Acquired immunodefciency syndrome
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the devastating illness caused by a virus that has become an epidemic worldwide. It is estimated that 40 million people have contracted this virus and are living with the devastating health consequences (Huether, McCance, Rote, 2008, p.198). The number of people newly infected with HIV is estimated at 5 million yearly, with 700,000 being under the age of 15”, “with death related to the contraction of the virus around three million yearly” (Huether et al,2008,p.198). With the use of antiviral drugs, health campaigns, and adjacent medical treatment, this virus has become chronic disease in the United States. Sadly this is not the case for many economically disadvantaged parts of the world; lack of education, access to supporting medical therapies and medication, has allowed the virus to spread at an unprecedented rate (Huether et al, 2008, p.198).
HIV is a virus that is transmitted in blood and blood products that left without treatment leads to AIDS. AIDS develops as a result of the virus HIV attacking the body’s immune system, making the individual’s immune system incapable of effectively fighting off many opportunistic infections that assault it on a daily basis (Huether et al, 2008, p.201). The vehicle of transmission of the HIV virus can be through sexual intercourse, masturbation, IV drug use, breast milk, and mother to child during birth (Huether et al, 2008, p.198). The HIV virus attacks it victims on the most basic cellular level, their DNA (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). DNA is in essence the blue print of the body and influences all aspects of body structure and function (Huether et al, 2008, p.37).
“HIV is a member of a family of viruses called retroviruses” (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). Retroviruses are special because they have the ability to infect the host on the most basic level in their DNA (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). Retrovirus carries genetic information in the form of
reverse transcriptase. When confronted with another viral enzyme integrase, the retrovirus becomes new DNA (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). This new DNA is inserted into the host cell and becomes new genetic material of the host’s cell. This new genetic material has the ability to lay dormant and when the conditions are right in the body, the HIV virus causes an eruption of the cell, containing the virus, thus killing the host cell, and spreading the HIV to other cells of the host. The very fundamental nature of viruses is in order to follow through with their own agenda; the virus kills the host that it needs for survival (Huether et al, 2008, p.199).
“The primary surface receptor on HIV is the envelope protein gp 120 which binds to the molecule CD4 on the surface of the helper t cells.” (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). The significance of the CD4 molecule is its function. CD4 molecules help other cells develop into immune cells that play a significant role in immunity on a cellular level (Huether et al, 2008, p.162). One of these functions of CD4 is the development of T- helper cells. T-helper cells are cells that the body also uses directly and indirectly, to develop other cells in into immune cells (Huether et al, 2008, p.162). The HIV virus has a direct effect on the CD4 receptor site, decreasing the amount of T-helpers cells, leaving the infected individual, susceptible to an onslaught of antigens. This is where the disease in its active form, get its name: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (Huether et al, 2008, p.199).
One of the significant clinical findings when the person is infected with the HIV virus is a significant decrease in the number of CD4 T- Helper cells and antibodies against HIV virus in the blood (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). The virus is know for a dormant period of six to fourteen months were the individual infected has no visible signs of being infected with a virus and antibodies may not appear in the person’s blood(Huether et al, 2008, p.200). During this latent period the individual is still able to give the virus to others, despite having no detectable antibodies in the blood. The first symptoms of HIV infection may relatively mild; it may present itself with symptoms common to influenza. The early stages of this virus may last for ten years but, progress to much more incapacitating symptoms and eventual death of the infected individual if left untreated (Huether et al, 2008, p.201).
The greatest treatment of this devastating illness is prevention. The only absolute guarantee of prevention is through sexual abstinence (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). The available medications can make this a chronic condition verses a death sentence. The current treatment is a medication that tries to stop the virus before it enters a person’s cell and combines with their DNA. These medications are referred to as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (Huether et al, 2008, p.201).There are some limitations with these medications including resistant variants of the virus and not being able to work in certain parts of the body(Huether et al, 2008, p.202). Another problem is these medications may not be available to every individual due to poverty, inadequate medical availability and the cost of taking a medication for a lifetime (Huether et al, 2008, p.202).Due to a comprised immune system these individual are susceptible to recurrent severe infections (Huether et al, 2008, p.203).These frequent infections require treatment and could put further strain on an already overburdened health care system (Huether et al, 2008, p.199).
References
Huether, S.E., McCance, K.L, Brashers, V. L., &Rote, N.S. (2008). Understanding pathophysiology. St Louis, Missouri, USA: Mosby, Elsevier.
HIV is a virus that is transmitted in blood and blood products that left without treatment leads to AIDS. AIDS develops as a result of the virus HIV attacking the body’s immune system, making the individual’s immune system incapable of effectively fighting off many opportunistic infections that assault it on a daily basis (Huether et al, 2008, p.201). The vehicle of transmission of the HIV virus can be through sexual intercourse, masturbation, IV drug use, breast milk, and mother to child during birth (Huether et al, 2008, p.198). The HIV virus attacks it victims on the most basic cellular level, their DNA (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). DNA is in essence the blue print of the body and influences all aspects of body structure and function (Huether et al, 2008, p.37).
“HIV is a member of a family of viruses called retroviruses” (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). Retroviruses are special because they have the ability to infect the host on the most basic level in their DNA (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). Retrovirus carries genetic information in the form of
reverse transcriptase. When confronted with another viral enzyme integrase, the retrovirus becomes new DNA (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). This new DNA is inserted into the host cell and becomes new genetic material of the host’s cell. This new genetic material has the ability to lay dormant and when the conditions are right in the body, the HIV virus causes an eruption of the cell, containing the virus, thus killing the host cell, and spreading the HIV to other cells of the host. The very fundamental nature of viruses is in order to follow through with their own agenda; the virus kills the host that it needs for survival (Huether et al, 2008, p.199).
“The primary surface receptor on HIV is the envelope protein gp 120 which binds to the molecule CD4 on the surface of the helper t cells.” (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). The significance of the CD4 molecule is its function. CD4 molecules help other cells develop into immune cells that play a significant role in immunity on a cellular level (Huether et al, 2008, p.162). One of these functions of CD4 is the development of T- helper cells. T-helper cells are cells that the body also uses directly and indirectly, to develop other cells in into immune cells (Huether et al, 2008, p.162). The HIV virus has a direct effect on the CD4 receptor site, decreasing the amount of T-helpers cells, leaving the infected individual, susceptible to an onslaught of antigens. This is where the disease in its active form, get its name: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (Huether et al, 2008, p.199).
One of the significant clinical findings when the person is infected with the HIV virus is a significant decrease in the number of CD4 T- Helper cells and antibodies against HIV virus in the blood (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). The virus is know for a dormant period of six to fourteen months were the individual infected has no visible signs of being infected with a virus and antibodies may not appear in the person’s blood(Huether et al, 2008, p.200). During this latent period the individual is still able to give the virus to others, despite having no detectable antibodies in the blood. The first symptoms of HIV infection may relatively mild; it may present itself with symptoms common to influenza. The early stages of this virus may last for ten years but, progress to much more incapacitating symptoms and eventual death of the infected individual if left untreated (Huether et al, 2008, p.201).
The greatest treatment of this devastating illness is prevention. The only absolute guarantee of prevention is through sexual abstinence (Huether et al, 2008, p.199). The available medications can make this a chronic condition verses a death sentence. The current treatment is a medication that tries to stop the virus before it enters a person’s cell and combines with their DNA. These medications are referred to as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (Huether et al, 2008, p.201).There are some limitations with these medications including resistant variants of the virus and not being able to work in certain parts of the body(Huether et al, 2008, p.202). Another problem is these medications may not be available to every individual due to poverty, inadequate medical availability and the cost of taking a medication for a lifetime (Huether et al, 2008, p.202).Due to a comprised immune system these individual are susceptible to recurrent severe infections (Huether et al, 2008, p.203).These frequent infections require treatment and could put further strain on an already overburdened health care system (Huether et al, 2008, p.199).
References
Huether, S.E., McCance, K.L, Brashers, V. L., &Rote, N.S. (2008). Understanding pathophysiology. St Louis, Missouri, USA: Mosby, Elsevier.
