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By Ali Barney
FHS 2450
Professor Bob Banta
WHAT IS HIV/AIDS??
 The human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) is a lentivirus that causes the
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS) a condition in humans in which
progressive failure of the immune
system allows life-threatening
opportunistic infections and cancers
to thrive. AIDS is the final stage of HIV
disease, which causes severe damage
to the immune system. HIV is a
condition that can gradually destroy
the immune system, which makes is
harder for the body to fight infections.
When this happens, the person has
AIDS.
WHAT IS HIV/AIDS CONTINUED….
 Human Immunodeficiency virus
causes HIV infections and AIDS. The
virus attacks the immune system. As
the immune system weakens, the
body is vulnerable to life-threatening
and cancers. Once a person has the
virus, it stays inside the body for life.
HOW IS IT SPREAD??
The virus is spread or transmitted person-to-person through sexual contact, including
oral, vaginal, and anal sex. It is also transmitted through blood via blood transfusions,
which is extremely rare in the U.S., or needle sharing. There is also a third way that this
virus is spread. This way is from mother to child. A pregnant woman can spread the virus
to her fetus through their shared blood circulation, or a nursing mother can transmit it
to her baby through her breast milk. There are many people that have questions about
how this disease is transmitted. This disease can only be spread through our body fluids
and direct contact with those liquids. Things such as casually contact, hugging will not
spread the disease. The virus is also not spread by mosquitoes, participating in sports and
touching items that were touched by a person infected with the virus.
CAN HIV/AIDS BE SPREAD BY
DONATIONS??
 HIV is not spread to a person who
donates blood or organs. People who
donate organs are never in direct
contact with people who receive
them. Likewise, a person who
donates blood is never in contact
with the person receiving it. In all
these procedures, sterile needles and
instruments are used. But HIV can be
spread to a person receiving blood
or organs from an infected donor. To
reduce this risk, blood banks and
organ donor programs check donors,
blood and tissues thoroughly.
WHO CAN CATCH THIS DISEASE?
 Not everyone will get this disease, but there
are people that are at high risk of getting
HIV. These people include injection drug
users who share needles, infants born to
mothers with HIV who did not receive HIV
treatment during pregnancy, people who
have unprotected sex, especially with people
who have other high-risk behaviors, are HIV
positive or have AIDS, people who received
blood transfusions or clotting products
between 1977 and 1985, before screening
for the virus became standard practice, and
sexual partners of those who engage in highrisk activities. After HIV infects the body, the
virus has been found in saliva, tears, nervous
system tissue and spinal fluid, blood, semen
(including pre-seminal fluid), vaginal fluid, and
breast milk. Only blood, semen, vaginal
secretions and breast milk have been shown
to transmit infection to others.
SYMPTOMS
 There are many symptoms related to acute HIV infection. When a person is
first infected, the symptoms are often flu-like. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever,
headache, mouth sores (including yeast infection), muscle stiffness or aching,
night sweats, rashes or different types, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands.
Many people have no symptoms when they are diagnosed with HIV. Acute HIV
infection progresses over a few weeks to months to become an asymptomatic
HIV infection. This stage can last 10 years or longer. During this period, the
person can still spread the virus to others. Almost all people infected with HIV,
if they are not treated, will develop AIDS. A small group of patients develop
AIDS very slowly or never at all. These patients are called nonprogressors.
Many seem to have genes that prevent the virus from significantly damaging
their immune system. People with AIDS have had their immune systems
damaged by HIV. They are very susceptible to infections that do not normally
develop in people with a healthy immune system. These infections are called
opportunistic infections. Common symptoms of AIDS include chills, fever, rash,
sweats, swollen lymph glands, weakness and weight loss.
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE IT??
 There are many tests that can be
taken. The HIV ELISA and HIV
Western blot tests detect antibodies
o the HIV virus in the blood. Both
tests must be positive to confirm an
HIV infection. Antibodies are proteins
made by the body’s immune system
when it detects harmful substances,
such as the HIV virus. A complete
blood count and white blood cell
differential may also show
abnormalities.
 People with AIDS usually have regular
blood tests to check their CD4 cell
count. CD4 cells are a type of T cell.
T cells are one kind of cells of the
immune system. They are also called
“helper cells”. A CD4 cell count that
is lower than normal may be a sign
that the virus is damaging the
immune system. When the CD4
count gets too low, the risk of
infections and some types of cancer
increases. Other types of tests that
may be done include, HIV RNA level
to check how much virus is in the
blood, a pap smear to check for
cervical cancer, and anal pap smear to
check for cancer of the anus.
IS THERE A CURE??
There is no cure for AIDS at this time. But treatments are available to manage symptoms.
Treatment can also improve the quality and length of life for those who have already
developed symptoms. Antiretroviral therapy suppresses the replication of the HIV virus in
the body. A combination of antiretroviral drugs, called antiretroviral therapy is very
effective in reducing the amount of HIV in the bloodstream. This is measured by the viral
load (how much free virus is in the blood). Preventing the virus from reproducing can
improve T-cell counts and help the immune system recover from HIV infection. HIV can
become resistant to one combination of ART. This is most true in patients who do not take
their medications on schedule every day. Tests can check whether an HIV strain is resistant
to a particular drug. This information can be useful in finding the best drug combination
and for adjusting the drug combination when it starts to fail. Medicines may be prescribed
to treat problems related to AIDS such as anemia, low white cell count, and to prevent
opportunistic infections.
COMPLICATIONS…
 There are many other complications
with HIV. When a person is infected
with HIV, the virus slowly begins to
destroy that person’s immune system.
How fast this occurs differs in each
individual. Treatment with ART can
help slow or halt the destruction of
the immune system. Once the
immune system is severely damaged,
that person has AIDS, and can now
get infections and cancers that most
healthy people would not get.
Doctors have found that when CD4
falls below certain counts, specific
types of infections and cancers can
develop.
HOW CAN I PREVENT HIV/AIDS??
 To prevent HIV/AIDS, do not use illegal drugs and do
not share needles or syringes. Many communities
now have needle exchange programs where you can
get rid of used syringes and get ne sterile ones. You
could also avoid contact with another person’s
blood. If possible, wear protective clothing, masks,
and goggles when caring for people who are injured.
If people test positive for HIV, they can pass the virus
on to others and should not donate blood, plasma,
body organs, or sperm. HIV-positive women who
plan to get pregnant should talk to their health care
provider about the risk to their unborn child. They
should also discuss methods to prevent their baby
from becoming infected, such as taking medicines
during pregnancy. Breastfeeding should also be
avoided to prevent passing on HIV to infants through
breast milk. Safer sex practices, such as using latex
condoms, are effective on preventing HIV
transmission. But there is a risk of getting the
infection, even with the use of condoms. Abstinence
is the only sure way to prevent sexual transmission
of HIV. HIV-positive patients who are taking
antiretroviral medicines are less likely to transmit
the virus.
CONCLUSION
 If you believe that you have been exposed to HIV, seek medical
attention right away. Do not delay! Starting antiviral medicines can
reduce the chances that you will be infected. This is called postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). It has been used to prevent transmission in
health care workers injured by needle sticks, and it can help you. Look
into the different procedures that can be taken if you are infected. And
the best thing to do is not spread it to others. Stay abstinent and try to
get yourself treated.