Reports of HIV/AIDS Infection - Essay Example

Intro to HIV/AIDS History ofHIV/AIDS AIDS is an immune deficiency condition that is caused by HIV virus once it gets into the body tissues of an individual. At this phase, the immune system cannot prevent the body from pathogens and thus it is vulnerable to opportunistic infection that later subdues the entire body leading to death. HIV was first discovered in 1981 in San Francisco in the United States of America by the Center for Disease Control. In its early stages, the disease was attributed to having originated from chimpanzees. Reports of HIV/AIDS infection were reported in West Africa and Asia, and some years later it was a global pandemic (Stolley and Glass, 2009). HIV is characterized by the immense deterioration of the immune system particularly the CD4+ cells that are responsible for defending the body against pathogens. Once the virus has entered the body, it replicates the CD4+ cells, thus inhibiting them from performing their job. At this state, the body is said to be immune compromised as it is mostly defenseless against any disease-causing microorganism. Currently, AIDS is a major problem in developing nations especially Africa and Asia, where it is still claiming a number of lives daily. The developed countries were able to mitigate the problem through spirited efforts both in research and civic education as the prevalence in those nations is very low as compared to other regions (Haacker and IMF, 2004). Probable Origin Owen (2006) argues, “Chimpanzees living in dense jungles in Africa have been confirmed as the likely source of the HIV virus, which caused the human AIDS pandemic.” The simian immunodeficiency virus abbreviated as SIV has been diagnosed and identified in wild apes and chimpanzees in southern Cameroon where the SIV infections averaged 35% in the chip populations, Africa. A further genetic analysis also revealed that the chimps were the origin of the primary strains of HIV-1, which is the common form of HIV (Owen, 2006). Social-Political History The achievement that have been gained in responding to the AIDS pandemic in the recent past is the most surprising contemporary example indicating how intertwined politics, public health care, and policy are. For this reason, the global response to HIV/AIDS has become an extremely politicized issue because of (1) the discomfort and prejudice around the manner AIDS is transmitted, (2) the epidemic is escalated by inequality and injustices. Thus, politics has become a significant force driving global response to the AIDS epidemic. However, active policies globally both at the governmental and grassroots levels have facilitated the prompt response against AIDS (Piot, Russell and Larson, 2007). Early Epidemiology The HIV virus is mainly transmitted through contact with body fluids particularly; blood, saliva, sperm, vaginal fluid, and amniotic fluid. In a milliliter, the percentage HIV virus is 60% for blood, 33% for semen, 5% for vaginal fluid and the rest are negligible. It is prudent to note that the primary mode of transmission of the disease is by getting into contract with blood of an infected person and sexual intercourse with infected persons. However, sexual intercourse is considered to be the number one mode of transmission since it is a common practice among people that involves coming into contact with body fluids mainly semen and vaginal fluid. The likelihood of HIV infection through sex is at 0.6 as compared to through blood transfusion that is at 0.4 (Skolnik and Nations Unies, 2003). Transmission through blood occurs either via direct blood transfusion of blood of an infected person or through sharing of sharp objects with an infected person. Transmission through the sharing of syringes is widespread among drug users who utilize the same objects among multiple users. The probability of such individuals getting infected with the virus is high, thus jeopardizing the health of the rest of the members. Some of the common symptoms of HIV/AIDS include; fever, mouth rash, shedding of hair, mass body loss and opportunistic diseases. Tuberculosis is an opportunistic disease that is often associated with AIDS; it is characterized by respiratory complications that are accompanied by vigorous coughing and flu-like symptoms (Poonia, Jedrzejowski, AIDS Vancouver, 2008). Research and Treatment AIDS has claimed millions of lives across the globe prompting for a lasting solution to be examined to prevent further deaths. Health agencies in collaboration with research institutes have made significant attempts to come up with solutions to the AIDS problem. The study of AIDS is done in virtually all institutions with the aim of coming up with formidable solutions to treat the disease. Research work indicates that if the disease is detected in its early stage it can be controlled by enrolling the infected individuals into antiretroviral therapy to subvert the virus from replicating; hence, stabilizing the body white blood cells count. Initially, HIV was treated through the administering of AZT and DDI therapies. These were medications that were designed to maintain the immune system of the infected individual so as to increase his/her length of life (Stolley and Glass, 2009). With new strains of the virus emerging the medications proved to be futile in fighting the disease, necessitating researchers to came up with the current Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), which an advanced methodology of fighting AIDS that is prevalent around the world at the moment. The immediate administration of ART therapy after diagnosis helps victims to live a long healthy life before they can subdue to the disease. Research efforts are also on-going to develop an HIV vaccine that will be a significant breakthrough in the history of the illness (Skolnik and Nations Unies, 2003). Identification Efforts Research work towards finding a cure for HIV/AIDS is in progress, and this took center stage during the 2014 International AIDS Conference held in Melbourne. During the conference, researchers’ debated treatment related works in various symposia on oral abstract sessions. Conversely, attempts to find a cure for the virus from the priorities of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) through multiple investigator initiative grants to researchers to find out where HIV hides, which is called reservoir (Highleyman, 2014). Early International Considerations There has been significant international considerations initiated by sponsor agencies from nations with high economic and social development to conduct research and clinical trial AIDS vaccines in developing countries with the aim of finding the cure for the HIV/AIDS virus. However, this has raised ethical concerns regarding the welfare and rights of persons participating in such research (Guenter, Esparza & Macklin, 2000). Prevention of transmission of HIV/AIDS (Non-Sexual/ "other" transmission methods Efforts have been made both internationally and at regional levels to sensitize people on the impacts of AIDS and mechanisms to prevent such as avoiding sharing of sharp objects with infected persons, in addition to, screening blood for HIV/AIDS virus before blood transfusion (Poonia, Jedrzejowski, AIDS Vancouver, 2008). For this reason, initiatives such as the Needle Exchange Programs (NEP) have been initiated to help drug users to obtain paraphernalia and other associated hypodermic needles at a small amount of money or no fee. Pregnant mothers are also encouraged to visit clinics for medication and avoiding breastfeeding to avoiding transmitting the HIV/AIDs virus to their babies (Skolnik and Nations Unies, 2003). Sharing needles and syringes with infected persons in yet another way in which HIV is transmitted, this practice is commonplace among drug addicts who inject whereby the same needle is utilized by multiple people. Mother to child transmission is a common way especially during birth and also during the breastfeeding period. However, advancement in the medical field has ensured that this kind of transmission are reduced as today children can be born HIV free from infected mothers. Being bitten by a person who is HIV positive is another alternative through which HIV can be transmitted among people. However, the methodology is rare since cases of HIV transmission through the stated technique are rarely reported. Direct contact with wounds and broken skin of infected people is another transfer method. It occurs primarily during aid services for instance accident excavation or while medical practitioners are handling patients without the correct protective gear. Finally, deep mouth kissing with infected individuals who have sores or bleeding gums is yet another method through which HIV can be transmitted conveniently among people. All these techniques through which the virus is transmitted occurs when a person get in contact with the body fluids of infected persons. Thus, to prevent instances of transmission people should be on the watch out to ensure they do not get in contact with those fluids altogether. References Guenter, D., Esparza, J., & Macklin, R. (2000). Ethical considerations in international HIV vaccine trials: summary of a consultative process conducted by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Journal of Medical Ethics, 26(1), 37-43. Haacker, M., & IMF. (2004). The macroeconomics of HIV/AIDS. Washington, D.C: International Monetary Fund. Highleyman, L., 2014. AIDS 2014: Researchers discuss progress towards an HIV cure. Retrieved from http://www.aidsmap.com/AIDS-2014-Researchers-discuss-progress-towards-an-HIV-cure/page/2893268/ Owen, J. (2006). AIDS Origin Traced to Chimp Group in Cameroon. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/060525-aids-chimps.html Piot, P., Russell, S., & Larson, H. (2007). Good politics, bad politics: the experience of AIDS. American journal of public health, 97(11), 1934. Poonia, P., Jedrzejowski, H., & AIDS Vancouver. (2008). Education Handbook: An introduction to HIV/AIDS and related issues. Vancouver: AIDS Vancouver. Skolnik, L., & Nations Unies. (2003). HIV/AIDS. New York: United Nations. Stolley, K. S., & Glass, J. E. (2009). HIV/AIDS. Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood Press. Read More