examined on the prevention and how it affects the community. The title supports this definition because it tries to state that though AIDs is terrifying; it has become a normal aspect of the society. Factually, there are about 33 million people around the globe that are living with AIDs. United Nations estimates that in the US alone, 1.2 million have AIDs and the world loses about 2 million people every year due to AIDS related illnesses.
Gould makes a connection between reactions to the AIDs crisis and the human alienation to nature by stating that the disease gets into the body through the blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk from an infected person. The HIV virus inhibits the effectiveness of the white blood cells by killing them and hence leaving the body defenceless and with no way to deal with infections. This is well seen by looking at the patients white blood cell count. Since the virus was discovered, there was a need to look for alternative ways in which anyone can know if they are carriers of the virus. Different procedures were proposed but only a few are effective and widely used. For purposes of this analysis, the most common and probably the most effective, is the plasma HIV RNA test. Some of the risk factors experienced or propelled by the disease are based on the fact that anyone of any race, age, sex or sexual orientation can be infected or is at greatest risk of being infected through the preceding risks.
Gould’s main idea is to inform the society about the reality of AIDs. HIV symptoms in male and female are almost similar with the only differences experienced in females compared to male being vaginal or menstrual changes. AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome can be defined as a chronic disease that is potentially life threatening condition which is caused by the HIV or Immunodeficiency virus. The disease affects or damages the immune system hence interfering with the body’s ability to protect itself from diseases. This makes the body prone to infections. Some of the symptoms of the disease are based on the phase of infection hence vary in the respective phases. The preceding analysis describes some of the phases and the respective symptoms. People infected with AIDs are likely to develop flue like illness within one or two months after the infection. Under such cases, the infection can be termed as primary or acute AIDs infection and can last for some weeks. The possible signs and symptoms are: Headache, fever, muscle aches, rash, chills, sore throat, mouth or genital ulcers, joint pain, swollen lymph gland, joint pain, diarrhea among others. The prevention measures under this phase are advocated based on the fact that during the phase the infection spread more.
Paragraphs one and two have great importance in drawing the attention of the readers. They give clear explanations of AIDs and how technological advancement has been used to find out more about AIDs. These paragraphs depict the contact between the humans and the infected monkey’s blood that occurred while butchering or cooking facilitated the cross of the virus to the humans hence becoming HIV. HIV becomes AIDS when HIV destroys CD4 cells which are a specific form of white blood cell which plays a critical role in protecting and helping the body fight diseases. Weakening of immune system occurs as more CD4 cells are damaged. Researchers argue that it is possible for someone to have HIV infection for years before it progresses to AIDS. Some of the complications experienced by people infected with HIV normally progresses to AIDS when the CD4 in their bodies count falls below 200, these complications are; tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, pneumocystis pneumonia, and cryptosporidiosis.
Exponential as used by Gould refers to the fact that the spread of AIDs is proportional to the human population. While pandemic is a disaster that cannot be controlled and has devastating results on the larger population. For example, the prevention of AIDS acts as the only effective solution that can be used within the society based on the fact that there is no treatment of the disease. The risks attached to the disease make it prone for people within the community hence vulnerable to infections and other forms within the society. The notion attached to the fact that AIDS is one of the pandemic diseases globally indicates the need for increased prevention measures. Finally, phenomenon refers to the observable occurrence of AIDs in the society that a bigger part of the society is experiencing and has seen its magnitude. The proffered analysis depicts some of the core aspects attached to the disease. The symptoms offered in the given analysis can be used to prognosis the disease especially on the primary phase. There are different recommendations upon the diagnosis of the disease after the discovery of the disease.
In paragraph two to five there is progression of the main idea, which is the origin of AIDs and its vast effects on the population. AIDs virus is transmitted through having unprotected sex with infected person, blood transfusions, sharing needles, and during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding. The proffered forms of infections form the baseline in relation to prevention measures and how it affects the society. The symptoms of the infection under this stage include; cough, soaking night sweats, shaking chill, shortness of breath, chronic diarrhea, headaches, weight loss, skin rashes or bumps, and distorted vision. To increase prevention, it is advised to see a doctor when someone experiences or thinks they are infected with AIDs or in a high risk of contracting the virus should see the healthcare provider immediately.
Gould’s rhetorical approach is evident in the essay as he says that AIDs can be compared to nuclear weaponry and it is the greatest danger in the society today. This is because the conditions that may result to abnormal results are very diverse. The medical fraternity has identified some conditions that may mislead the practitioners into getting a false HIV test result. For instance, a viral screen tests of a patient with Lyme disease, Syphilis and Lupus; if not well scrutinized may lead to a practitioner declaring one HIV positive, falsely. So this means this test must be backed up by some other kind of test. The other reason may be that the patient has either acute HIV or a primary HIV infection.
Finally, in Gould’s conclusion the statement refers to the nature of human reliance on technological advance on medicine to find a cure that will end the pandemic. Although the proffered are some of the main side effects, others related to co-diseases and treatments are experienced. In addition, this explains that the society has a major role to play in relation to establishing prevention and reducing the spread of the disease.