HIV AIDS Information, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis & Prevention of Aids

Introduction to AIDS:

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a progressive in which human body’s resistance to fight infection reduces. AIDA is caused by a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). White blood cells, in our body also known as lymphocytes, are responsible for fighting infections. A special lymphocyte CD 4 helper lymphocytes, coordinates the immune system attack, wherever a foreign substance try to attack immune system.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) may enter the human body through blood transfusion, during sexual intercourse and mother can transfer HIV to infant during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. The HIV destroys CD 4 helper lymphocytes and converts them to copy of HIV. The whole process weakens the immune system and person’s ability to fight infection decreases continuously.

Diagnosis of AIDS:

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates screening, diagnosing, treating and monitoring of HIV and AIDS. FDA approves tests to detect antibodies, antigens, RNA in serum, plasma, dried blood spot and urine.

(1) Screening of HIV:

Blood samples from blood donors are screened for antigen, antibody and RNA (Ribonucleic acid) and blood donations should be accepted only if the test results provide a high degree of confidence that HIV is absent.

(2) ELISA:

Enzyme immunoassay is a screening test. ELISA is a high sensitive test. However the cut off point between positive and negative is still controversial.

(3) Antibody Tests:

Antibody tests are carried out routinely to rule out HIV in adults. These tests are more accurate. These results may be negative (false negative) during the period of infection to the beginning of detectable stage. The period may be three weeks to six month also known as window period.

(4) Western Blot Test:

The test is similar to ELISA test and there are no universal criteria for interpretation. Test results are reported as positive, intermediate and negative. A person showing intermediate results may develop a positive result if tested within one month. If the test result does not show positive HIV even after six month, there may not be any HIV infection.

(5) CD 4 T-Cell Count:

The normal count of CD4 in human body is in the range of 600 to 1000 count per unit of blood. If CD 4 counts drops below 200, there is a likelihood of HIV infection. Low CD 4 counts will also be associated with serious infections and cancer.

Other tests include rapid test, antigen tests and nucleic acid tests.

Problems associated with AIDS:

People infected with HIV could suffer infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites.

• The bacterial infection includes tuberculosis, mycobacterium aviom complex and salmonellosis.
• The viral infection includes viral hepatitis, HSV (herpes simplex virus), human papilloma and progressive multifunctional leukoencephalopathy (PML).
• Fungi infections include cryptococcal meningitis and candidiasis.
• Parasite infection includes pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and Toxoplasmosis.
• People suffering from AIDS may also develop various types of cancer. Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is the most common tumor and infects lungs, mouth and gastrointestinal tract and can also infect other organs.

Symptoms of AIDS:

In the initial stage, CD 4 cells fight with HIV. In some cases this may continue for years before the symptoms of immune deficiency begin to appear. Normal mean time is 9 to 10 years.  In some cases people infected with HIV may never develops AIDS.

• The starting symptoms of AIDS include swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, fever, cough, weight loss, nausea and breathing problem.
• The later stage symptoms include headache, swelling in lymph nodes continuously, high fever for several weeks and fatigue.

Treatment of AIDS:

At present there is no treatment to cure AIDS. However the medication may slow down the progressive stage and overall improve the life of patients.

With the introduction of antiretroviral drug therapy (HAART) and fusion inhibitors, the slow down in the growth of HIV reproduction and stopping the virus from reproducing it from CD 4 lymphocytes has been greatly achieved.

Prevention of AIDS:

Prevention techniques should always be used to protect you from a possible HIV infection.

• Always use fresh needles and syringes.
• Always use condoms and have protected sex.
• Do not get infected with the other people’s blood.
•  Do not share toothbrushes.
• Do not share razors.