INTRODUCTION
In the 1980s a new disease was spreading. It was previously unknown, but seemed quite contagious and quite virulent. HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is defined exactly as it sounds. It is a virus that causes an infection that negatively affects the immune system. That infection attacks and weakens the immune system, making an individual at greater risk for contracting other opportunistic diseases. When the immune system becomes too damaged it leaves the patient open to contracting AIDS, the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, which essentially disables the immune system, which leaves sufferers to deal with many of unpleasant symptoms associated with many diseases that will attempt to invade and attack the body. While much as changed over the years since the disease was first recognized and how it is approached and addressed today. Research into the physiopathology, signs, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments and prognosis remains worthwhile.
DISCUSSION
HIV can be transmitted through a number means, through sexual contact, sharing of used drug paraphernalia, like syringes, through childbirth and via medical procedures, like blood transfusions. The statistics of HIV currently suggests that more than a million people are infected with the HIV all across the Unites States (Bennett & Bronze, 2016). That being said it remains one the greatest healthcare concerns and requires continuous research and study. There is, as yet, no cure for HIV available for the public. Understanding the different aspects it is best to discuss them individually.
Physiopathology: The physiopathology of HIV involves how the virus produces a cellular immune deficiency, which is characterized by the noticeable loss of the T-Lymphocytes, or CD4+cells; they are often referred to as “helper” T-Lymphocytes. The loss of these cells results in the tell tale development of opportunistic infection and other negative health effects. HIV is the made up of two different retroviruses HIV-1 and HIV-2, which are single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses which can be integrated in the host-cell DNA. HIV contains 3 different species of retroviral genes. The “gag” gene encodes specific antigens and structural proteins. The “pol” gene encodes polymerase and viral enzymes. The “env” gene encodes the “viral envelope” or the outer structural proteins responsible for cell-type specifications. There are other additional or accessory genes involved; the most notable is “vpu” gene, which is only seen in one other virus, in Simian Immunodeficiency virus that affects Chimpanzees (Bennett &Bronze, 2016).
Signs & Symptoms: Realistically there are no immediate symptoms regarding an HIV infection and many of the symptoms that they do experience are more commonly associated with more average causes. Over time some of the symptoms that may manifest are fatigue, frequent fever, persistent skin rashes, yeast infections and noticeable weight loss. Once the condition becomes chronic then the signs and symptoms may disappear. In fact, after the initial activity in the body, the course of the disease could remain unnoticeable for several years. Once HIV infection has become so severe that the body can no longer fight off infections many other symptoms of all sorts of conditions may begin to present themselves, vision loss, seizures and even certain types of cancer (Hirsch, 2014).
Diagnosis: There are two standard tests used to identify an HIV infection. The HIV antibody test and nucleic acid amplification assays to determine HIV RNA viral load. However there are other tests as well, the ELISA, for example, test requires complex equipment that many facilities do not have. The western blot test requires specially trained staff that many facilities also do not have (Cachay, 2016). Some of these tests take longer than others. There are, of course, new methods of diagnosing that will no doubt be even more effective in the future.
Treatments: The standard treatment for HIV is Antiretroviral therapy, or ART. This treatment has two goals. The first is to reduce the presence of HIV RNA plasma to undetectable amounts. The second is to restore the body to a normal level CD4 count, with the hopes of reconstituting the patient’s immune system (Lopez, 2011). There are five types of ART drugs given. Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors, which prevent HIV from multiplying and can reverse some of the effects. Non-Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors which binds to the transcriptase enzyme. The nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors can end the synthesis of HIV DNA chains. Protease inhibitors inhibits the immature HIV virions when they bud from host cells. Entry Inhibitors interfere in the binding of the CD4+ receptors and other co-receptors. Finally, Integrase inhibitors prevents HIV DNA from being integrated in the human hosts DNA (Cachay, 2016).
Prognosis: If HIV goes untreated, not only is there a high likelihood of developing AIDS the mortality rate is as high as 90%, with an average 8-10 years before death. However, for those who are diagnosed and engage in the therapies and treatments suggested then the prognosis is far better. There are many people today are living long, healthy lives and are able to keep the symptoms and spread of the HIV to a minimum (Bennett & Bronze, 2016).
CONCLUSION
When HIV first came to the forefront of health concerns in the modern era, the diagnosis and prognosis were essentially a death sentence. For a long period of time the medical community did not know how to treat it; for some time they attempted to address the symptoms but that was not having any effect of the core problem. While there is still no absolute cure presently available for the public, the treatments that are available today are allowing people to continue thrive and the diagnosis of HIV does not carry the same fear and stigma as it once did. If an individual with HIV engages in the medication prescribed, the changes in lifestyle and engages in their own good health there has a fantastic chance of continuing to avoid the symptoms and unpleasant outcomes of the past.
REFERENCES
Bennett, N.J. and Bronze, M.S. (2016). HIV disease. Medscape. 1. Retrieved July 30,2016, from
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/211316-overview#a3
Cachay, E.R. (2016). Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection. The Merck Manual. 1-
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Hirsch, K.R. (2014). Symptoms of hiv/aids. Healthline Plus. 1. Retrieved July 30, 2016, from
http://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/symptoms#Overview1
Lopez, W. (2009). HIV/AIDS: A new era of treatment. The York Scholar. 8(1). 11-15.
