HIV and AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the cells in the body’s immune system that fight infections and makes the person more vulnerable to diseases. 

HIV infection usually happens to a person who exchanges fluids with someone who already has HIV. It most commonly occurs due to unprotected sex, which means having sexual intercourse without using a condom or sharing injection drug equipment. 

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the later stage of HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system has been damaged because of the virus. 

A person is recognized as an AIDS patient after:

• The number of CD4 cells falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. The healthy immune system will have a CD4 count of 500 to 1,600 cells/mm3. 
• The condition develops more opportunistically towards the infection irrespective of the CD4 count. 

Life expectancy

This first HIV/AIDS case was reported in 1981 and it is one of the most persistent and deadliest epidemics affecting humankind. A human body cannot get rid of HIV and there is no HIV cure yet, so if a person is diagnosed with HIV, he/she will have to live with it for life. However, HIV medicine, known as antiretroviral therapy (ART), can help people live a long and healthy life, and it also helps prevent HIV transmission to their sexual partners. 

When people shift from HIV to AIDS, they are more likely to survive for three years. However, if the condition becomes worse, their life expectancy falls to one year. HIV medicines can still help people during the initial stage of the infection, those medicines act as an opportunity to save lives. Moreover, people who start antiretroviral therapy sooner get more benefits. Therefore, early detection and testing play a vital role. 

How does HIV become AIDS?

When HIV destroys CD4 T cells, also known as the white blood cells that play a significant role in helping the body fight any disease, it turns out that the immune system starts weakening. 

HIV can also infect you with minimum to no symptoms and maybe that is when HIV infection turns into AIDS. 

AIDS is diagnosed when the CD4 T cell counts fall below 200 and the person starts getting AIDS-defining complications such as a severe infection or some cancer. 

How does HIV spread?

HIV can spread in several different ways, having unprotected sex with a person, who is already affected with HIV, and exchanging fluids with him/her are the most common ways of contracting the disease. Here are a few other ways in which HIV spreads:

• By sharing drug needles 
• Exchanging blood with a person who has HIV 
• From a mother to her baby during pregnancy, breastfeeding or even childbirth 
• Also,spread by open wound 

Who is at risk of HIV infection?

Anyone can get HIV, but a few people are at a high risk, such as:

• People who take drugs with shared needles 
• People who are already suffering from a sexually transmitted disease
• People who engage in risky sexual escapades, like not having protected sex 

What are the symptoms of HIV?

As discussed earlier, HIV may or may not show any symptoms, but the first signs and symptoms of HIV may be flu-like, such as:

• Chills
• Rashes
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Muscle aches
• Sore throats
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Mouth ulcer 

These symptoms may occur every two to four weeks and this stage is also called acute HIV infection. 

If the infection is not treated, it may turn into a chronic HIV infection. Most of the time, there are no symptoms during the early stage of HIV. Due to the same reason, if the patient does not detect it early, the virus will weaken the body’s immune system and turn into AIDS. As soon as a person gets AIDS, his/her immune system gets badly damaged and he/she will get more severe infections, known as opportunistic infections. 

HIV and AIDS classification stages 

1. Acute HIV infection 

• People start getting a large amount of HIV in their blood, which is very contagious. 
• Some flu-like symptoms start occurring, which is a natural response to the virus.
• Some people may not show symptoms at all. 
• If a person starts showing flu-like symptoms and has been exposed to HIV, he/she should consult a doctor. 
• Only antigen/antibody tests or nucleic acid tests will help diagnose this acute infection.

2. Chronic HIV infection 

• This stage is also known as asymptomatic HIV infection or clinical latency. 
• HIV is active in the body, but reproduces very slowly.
• People may not show signs and symptoms during this phase.
• Without HIV medicines, this stage may last for ten years or longer, but some may progress faster.
• People can potentially transmit HIV in this stage. 
• At the end of this stage, HIV in the blood cells goes up to the CD4 level and the cell count goes low. The person may start showing symptoms as the disease moves up to Stage 3. 

3. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome 

• This is the most severe phase of HIV. 
• This is when HIV has progressed to AIDS and the affected person’s immune system has been badly damaged. The patient starts getting several other illnesses called opportunistic infections. 
• People start receiving the AIDS diagnosis when their CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells/mm or develop certain opportunistic infections. 
• Some people with AIDS can have a high viral load and can be very infectious. 
• Without treatment, people suffering from AIDS may only survive for about three years.

What are the treatments for HIV and AIDS?

Treatment of HIV and AIDS should start as soon as these are detected, regardless of the viral load. The primary treatment for HIV is antiretroviral therapy , a combination of medications that will stop the virus from reproducing. This step will help protect the CD4 cells by keeping the immune system strong to take measures against the disease. 

Antiretroviral therapy will keep HIV from progressing to AIDS, it will also reduce the risk of HIV spreading to others. 

ART is effective, but the viral load will still be undetectable – the person has HIV, but the virus results will not be visible. This means that the virus will still be in the body and if the person stops taking ART, the viral load will increase and HIV will start attacking the CD4 cells. 

Many researchers are now working on developing a vaccination to prevent HIV transmission, yet taking a few basic steps will help you prevent the HIV transmission. 

• Practice safe sex.
• Get tested for HIV.

Use condoms.

Conclusion 

HIV infection usually happens to a person who exchanges fluids with someone who already has HIV. It most commonly occurs due to unprotected sex, which means having sexual intercourse without using a condom or sharing injection drug equipment. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the later stage of HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system has been damaged because of the virus.