Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV)

Jean Carla o. regis Marinduque state college

HIV - retrovirus that targets & destroys helper T-4 cells that assist the immune response to disease Human immunodeficiency virus HIV is the organism that causes AIDS AIDS is the third leading cause of death among all women between 15-44 Worldwide, women constitute @40% of all HIV positive cases The majority of women who contract AIDS are heterosexual, injecting drug users, hemophiliacs Majority of AIDS victims will die AIDS includes pulmonary TB, recurrent pneumonia, and invasive cervical cancer

CONTRACTING HIV
HIV is carried from one person to another through blood, semen and vaginal secretions
Transmitted through:

1.

sexual contact

2. Sharing injecting drug needles 3. From infected mother to infant during childbirth HIV is not transmitted through causal contact, tears or saliva

Steps in the HIV Replication Cycle

1. Fusion of the HIV cell to the host cell surface. 2. HIV RNA, reverse transcriptase, integrase, and other viral proteins enter the host cell. 3. Viral DNA is formed by reverse transcription. 4. Viral DNA is transported across the nucleus and integrates into the host DNA.

5. New viral RNA is used as genomic RNA and to make viral proteins. 6. New viral RNA and proteins move to cell surface and a new, immature, HIV virus forms. 7. The virus matures by protease releasing individual HIV proteins.

The WHO system uses the following categories:

Primary HIV infection: May be either asymptomatic or associated with acute retroviral syndrome. Stage I: HIV infection is asymptomatic with a CD4+ T cell count (also known as CD4 count) greater than 500/uL. May include generalized lymph node enlargement. Stage II: Mild symptoms which may include minor mucocutaneous manifestations and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. A CD4 count of less than 500/uL. Stage III: Advanced symptoms which may include unexplained chronic diarrhea for longer than a month, severe bacterial infections including tuberculosis of the lung as well as a CD4 count of less than 350/uL. Stage IV or AIDS: severe symptoms which includes toxoplasmosis of the brain, candidiasis of the esophagus, trachea, bronchi or lungs and Kaposi's sarcoma. A CD4 count of less than 200/uL. SYMPTOMS OF HIV Symptoms of AIDS may be similar to other diseases Difference is that they take longer to disappear or may recur

Common early symptoms include:

1. Night sweats 2. Rapid weight loss without diet or exercise 3. Diarrhea lasting longer than several weeks 4. Thick white spots coating the mouth 5. A dry cough and shortness of breath 6. Purple spots on skin, in mouth, and rectum

DIAGNOSIS OF HIV
Two tests are used for diagnosis: 1. Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (E L I S A test): a general screening with a high sensitivity 2. Western blot test, a less sensitive, more expensive but more specific test for the HIV antibody A women must wait @ a month from the time of suspected exposure before getting tested It takes @ 45 days between exposure and bodys building enough antibodies for detection Experts recommend two sets of tests @ 6 months apart

TESTING PROCEDURES
If a person tests positive for the HIV antibody with the ELISA test, a second ELISA test is conducted on the same person If the second test is positive, the Western blot test is conducted If the Western blot test is positive, the person is said to be HIV-positive

Incubation period:
3-6 months to 8-10 years

Treatment
NO CURE Combination drug therapy shows best results for slowing progress

Prevention is the best solution

Four Cs in the management of HIV/AIDS 1.Compliance-giving info and counseling which result to the clients successful treatment, prevention, and recommendation

2.Counseling/ Education-giving instruction about the treatment, disseminating info about the dse., sharing facts about HIV/AIDS 3.Contact tracing-tracing out and providing treatment to partners 4.Condoms-promoting the use of condom, giving instruction about its use, and giving away available condoms