Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome - Research Paper Example

ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME The study has used several books and journals for references. These books are mainly derived from the Goggle, Yippy and Yahoo search engines. These books and journals are very important in that they give us a comprehensive definition and all descriptions of AIDS from the acquisition to treatment stages. Apart from the books and the journals several internet sources are also used in the study. All these search engines helps us to get a more detailed literature on AIDS hence broad information from several researchers. AIDS is a broad topic that need broad knowledge and that is what we shall receive from these books and journals. However, there are several challenges when using these sources. One of the challenges is the diverse opinions from the authors. Harnessing this information can be tiresome sometimes hence more accuracy is required. But generally, the use of these sources is a very important as we will able to get advanced and more information about AIDS. ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system. It is caused by Human Immuno Deficiency Virus or HIV. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a serious condition that weakens the body’s immune system, resulting to numerous severe and unusual infections, debilitating illness and cancers (James, 80). The most affected cells by AIDS are the CD4 cells found in the blood. CDA cells are responsible for fighting infections in the body. After being invaded by HIV, these cells are destroyed which eventually leads to a weakened immune system. HIV is transmitted through direct contact of bloodstream or mucous membrane with bodily fluid that contains HIV, such as semen, blood, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluid and breast milk. This transmission can involve anal, oral or vaginal sex, contaminated hypodermic needles, blood transfusion, exchange between the mother and baby through blood contact in the placenta during childbirth, pregnancy or breast feeding. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is nowadays considered pandemic (Stine, 45). The first cases of AIDS were reported in 1981but researchers prove that the disease might be existence 4 years before it was officially discovered and reported. Although great efforts have been made to control reduce the effects of AIDS, the number of infected people around the globe continues to rise at an alarming rate. Estimates by the World Health Organization shows that 16.3 million people have died of AIDS since it was discovered in 1981. For example in 2007, an estimated 33.2 million of the global population lived with the disease and 2.1 million of these people died of the disease. Over ¾ of the deaths was recorded in sub-Saharan Africa where starvation and malnutrition contributed to the death rate. In some countries within the region such as Botswana and Zimbabwe have over 25% OF adults are infected (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, 72). Most infected cells: Lymphoreticular system: CD4+ Monocytes CD4+ T-Helper cells B-lymphocytes Certain endothelial cells CD4+ Macrophages Central nervous system: Astrocytes of the nervous system Microglia of the nervous system Oligodendrocytes of the nervous system Symptoms AIDS begins with infection. Those infected by HIV may have no symptoms for over 10 years but they can still spread the infection to others during this period of symptom-free. Failure to detect and treat the infection in time, will lead to the immune system gradually weakening and AIDS develops. The infection starts to progress overtime and later develops to symptomatic HIV infection. The HIV infection then progresses to AIDS; which is an advanced HIV infection scenario with CD4 cells count falling below 200 cells/mm3. If not treated, almost every person infected with HIV will develop AIDS. However, there is some group of people that develops AIDS slowly or some does not develop it at all (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, 36). These groups of patience are called non-progressors and their conditions can be attributed to a genetic difference that averts the virus from extensively causing damage to their immune system. The HIV-AIDS symptoms are mainly the result of infections that don’t emerge in individuals having a healthy immune system (Opportunistic infections). Those suffering from HIV-AIDS also have an increased risk of developing various cancers such as cervical cancer, kaposi’s sarcoma and cancers of the immune system called lymphomas. In addition, HIV-AIDs victims often experience systemic symptoms of infection like sweats, fevers, swollen glands, weight loss and weakness. The specific opportunistic infections developed by HIV-AIDS patients depends partly on the pervasiveness of these infections in the area which these patients lives. Main symptoms of AIDS include: Fever Vision loss Mental disturbance Skin lesions Difficult swallowing Shortness of breadth Seizures Vomiting Extreme fatigue Nausea Intense headache Diarrhea Pneumonia Most diseases associated with HIV-AIDS include: Encephalitis Meningitis Pneumonia Pericardial effusion Tuberculosis Candidiasis Esophagitis Lymphoma Kaposi’s sarcoma Treatment of AIDS Healthy life style compromising of hygiene, proper diet has to be maintained. Homeopathic is the most known treatment of AIDS. The selection of Homeopathy remedy is based upon the individualization theory and symptoms of similarity through utilization of holistic approach. Through this holistic approach, a state of complete health can be regained by eliminating all the symptoms and sign from which the patient is suffering from (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, 12). Apart from treating AIDS, homeopathy is also used to address the underlying cause of AIDS and individual receptiveness. In terms of therapeutic medication, numerous advanced medicines are obtainable for HIV-AIDS linked symptoms treatment that can be selected on basis of cause, modalities and sensation of the victims. However, it is recommended that a patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor for individualized remedy and treatment (John, 55). Currently, anti-retroviral therapy is commonly used treatment for AIDS (Evans, 56). This is very beneficial to numerous HIV infected persons since it was introduced in 1996. Current optimal anti-retroviral therapy comprise of combinations consisting of at least 3 drugs that belong to at least 2 types of anti-retroviral agents. The use of the anti-retroviral therapy by many patients has seen them experience a remarkable improvement in their health status and quality of life in general. Without proper treatment, the median survival time for HIV infected patients is approximately to be 9-11 years depending on the subtype of the HIV. The development of anti-retroviral therapy as advanced therapy for HIV infection can reduce the death rate from AIDS by 80% and raise the life expectancy for a newly diagnosed HIV patient to about twenty years. Patients suffering from a substantial AIDS condition are advised to attain prophylactic therapy. This will help overcome Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP), toxoplasmosis and Cryptococcus meningitis as well. There have been many conceptions surrounding Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Some of the misconceptions include: sexual intercourse with a virgin will cure HIV-AIDS, HIV-AIDS can spread through casual contact, and that HIV can affect only drug users and homosexual men. References Abrams, Harvey B.; Chisolm, Theresa H.; McManus, Megan; McArdle, Rachel. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. Nov/Dec2012, Vol. 23 Issue 10, p768-778. 11p. 4 Charts, 3 Graphs. DOI: 10.3766/jaaa.23.10.3. Association of American Medical Colleges. Academic Medicine; 1040-2446. USA, 1998. . Auerbach, Judith G .AIDS and behavior: an integrated approach (0-309-05093-6, 9780309050937), National Academy Press, 1994. In National Academies Press Free eBooks. Das, Dulumoni; Gupta, Rupak. International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health (IJCRIMPH). Dec2011, Vol. 3 Issue 12, p867-878. 12p Reference Section, Science and Technology Division, Library of Congress, 1985. Print Government publications, AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Washington, D.C: U.S G.P.O, 1994. http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio4348131 Heller, Barbara R. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (aids). Gaithersburg, Md: Aspen Systems, 1984. Print. James, William A. A.i.d.s: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (or) Antipersonnel Intelligence Disease System : a Novel. New York, N.Y: IUniverse, Inc, 2004. Print. John, Elise, Paula Kruzic, and Elinor Griffin. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: Manual for Professional Health Care Providers. San Diego, Calif: Cabashon Pub, 1986. Print. Piva, Paolo; Dodd, Rebecca. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Dec2009, Vol. 87 Issue 12, p930-939. 10p. 4 Charts, 4 Graphs. http://www.ama-assn.org/special/hiv http://www.acponline.org/catalog/journals http://www.ama-assn.org/special/hiv/library/ scan/jan00/jan00d.htm Read More