Thursday, May 27, 2010

HIV/AIDS LATEST INFORMATION



The purpose of this write-up is to give up-to-date report on HIV/AIDS and of course HIV/AIDS LATEST report since it is very popular and known all over the world as one of the major cause of death all over the world and perhaps the greatest threat to mankind which has kept scientist at work for decades and still no proved scientific cure yet. But unfortunately, according to UK Health Protection Agency, it is estimated that up to a quarter of all people with HIV are unaware that they are infected.

If you have ever had sex with someone whose HIV status was not known from blood test, you might have contracted HIV without realizing it – people that look very healthy may have HIV without knowing it.

Though HIV and AIDS are used interchangeably, it will be nice to state the difference between the two. HIV- means, Human Immunodeficiency Virus while AIDS means, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. AIDS is as a result of continual attack on the body’s immune system by HIV.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a retrovirus and they enter the body through direct contact with blood or other body fluids and when it enters the body, it weakens the body immune system (it attacks or kills the T Lymphocytes and CD4 cells which provides body protection against different kinds of incoming infections) making it weak to fight against disease causing agents.

When the immune system becomes highly weak to fight back any infection in the body, that means that the patient can suffer great illness due to minor infection and thus may result to death (from AIDS related illnesses) – at this stage (according to HIV/AIDS LATEST report), when the body immune system is very weak , the patient is said to be suffering from AIDS. So, AIDS is said to be an opportunistic infection (An opportunistic infection is an infection that would not normally affect an otherwise healthy person. Oftentimes, it's these infections that are the cause of illness or death in HIV-positive individuals - not the virus itself). But according to HIV/AIDS Latest report from Centers for Disease Control and prevention, a CD4 cell count below 200 means that the person is having AIDS. When HIV enters the body, it infects T cells and takes over the activities of these white blood cells so that the virus can replicate. Eventually, HIV infection compromises the entire immune system and causes AIDS.



THE STAGES:

1. The presence of the virus in the blood system marks the first stage of the infection. And at this very stage the virus is in undetectable limits, but there is formation of different antibodies in the body.

2. Seroconversion is the second stage, and this is stage where there are lots of antibodies productions in the body to fight the HIV – Flu like symptoms may occur at this stage.

3. The third stage is a stage where there is no sign of infection, and the patient may not know about the infection at all, unless tested– this can last for several years.

4. At this stage the CD4 cell count drops below 200 – a stage where the body immune system is totally weak and this may result to infections and it is at this stage that the infection is referred to as AIDS.




MODES OF TRANSMISSION:

HIV /AIDS is transmitted through the following body fluids:

1. Blood

2. Semen

3. Vaginal fluid

4. Breast milk.

Infection occurs when an infected fluid gets in contact with another’s uninfected body fluids which may take place during unprotected sex (anal, vaginal and sometimes oral sex), sharing of needles and other sharp objects that can pierce or cut the body, blood transfusion and from mother to child before or during child delivery or during breast feeding.



SYMPTOMS OF HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS Latest report says early infection may show no symptom, though some patients may experience unexplained Flu with sore throat, fever, rashes and swollen lymph nodes (2-4 weeks after infection), while some people can stay for years without any symptom, yet the virus is active in the body destroying healthy cells, until it finally develops to AIDS. If one does not get treatment for HIV, it takes about 8-10years for the HIV to progress to AIDS.

For CD4 count below200cells/Ml these symptoms may be noticed – Ulcers or small blisters in the mouth or genitals, vaginal or oral thrush (yeast infection of the vagina or mouth), tuberculosis, cancer of the lymph glands, ulcers or small blisters over a patch of skin, pneumonia, cancer of the skin, lungs and bowel, painful yeast infection of the Esophagus, brain infections, loss of appetite, extreme weight loss and severe diarrhea.



HIV / AIDS TESTS:

If HIV is diagnosed during the early stages, treatment and medication will enable the patient to live a normal and fulfilling life for many years. So, it is good for one to go for the test on time.

Below are some HIV Tests:

1. HIV PCR TEST: This method is used in cases of very recent infection – less than 10 days prior.

2. HIV DUO TEST: This is used in cases of about 28 days- result may come out within few hours.

3. HIV ANTIBODY TEST: Used for infection likely to have occurred at least 90 days prior and this includes:

A. STANDARD TEST / ELISA: This is the most common antibody test used by most doctors and laboratories and requires a full drawn blood sent to the lab for testing – result comes out within 5 – 10 days.

B. ORASURE: Blood sample is not required for this test but rather a swap is rubbed between the cheek and lower gum to collect an oral mucosal specimen used for the test. Result comes out within 5- 10days

C. ORAQUICK / RAPID TEST: A blood sample is taking by pricking the patients’ finger and then placed in a solution to develop. Result comes out in about 30 minutes.

Other test procedures may exist in some other areas – contact your country’s HIV/AIDS CONTROL CENTRES for more HIV/AIDS Latest available options.



HIV / AIDS PREVENTION:

Prevention they say is better than cure and there is no known cure for HIV/AIDS. So, if after the test one is HIV negative – that means he/she is not infected or may be infected but it is still too early to detect the virus, it may take up to 3-6 months to test positive after being infected and this is called the window period.

To maintain a HIV negative status one need to carry out these 3 activities:

1. Abstain from sex (for singles)

2. Be faithful to only your married partner whose HIV status has been proved negative by test too (for couples)

3. If one must have sex, condom should always be used and correctly.



LIVING POSITIVELY:

If the Test result is positive – that means one is infected with HIV and knowing this on time is very good because one can take care of his / her body and thus support the body defense system to fight other sicknesses. One can still have a good life ahead by making-up his / her mind to live positively with the virus.

Presently there is no cure for the disease but currently there are anti-retroviral drugs that are effective in reducing the spread of the virus in the body – thereby preventing the CD4 cell count from going further below.

Joining a support group is advisable – they encourage each other, fights for the rights of people living with the virus, know where to get drugs and gives HIV / AIDS Latest information that help.