AIDS+-+Jerry+Seo,+Kyle+de+Jong

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-The name of the disease is: AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

-Scientists believe that it probably transferred to humans in Africa between 1884 and 1924.

-They also believe that it probably entered Haiti around 1966 and then entered the United States in 1970, and kept spreading to other countries in the world.

-However, during the 1970s, Western scientists and doctors remained ignorant of the growing epidemic and treatments to prevent and fight AIDS was delayed for a long time.

-It is called a "syndrome" and not a "disease" because this label was applied in the early years of the HIV epidemic when scientists were still trying to identify the cause of AIDS.

-However, despite the fact that the cause is now known, the name has persisted for convenience. The word syndrome is used then there is a group of symptoms that occur together, but there is no established cause.





-The name of the organism that causes the disease is: HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

-It is a lentivirus, which is a member of the retrovirus family.

-It causes AIDS (a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive).

-HIV is a __**virus**__

-HIV infection in humans is considered a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO)

-HIV infects vital cells in the human immune system, such as the helper T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells.

-HIV makes the human immune system deficient, hence its name "Immunodeficiency Virus."

-Like most viruses, it has a "capsid," which acts to trick its host cell into letting the virus itself, or its genetic information, in the host cell.

-HIV is an RNA virus and its genetic information is copied from RNA to DNA, instead of from DNA to RNA.





__ Some of the symptoms of AIDS are: __

- Developing conditions of opportunistic infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, which affect almost every organ system in the body. - Drastically increased risk of developing various cancers (e.g. Kaposi's sarcoma, cervical cancer, and lymphomas). - Clear signs of systemic symptoms of infection like: fevers, sweating a lot (especially during the night), swollen glands, sudden chills, overall weakness of the body, and sudden weight loss. -Diarrhea (lasts for more than a week), dry coughs, memory loss, depression, pneumonia, etc. are some of the most common symptoms of AIDS.

__ Some of the effects of AIDS are: __

-The virus has the ability to remain inactive in cells for long periods of time. - The most prominent effect of HIV is its T-helper cell suppression and lysis. - T-helper cells are either killed off or made unable to function. - Infected B-cells cannot produce antibodies, which leads to the downfall of the immune system. - HIV can have effects on the skin by basically "strengthening" other viruses by weakening the immune system. These effects include: - Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) infection (Herpes virus which causes chicken pox and shingles) - Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) (one of the AIDS-defining diseases, which causes open sores) - Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) (creates tumors from cells which line blood vessels and lymph nodes).

__ HIV can also effect humans orally: __

- Candidasis (fungal infections as a result of CD4+ cell count decrease) - Periodontal disease (sudden and rapid loss of soft tissue and jaw bone) - Herpes simplex virus (can also cause sore in and around the mouth)

__ Finally, HIV can effect humans neurologically: __

- AIDS-related dementia - Decrease in the ability to think properly and process information - Brain tumors that either begin in the brain or spread to the brain from elsewhere in the body - Progressive multifocal leukoenecephalopathy (PML) (difficulty walking and talking, weakness in the limbs, and seizures)







- Currently, there are no cure for AIDS, but medications are effective in fighting HIV and its complications. - The treatments that are available are designed to reduce HIV, keep the immune system as healthy as possible, and decrease complications. - However, AIDS **__cannot__** be fully cured.

__ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a number of drugs for treating HIV/AIDS. These include: __

- Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTI) (drugs interrupting the virus from duplication, which may slow the spread of HIV). - Protease Inhibitors (PI) (interrupts virus replication at a later step in the virus life cycle).

__ Other medications include: __

- Fusion Inhibitors (acts against HIV by preventing the virus from fusing with the inside of a cell, preventing it from replicating). - Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) (a combination of two or three more drugs to slow the rate at which HIV replicates itself). - Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTI) (blocks the infection of new cells by HIV)







AIDS is transmitted most commonly in three ways: Sexual transmission, blood transmission, and perinatal transmission.

__ Sexual transmission of AIDS: __

- Occurs with the contact between sexual secretions of one person with the rectal, genital, or oral mucous membranes of another. - Unprotected sexual acts results in a higher chance of getting AIDS. - HIV can be transmitted through oral sex as well. - Drug use is another possible predictor of HIV transmission as it can relate to unprotected sexual behavior. - Genital ulcers (such as the ones caused by syphilis and chancroid) can increase the risk of becoming infected with HIV by fourfold.

__ Blood transmission of AIDS: __

- Particularly related to recreational drug users and recipients of blood transfusions and blood products. - Sharing and reusing syringes contaminated with HIV-infected blood can be a major risk for infection. - Also can affect people who give and receive tattoos and piercings.

__ Perinatal transmission of AIDS: __

- Can occur in utero during the last weeks of pregnancy and during childbirth. - If no treatments are present, the transmission rate is approximately 25%. - If antiretroviral therapy is taken and birth is given by caesarean section, the transmission rate is decreased to 1% - Breastfeeding can also increase the risk of transmission by 4%.





- AIDS can be prevented by being prepared against the three main ways of transmission (discussed above).

__To prevent AIDS from sexual contact:__

- Only condoms can reduce the risk of infection with HIV and other STDs. - Typical condom use can reduce HIV transmission by 80%. - Non oil-lubricated latex condoms are the single most effective available technology in reducing the sexual transmission of HIV - Male circumcision lowers the risk of HIV infection among heterosexual men, from 51% to 60%.

__To prevent AIDS from blood (body fluid exposure):__

- Taking precautions such as: using gloves, masks, protective eyewear, and gowns or aprons can prevent exposure of the skin. - Frequent and thorough washing of the skin immediately after being contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids can reduce the chance of infection. - Sharp objects like needles, scalpels, and glass should be carefully disposed of.

__To prevent AIDS from Perinatal transmission:__

- HIV-infected mothers should avoid breast-feeding their infant. - When replacement feeding, with a wet nurse, it is acceptable and safe.

__To prevent AIDS with education:__

- Education and health literacy has positive impacts on cautious sex behavior. - Implementation of sex-education programs have also been proven to be extremely effective.





1.[] 2.[] 3.[] 4.[] 5.[] 6.[] 7.[] 8.[] 9.[] 10.[] 11. http://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/aids/signs_and_symptoms.html 12. http://www.everydayhealth.com/hiv-aids/effects-of-hiv-on-body.aspx 13. http://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/aids/treatment.html