AIDS refers to a variety of illnesses caused by the infection by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV infection causes AIDS, and it is characterized by the reduction of CD4+ T cells, and the infected individual develops a weak immune system. When the immune system is weak, infected person becomes susceptible to contracting fatal infections. An HIV cannot survive outside a human cell, and it must be transmitted from one person to another through body fluids carrying HIV-infected cells such as breast milk, vaginal secretions, semen, and blood. After the infection from HIV, a person goes through different stages of the disease before dying. The stages of the disease include initial infection, latency period, symptomatic infections, and AIDS. For several years scientists have theorized the origin of AIDS to be from a certain type of chimpanzee in the 1930s. However, the term Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome was initially used by public health officials in 1981 when the first case of the disease was reported. The research on HIV/AIDS entails medical research that attempts to cure, treat, or prevent AIDS and several research institutions and governments are involved in the research (Kurth, Celum, Baeten, Vermund, " Wasserheit, 2011).
The History, Cause, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention of AIDS
History
The initial reported incident of AIDS in the United States was in 1981 when the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report indicated five homosexual men being infected with Pneumocystis pneumonia. The CDC claimed that this form of pneumonia never affects people with strong immunity. In 1982, “The New York Times” issued about a new immunity disorder that had affected 335 people and most of the patients were homosexual men. The CDC discovered how the disease could be transmitted and it used the term AIDS to describe it. Many cases of AIDS were also reported in 1982 in some European countries (Majelantle, Keetile, Bainame, " Nkawana, 2014).
In 1983, Luc Montagnier and Robert Gallo led two separate research teams and declared that a unique retrovirus has been infecting humans with AIDS. Gallo claimed that his research group secluded a virus from a patient with AIDS which was similar in form to human T-lymphotropic viruses. Similarly, Montagnier and his team found a virus from an individual with swollen lymph nodes and general body weakness.
Cause and Symptoms
In the U.S most cases of HIV/AIDS are caused by having sex with an infected person without using a condom. Most people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS acquire the virus by engaging in unprotected anal or vaginal sex. Furthermore, an individual may contract the virus through unprotected oral sex with an infected person. Other ways of contracting AIDS include sharing needles, sharing sex toys, blood transfusion, and from an infected mother to baby during birth or breastfeeding (Majelantle, Keetile, Bainame, " Nkawana, 2014).
Many people infected with HIV/AIDS experience flu-like illness which occur two weeks after infection. The most typical symptoms comprise body rash, sore throat, and fever, while other symptoms may include swollen glands, muscle pain, joint pain, and tiredness. Symptoms of HIV often last for two weeks, although they can last for a much longer period. The symptoms are a sign that the patient’s immune system is involved in a fight against the virus. When the disease damages the immune system severely different symptoms such as skin complications, night sweats, persistent infections, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and serious, deadly illnesses (Kurth, Celum, Baeten, Vermund, " Wasserheit, 2011).
Treatment
Currents AIDS has no cure, and the treatment offered help in stopping the progression of the illness and allowed infected people live a relatively healthy life for a prolonged period. The HIV antiretroviral treatment is important since it cuts the risk of transmission, extends life expectancy, and enhances the quality of life. People living with the disease take medication referred to as Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). The antiretroviral exist in different subgroups such as protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), and Chemokine co-receptor antagonists (Beard, Feeley, " Rosen, 2009).
Prevention
The prevention of HIV/AIDS can be done in several ways including by sexual contact by condom use, pre-exposure, post-exposure, and vaccination. The use of a condom minimizes the risk of infection by nearly 80 percent for a long period. Numerous studies indicate that when a couple where one person is infected uses a condom consistently, the rate of infection will be less than 1 percent yearly. Moreover, the use of vaginal gel with tenofovir before sex may reduce the rate of infection by 40 percent in African women. Similarly, Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective in inhibiting HIV infection in couples where one has the disease, gays, and sexually active youth. On the other hand, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is also used a means of HIV/AIDS prevention method. PEP refers to the process of administering antiretrovirals within 48 to 72 hours after a person is exposed to secretions or blood carrying the HIV. PEP treatment is recommended to a victim after a sexual assault if the offender is identified to be HIV positive (Beard, Feeley, " Rosen, 2009).
Discussion
HIV/AIDS has been found to be a chronic fatal disease in several areas around the world. The disease is a global pandemic since, in 2016, nearly 37 million persons were living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. The average survival period for an infected person without treatment is about ten years, depending on the HIV subgroup. The main causes of death from AIDS include cancer and opportunistic infections which leads to the gradual failure of the immune system. However, the rate of the disease development varies between individuals and has been found to be influenced by some factors such as the specific strain of the virus, the presence of co-infections, and immune system of a person. Additionally, tuberculosis has been found to be the leading cause of death in people with AIDS (Khanna, 2012).
As HIV/AIDS researchers work to regulate and eradicate the disease across the world, certain myths and misconceptions regarding the disease have been embraced. However, other essential concepts with merit have been ignored. This topic is important, and the researchers should continue to question alternative strategies that could lead to a long-term solution to the disease. The most common misconceptions about AIDS are that HIV can only infect homosexuals, having sexual intercourse with a virgin will cure an infected person and that the disease can spread through physical contact. Stigma has been an issue for people who have HIV/AIDS and has not been fully addressed. AIDS stigma can be experienced in numerous ways including avoidance, discrimination, and rejection of infected individuals. Stigma has made many people fear from seeking HIV/AIDS testing and treatment. In most cases, AIDS stigma is usually associated prostitution, promiscuity, bisexuality, and homosexuality (Agbo, 2016).
Governments should be on the forefront in advising people to be cautious about the disease since AIDS negatively affects the economy of a given country. A country where most people die from the disease will experience low human capital to build the economy. Lack of adequate medicine, healthcare, and proper nutrition, many people will die from AIDS-associated infections. The infected people will require significant medical care and will not be able to work. When an infected person begins treatment, it will be difficult for them to return to work. Furthermore, the affected individuals also work less than a healthy worker. Most people with AIDS are unemployed because of factors such as social isolation, memory problems, and suicidal ideation. Thus, when AIDS affects young adults, it reduces the taxable population which in turn increases the public expenditures in medical services. Moreover, at the household level AIDS leads to increased expenditures especially on healthcare and loss of income (Khanna, 2012).
Conclusion
AIDS as a source of discrimination and as a disease has had a huge impact on the society. The disease has attracted both political and medical care since it was known in the early 1980s. HIV/AIDS has been considered as a global pandemic, and it is actively spreading over a large area. Syndrome was initially used by public health officials in 1981 when the first case of the disease was reported. When the disease damages the immune system severely a variety of symptoms can be seen. Many people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS acquire the virus by engaging in unprotected anal or vaginal sex. The use of a condom reduces the risk of infection by nearly 80 percent for a long period. Therefore, governments should be on the forefront in advising people to be cautious about the disease since AIDS negatively affects the economy of a given country.
References
Agbo, N. (2016). Determination of Thyroid Hormonal Levels in Hiv Positive Individuals in Nsukka Community of South Eastern Nigeria
(Doctoral dissertation).
Beard, J., Feeley, F., " Rosen, S. (2009). Economic and quality of life outcomes of antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS in developing countries: a systematic literature review. AIDS care, 21(11), 1343-1356.
Khanna, A. S. (2012). Bio-Behavioral Models for HIV Prevention. University of Washington.
Kurth, A. E., Celum, C., Baeten, J. M., Vermund, S. H., " Wasserheit, J. N. (2011). Combination HIV prevention: significance, challenges, and opportunities. Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 8(1), 62-72.
Majelantle, R. G., Keetile, M., Bainame, K., " Nkawana, P. (2014). Knowledge, Opinions and attitudes towards HIV and AIDS among Youth in Botswana. Journal of Global Economics.
Acknowledgments
I take this opportunity to thank my lecturers for their support during the process of writing this article. I also want to thank certain online resources that helped me to stick to the academic writing rules such as the Purdue Online Writing Lab. My friends and classmates also provided moral support and guidance during the process of writing this article. Moreover, my parents and siblings at home ensured that I complete this assignment by providing a conducive environment.
