What Everyone Should Know about HIV

Introduction to HIV/AIDS

• HIV originated in Africa, where it firstly affected Chimpanzees →they passed it on to humans in 20th century

• It was discovered in 1983 → at the Pasteur Institute in Paris

• HIV or Human Immune Deficiency Virus→ is an infection-afflicts immune system and is caused by the HIV virus.

• STAGES OF HIV:

1. Acute HIV infection

2. Chronic HIV infection

3. Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome/ AIDS (most advanced stage)

•As of 2021 38.4 million people (2/3) in Africa where living with HIV (According to World Health Organization).

Pathophysiology-Mechanism

• HIV destroys CD4 cells (CD4/T lymphocyte) →which are found in the immune system/role: shield body from infection

• HIV utilises tools-mechanism of CD4 cells → to multiply/skater

• Stages of HIV development cycle:

1. Binding (Virus binds to host cell)

2. Fusion (Virus fuses with cell membrane of host cell → everything included in HIV (RNA, reverse transcriptase enzyme, proteins, integrase enzyme)-passes into cell

3. Reverse transcription (Reverse Transcription → HIV RNA becomes DNA (reverse transcriptase enzyme)

4. Integration (HIV DNA integrated to host DNA-Integrase enzyme)

5. Replication( HIV makes lengthy chains of HIV protein → utilized to create new HIV)

6. Assembly (New HIV proteins and RNA transfer to exterior of cell → assembled into immature HIV)

7. Budding (immature HIV pushed out of cell and with the help of protease enzymes= immature → mature-contagious HIV

Causes-Risk Factors

• The HIV virus → transfer from one individual to other - via body fluids:

1. Blood

2. Rectal Fluids

3. Preseminal and semen fluid

4. Vaginal fluids

5. Breast milk

• HIV expands when these fluids-come in touch with:

1. Mucous membranes (mouth, vagina, rectum)

2. Flawed tissue (slashed or scratched)

3. Injection into blood stream

• Rarely-HIV transmitted:

1. Mother → to child during pregnancy or from breast milk

2. Sharp items = infected with HIV (e.g. health care workers)

• Risk Factors include:

1. Unprotected sexual contact

2. Sharing syringes-drug use

3. Having sexually-transmitted disease / STD

4. Blood transfucion → contaminated blood

5. Infected blood into cuts-sore spots

Symptoms

STAGE 1: Acute HIV Infection

-Mouth ulcers

-Swollen lymph nodes

-Fever

-Chills

-Sore throat

-Night sweats

-Muscle pain

-Fatigue

-Headache

STAGE 2: Chronic HIV Infection

-No distinctible symptoms

STAGE 3: Aquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

-Frequent fever - excessive night sweats

-Extreme tiredness

-Extended duration → swelling in lymph glands: which are located on groin, armpits, neck

-Diarhea

-Lesions/ Sores→ in mouth, anus, genitals

-Pneumonia

-Sudden weight-loss

-Pink/Brown/Red mass under skin: mouth, nose, eyelids

-Neurologic disorders: memory loss-depression

Diagnosis

• Screening Test: Blood tests (blood count/chemistry)-mouth fluid tests →inspect for HIV antibodies

• HIV Urine test → finds antibodies

• ELISA TEST (‘’Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay’’) → checking for HIV antibodies in blood

• Western Blot: sensitive blood test → to confirm ELISA

• Rapid test→ blood pinch-search for HIV antigens-antibodies in blood

• Nucleic Acid Test → HIV viral load/ amount of HIV in blood

Prevention

• To pervent HIV:

i. Utilize protection → sexual encounters

ii. No drug use

iii. Get tested regularly

iv. Protect open/wounds- use band-aid → prevent exposure of blood to objects with HIV

• Medical tests:

a) PEP (‘’Post Exposure Prophylaxis’’)

- After sexual activity-which could cause infection → PEP test-72 hours after contact

-Prevents virus →from scattering in body → it requires taking HIV medicines/pills for 28 DAYS

b) PrEP (‘’Pre-exposure Prophylaxis)

-In conditions of high-risk→ HIV medicine is taken before sexual encounter= for additional safety

-Not 100% effective-antiviral drugs aren't suggested as prevention → not approved in all countries

Treatment

• Antiretroviral therapy (ART): Consuming mixed HIV medications/Combination= HIV treatment regimen

• Suggested for any individual → who already suffers from HIV

• Doesn’t function as cure →helps patients live lengthier and healthier lives

• Antiretroviral drugs (Prevent assembly, creation and spread of new viruses- Goal: High number of CD4 lempohcytes/helper T):

1. Fusion/ Entry inhibitors

2. Reverse transcriptase inhibitors

3. Protease inhibitors

4. Integrase inhibitors

4 Suprising Facts

• HIV mostly affects women, especially of young age.

• There is an AT-Home test for HIV.

• Fredy Mercury had HIV and declared his diagnosis 1 day before his death.

• HighTop 5 Countries = Highest HIV Rates (2020):

1. Eswatini-26.8%

2. Lesotho-21.1%

3. Botswana-19.9%

4. Zimbabwe-11.9%

5. Namibia-11.6%

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