HIV-human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS)
Overview
A persistent, sometimes fatal illness brought on by the human immunodeficiency virus hiv full form is known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome hiv aids (AIDS) (HIV). HIV hinders the capacity of your body to fend against infection and illness by weakening your immune system.
STIs like HIV are meaning of aids spread through contact (STI). Additionally, it may be transmitted by sharing needles, drug injection, contact with contaminated blood, and other means. While expecting, giving birth, or while nursing a baby, it can also be passed from mother to kid. It can take years without treatment for HIV to compromise your immune system to the point where you get AIDS.
HIV/AIDS has no known cure, however drugs help manage the infection and stop the disease's development. International organisations are attempting to promote the accessibility of preventative measures and treatment in resource-poor nations. Antiviral therapies for HIV have decreased AIDS fatalities globally.
Symptoms
Depending on the stage of aids symptoms infection, the signs and symptoms of AIDS and HIV change.
First
infection (Acute HIV)
Within 2 to 4 weeks of the HIV virus entering the body, some HIV-infected individuals have flu-like symptoms. The main (acute) HIV infection disease might endure for a few weeks.
Possible symptoms and indicators include:
· Fever
· Headache
· Joint discomfort and muscle pains
· Rash
· a scratchy throat, uncomfortable mouth sores
· Especially on the neck, swollen lymph nodes
· Diarrhea
· losing weight
· Cough
· sleepless nights
You might not even be aware of these symptoms because they might be so minor. The viral load, on the other hand, is now fairly high in your bloodstream. As a result, during the original infection rather than the next stage, the virus spreads more readily.
Actual
latent infection (Chronic HIV)
HIV is still circulating in the bloodstream and in white blood cells at this point in the infection process. Many people, nevertheless, might not experience any symptoms or illnesses at this period.
If you are on antiretroviral medication, this period might extend for several years (ART). Some persons experience a much earlier onset of severer illness.
HIV infection with symptoms
You might acquire minor illnesses or persistent symptoms like:
· Fever \sFatigue
· One of the earliest indicators of HIV infection is frequently swollen lymph nodes.
· Diarrhea
· losing weight
· mouth yeast infection (thrush)
· Shingles (herpes zoster) (herpes zoster)
· Pneumonia
AIDS development
Even in nations with limited resources, AIDS mortality have drastically fallen because to access to stronger antiviral medications. Most HIV-positive individuals in the United States now do not get AIDS thanks to these life-saving medications. Untreated HIV usually progresses to AIDS in 8 to 10 years.
Your immune system has suffered significant damage when AIDS strikes. You'll be more susceptible to illnesses that normally wouldn't affect someone with a strong immune system. These are referred to as opportunistic cancers or opportunistic infections.
Some of these illnesses' warning signs
and symptoms include:
· Sweats \sChills
· ongoing fever
· recurring diarrhoea
· lymph node swelling
· On your tongue or in your mouth, persistent white patches or odd lesions
· persistent, mysterious tiredness
· Weakness
· losing weight
· or lumps on the skin
When to visit the doctor
Consult a medical professional as soon as you can if you suspect that you have HIV or that you are at risk of getting the disease.
Causes
A virus is to blame for HIV. It can be transmitted by contact, sharing needles for unlawful injection of drugs, contact with hiv cause contaminated blood, or from mother to child when pregnant, giving birth, or nursing.
White blood cells called CD4 T cells, which are important for assisting your body in fighting disease, are destroyed by HIV. Your immune system gets weaker the less CD4 T cells you have.
How can HIV develop into AIDS?
Years may pass before developing into AIDS if you have an HIV infection with little or no symptoms. When a person has an AIDS-defining complication, such as a major infection or malignancy, their CD4 T cell count must be below 200 to be considered positive for the disease.
Way of AIDS develops
Infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions must enter your body for you to get HIV. This may occur in a number of ways:
Having . If your body comes into contact with an infected partner's blood, sperm, or vaginal secretions during vaginal, anal, or oral , you could become infected. Small tears that occasionally form in the rectum or vagina during l activity or mouth sores are other entry points for the virus.
By exchanging a needle. You run a high risk of contracting HIV and other infectious diseases like hepatitis if you share contaminated needles and syringes used to inject drugs.
Due to blood transfusions. Transfusions of blood may occasionally allow the virus to spread. This danger is extremely low in the United States and other upper-middle-income nations since hospitals and blood banks test the blood supply for HIV. In low-income nations that are unable to filter all given blood, the danger could be greater.
During nursing or during pregnancy or delivery. The virus can be transmitted to newborns by infected moms. Babies' risks can be greatly reduced when mothers who are HIV-positive receive treatment for the illness while they are expecting.
Preventing the spread of HIV
There is no known way to get HIV through casual contact. Therefore, you cannot get HIV or AIDS from a person who is infected by hugging, kissing, dancing, or shaking hands with them.
HIV cannot be transferred via contact with water, air, or insect bites.
Danger signs
Anyone can contract HIV/AIDS, regardless of their age, race, orientation, or gender. You're most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, though, if you:
Have unprotected . When having , always use a fresh latex or polyurethane condom. Compared to vaginal , anal is riskier. Having multiple partners raises your risk of contracting HIV.
own a STI. Numerous STIs result in open sores on your genitalia. The entrance points for HIV into your body are these sores.
inject illegal substances Needles and syringes are frequently shared by individuals who inject illicit drugs. This exposes them to blood specks from other people.
Complications
Your immune system will be compromised as a result of HIV infection, increasing your risk of contracting several diseases as well as some malignancies.
HIV/AIDS-related
infections
Asthma caused by pneumocystis (PCP). Serious sickness may result from this fungus infection. The most frequent cause of pneumonia in persons living with HIV in the United States is still PCP, despite the fact that its prevalence has greatly decreased because to modern HIV/AIDS medications.
Candidiasis (thrush) (thrush). An infection frequently linked to HIV is candidiasis. On your lips, tongue, oesophagus, or vagina, it results in irritation and a thick, white coating.
Tuberculosis (TB) (TB). A frequent opportunistic infection connected to HIV is TB. A primary cause of death for AIDS patients globally is tuberculosis (TB). Due to the widespread use of HIV drugs, it is less prevalent in the United States.
Cytomegalovirus. Saliva, blood, urine, semen, and breast milk are among the bodily fluids in which the common herpes virus is spread. The virus remains latent in your body because a strong immune system inactivates it. The virus can harm your eyes, digestive system, lungs, or other organs if your immune system becomes less robust.
Meningitis caused by cryptococal. The fluid and membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord become inflamed with meningitis (meninges). Associated with HIV, the frequent central nervous system illness known as cryptococcal meningitis is brought on by a fungus that may be found inside.
Toxoplasmosis. The parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which is mostly carried by cats, is the likely fatal source of this illness. The parasites are transferred from infected cats to other animals and people through their faeces. When toxoplasmosis spreads to the brain, it can result in heart problems and seizures.
HIV/AIDS-related cancers
Lymphoma. White blood cells are the site of the cancer's origin. The neck, armpit, or groyne lymph nodes commonly experience painless swelling as the first symptom of cancer.
the Kaposi sarcoma. Kaposi's sarcoma, a malignancy of the blood vessel walls, typically manifests as skin and mouth lesions that are pink, red, or purple in colour. Lesions may seem dark brown or black on those with darker complexion. Internal organs such as the lungs and digestive system are also susceptible to Kaposi's sarcoma.
malignancies connected to HPV These tumours are brought on by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. They include cervical, anal, and oral cancer.
Diagnosis
Tests on blood samples can be used to determine whether someone has HIV. Options for testing include:
antigen and antibody testing. Blood must often be drawn from a vein for these tests. Antigens, which are components of the HIV virus itself, are frequently seen in the blood a few weeks after HIV exposure (a positive test result).
The immune system responds to HIV exposure by producing antibodies. It might take weeks or months for antibodies to be discovered. The combined antigen/antibody tests may become positive 2 to 6 weeks after exposure.
