Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) - Coursework Example

 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Abstract Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a combination of various diseases that results due to the infestation of the human T lymphocytes by the HIV or human immunodeficiency virus. The virus causes severe defects in the human immune system because of which secondary infections take place and debilitate a person and harm his lifestyle. Thus, even the slightest of infections can prove to be life threatening for the patient. Although several medicinal interventions have been researched on, the main treatment is symptomatic and assists in prolonging life. The disease can be transmitted through blood and body fluid such as semen. It was first discovered in the USA amongst homosexuals, but has reduced in incidence in developed countries and increased in underdeveloped countries due to unsafe medical practices and copulation. Preventive measures need to be taken in order to prevent this grave disease from taking the lives of many. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (Aids) Introduction Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, is a cluster of signs and symptoms that are not naturally found in the body but develop over a span of time due to a weakened immune system. It is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS develops as a result of chronic infestation of the human body with HIV, and is usually discovered with the development of advanced symptoms (Cefrey, 2001). Discovered in the 1980s, AIDS was considered a disease manifested solely due to homosexual activities in the world. However, since 1981, several discoveries have been made regarding the modes of transmission of the virus and how to prevent them (Fan et al., 1998). Nonetheless, AIDS continues to be one of the most feared diseases in the world, as it results in not only physical anguish, but also social seclusion. Thus, it is necessary to know about the method and modes of transmission of this disease so as to take appropriate preventive measures. Clinical sign and symptoms The presence of HIV is usually diagnosed in a patient based on the clinical signs and symptoms that are presented to a medical practitioner. The diagnosis can be confirmed on the basis of laboratory tests such as testing for antigens of the virus or antibodies in the blood against it. . However, since laboratory tests are not available in certain remote areas of the world where AIDS is prevalent, medical practitioners rely on the clinical signs and symptoms that the patients present (Van, 2005). Since AIDS is a syndrome, the signs and symptoms presented by patients who suffer from it tend to differ. This is because even though the primary manifestation of acquiring HIV is a deficient immune system, the opportunistic infections that affect the patient are different in different parts of the world. For instance, tuberculosis is an important manifestation of HIV positive people in Africa, whereas tuberculosis is not found as a major manifestation of HIV in patients from Europe (Hubley, 1990). Since the signs and symptoms of HIV positive patients are difficult to be characterized as the manifestation of AIDS, acquiring a detailed history and performing a proper examination is extremely important. In order to aid this process, the World Health Organization (WHO) has prepared guidelines so as to make clinical diagnosis of AIDS easier. For instance, it is stated that if opportunistic diseases such as Kaposi’s sarcoma or cryptococcal meningitis is diagnosed in the patient, it is sufficient information to conclude that the patient has AIDS (Van, 2005). AIDS is also diagnosed if a patient suffers from at least two of the major and one of the minor criteria defined for patients by the WHO. The major criteria include: fever have occurred for more than one month, losing more than ten percent of the normal body weight, recurrent diarrhoea for more than one month and for people living in Africa suffering from Herpes-zoster (shingles) or genital ulcers that do not heal. As far as minor criteria are concerned, they comprise of: chronic coughing for more than one month (linked to tuberculosis in Africa), pruritic dermatitis which is generally located on all parts of the body, oral thrush, a worsening ulcerative condition after being chronically infected by Herpes simplex virus, Herpes zoster viral infection, continuously increased size of lymph nodes all over the body (Van, 2005). Moreover, apart from the clinical signs and symptoms, tests such as ELISA and Western Blot analysis can be carried out to diagnose the presence or absence of HIV, which can provide a more conclusive evidence for a person suffering from AIDS (Van, 2005). Thus, based on adequate history and correct clinical examination, along with confirmation provided by the laboratory, HIV positive patients can be diagnosed with AIDS. Pathogen and Pathogenesis The pathogen that causes AIDS is from the category of retrovirus knows as HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus, LAV – Lymphadenopathy associated virus, HTLV III – Human T cell lymphotropic virus. This virus can be transmitted through semen or blood. The incubation period for HIV is from three to six years (Sachdev, 1991). During this period the virus replicates inside the host cell (Weeks & Alcamo, 2010). It does so by penetrating the host cell (cell of the human body, in this case blood cell), using the substances inside the cell such as ATP etcetera to carry out its own functions, taking over the genetic machinery of the cell and multiplying in number in this way. After the virus has done invading the host cell, specifically human T lymphocyte, it leaves the cell weak, useless and often dead (Weeks & Alcamo, 2010). This is how the helper T cells are selectively used up and degraded. Due to this process, the person suffering from an HIV infection has a very weak immune system and is prone to other infections such as parasitic, protozoal, fungal, bacterial and other viral infections (Sachdev, 1991). The patient thus becomes unable to fight the infections through the normal course of action taken by the immune system, and the diseases at times do not respond to any sort of therapy as secondary infections combine with further infections, aggravating the patient’s condition further . Possible Treatment and Prevention Initially, AIDS was treated as a medical emergency (Weeks & Alcamo, 2010). However, with the passage of time it was discovered that chronic treatment was available for both combating the virus to an extent to prevent the damage that was yet to be done, as well as to carry out the symptomatic treatment due to secondary infections. Antiviral drugs such as AZT (azidothymidine), a drug that terminates the DNA chain is being used long since the first few onsets of AIDS. However, failure of this drug to act indicates that either the drug is unable to combat the HIV virus, or the AIDS has not occurred as a result of being HIV positive. Another course of treatment is the replacement of factor VIII in hemophiliacs, which increases the chances of survival in AIDS patients, because anemia is an important side effect of AZT (Duesberg, 1995). Preventive measures are also important in diseases such as AIDS, as viral transmission is extremely potent and can occur through semen and blood. Therefore, in cases of blood transfusions, proper screening is carried out so as to assure that the blood being transfused is free from HIV. Similarly, protection against seminal transmission is also advised, especially to those having multiple partners. Moreover, the usage of pre-used or unsterilized needles is also not deemed safe practice and therefore, care is taken whilst dealing with these objects in the hospitals by the medical practitioners (Weeks & Alcamo, 2010). Epidemiology and Prevalence in Developed vs. Underdeveloped nations: Epidemiology of any disease is related to the examples and occurrence of the disease in certain populations (Chin, 2007). The incidence of AIDS was first reported in 1981, in homosexuals in Los Angeles. The prevalence of AIDS can be categorized into two – the first being those people who are HIV positive and may or may not have AIDS, and others are people who have acquired AIDS and are living with the disease. In the first category, it is evident that the greatest prevalence of people who are living with HIV are in the Sub-Saharan Africa, followed by the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, North America and the lowest incidence of HIV positive people are in Europe. People who are living with AIDS on the other hand are also prevalent mostly in Sub Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, North America; but the least incidence of AIDS was also in Eastern Europe (Mann et al., 1996). In the various regions of Africa, it has known to occur due to unsafe heterosexual relations. In the north-western or developed nations, the prevalence has significantly decreased due to the practice of safe sexual activity. Moreover, in underdeveloped nations, the usage of unsterilized or used needles as well as unsafe modes of blood transfusion has also led to an increased incidence of AIDS (Mann et al., 1996). In conclusion, the AIDS is the combination of diseases that results from a single pathology brought about by the HIV virus. It is difficult to not only diagnose but also treat and it is therefore that measures should be taken for preventing its spread as well as to treat it promptly. References Cefrey, H. (2001). AIDS. New York: Rosen. Chin, J. (2007). The AIDS pandemic: The collision of epidemiology with political correctness. Oxford: Radcliffe. Bottom of Form Duesberg, P. (1995). Infectious AIDS: Have we been misled?. Berkeley, Calif: North Atlantic Books.Top of Form Fan, H., Conner, R. F., & Villarreal, L. P. (1998). AIDS: Science and society. Boston, Mass: Jones and Bartlett. Hubley, J. (1990). The AIDS handbook: A guide to the prevention of AIDS and HIV. London: Macmillan. Mann, J. M., Tarantola, D., & Global AIDS Policy Coalition. (1996). AIDS in the world II: Global dimensions, social roots, and responses. New York: Oxford University Press. Sachdev, K. N. (1991). Clinical pathology and bacteriology. New Delhi: Jaypee Bros. Van, D. A. C. (2005). HIVAIDS care & counselling: A multidisciplinary approach. Pinelands, Cape Town: Pearson Education South Africa. Weeks, B. S., & Alcamo, I. E. (2010). AIDS: The biological basis. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Read More