INFORMATION ON HIV AND AIDS

AIDS is one of the most serious, deadly diseases in human history. AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV destroys a type of defense cell in the body called a CD4 helper lymphocyte. These lymphocytes are part of the body's immune system, the defense system that fights infectious diseases. But as HIV destroys these lymphocytes, people with the virus begin to get serious infections that they normally wouldn't that is, they become immune deficient. The name for this condition is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

SYNONYMS OF HIV AND AIDS

Synonyms and related keywords:
1. Sexually transmitted disease.
2. Human immunodeficiency virus.
3. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
4. Highly active antiretroviral therapy.
5. HIV-related illnesses.
6. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

CAUSES OF HIV AND AIDS

HIV also spreads through contact with infected blood through a transfusion of contaminated blood or blood components. HIV frequently spreads among injection drug users who share needles or syringes that are contaminated with blood from an infected person. Women can transmit HIV to their babies during pregnancy or birth. People who already have a sexually transmitted disease, such as syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydial infection, gonorrhea, or bacterial vaginosis, are more likely to acquire HIV infection during sex with an infected partner.

SYMPTOMS OF HIV AND AIDS

Early Signs and Symptoms of HIV AIDS are:

1. Soaking night sweats.
2. Shaking chills or fever higher than 100 F for several weeks.
3. Dry cough and shortness of breath.
4. Chronic diarrhea.
5. Persistent white spots or unusual lesions on your tongue or in your mouth.
6. Headaches.
7. Blurred and distorted vision.
8. Weight loss.

Later Signs and Symptoms of HIV/AIDS

1. Rapid Weight Loss.
2. Dry Cough .
3. Recurring Fever Or Profuse Night Sweats.
4. Profound And Unexplained Fatigue.
5. Swollen Lymph Glands In The Armpits, Groin, Or Neck.
6. Diarrhea That Lasts For More Than A Week.
7. White Spots Or Unusual Blemishes On The Tongue, In The Mouth, Or In The Throat.
8. Pneumonia.
9. Red, Brown, Pink, Or Purplish Blotches On Or Under The Skin Or Inside The Mouth, Nose, Or Eyelids.

DIAGNOSIS OF HIV AND AIDS

HIV is diagnosed by testing your blood or oral mucus for the presence of antibodies to the virus. Only available test for HIV was the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test that looked for antibodies to the virus in a sample of your blood. Diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, your doctor will use a test to help predict the probable progression of your disease. This test measures the amount of virus in your blood.

TREATMENT OF HIV AND AIDS

There have been two major advances in the treatment of HIV/AIDS over the last 20 years. One is the development of drugs that inhibit the virus's growth, preventing or delaying the onset of AIDS and allowing people living with HIV to remain free of symptoms longer. The other is the development of medications that have proven very important in reducing the transmission of the virus from an HIV-infected mother to her child. Antiretroviral treatment for HIV infection consists of drugs which work against HIV infection itself by slowing down the replication of HIV in the body.

The drugs are often referred to as:

1. Antiretrovirals.
2. Anti-HIV Drugs.
3. HIV Antiviral Drugs.