What is AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) and how does it affect me?
AIDS is a disorder of the immune system in which the body’s ability to defend itself becomes greatly diminished. This is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which invades the immune cells (also known as key white blood cells called T Lymphocytes or T cells). As HIV invades the T cells and multiplies, the immune system begins to deteriorate causing infections, cancers and even death. The strange fact about this disease is that most deaths occurring among people with AIDS are the result of the many infections and cancers to which the body becomes vulnerable, not by the AIDS virus itself. AIDS is considered a monumental modern-day medical plague as there is no known cure and because it is experienced as a variety of various illnesses resulting from the initial HIV infection.
The origin of HIV is not known, although the earliest documented cases of AIDS appeared in 1981. Researchers now believe that there were many undocumented cases during the 1970’s. It is speculated that HIV might be a genetically engineered virus that went awry. Whatever the origin, HIV is a type of virus called a retrovirus. This means that it is spread primarily through two different means. The first is through sexual contact such as oral sex or sexual intercourse. The second means of transmission is through blood-to-blood contact (which can occur when intravenous drug users share needles). It was once more commonly spread by blood transfusions, or the use of blood products like clotting factors if the blood used for these has become infected. One of the most vulnerable populations to HIV, are Hemophiliacs who require a specific coagulation factor found in blood concentrates. This is now rare in the United States, as well as other parts of the world due to the screening of blood for the presence of HIV antibodies. The HIV antibodies are the initial sign of an HIV infection. Even with the careful blood screening process HIV infected blood may sometimes pass the tests undetected. HIV is dangerous because the antibodies may not appear in the blood for several months after it was acquired, therefore a blood test taken from a person who recently contracted it may not be detected right away. This can be stressful for individuals at risk, as they may be carrying the virus but not know it for several months or even years. At the present time, Blood products are currently being heated in hopes of destroying the virus, yet many AIDS advocates raise concerns that this process may not be as effective as hoped. Fortunately, the American Association of Blood Banks reports that only 1 in 676,000 recipients of blood transfusions currently become infected with the HIV virus.
HIV is also transmitted when medical workers and dentists come in close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals under certain conditions. As a preventative measure it is now a requirement of all medical professionals, dentists, paramedics and law enforcement officers to prevent contact by wearing rubber gloves. This also protects the patients as well.
The most unfortunate victims of HIV are babies who contract the virus from their mothers through pregnancy, birth or breast-feeding. Although this does not occur in every case, statistics show that 25% of these babies do become infected before or during the birth process. It is not clear to Scientists, what factors determine whether or not a child will become infected, but they are diligently working to find the answers. It is known however, that drug therapy used during pregnancy and bottle-feeding after birth can dramatically decrease the possibility of transmission from mother-to-infant.
Although the world has known about the AIDS virus for
the past 20 years including the fact that it has killed
millions of people, millions more continue to become infected
every day. There is no known cure for AIDS and the reality
is, that it is going to be around for a very long time.
Many people who feel that they are not at risk for HIV
or AIDS may not see how this disease can affect them or
why it is important to become educated about it. Unfortunately,
it has become a worldwide epidemic. Statistics show that
AIDS is not only rampant in third world countries such
as Africa, but with the youth of America who are becoming
the most at-risk group to date. We must educate our youth
and teach them not only how to practice safe sex (by using
condoms), but abstinence as well. The future of our world
depends upon our ability to stop the transmission of this
deadly and incurable plaque.
More Information:
HIV Testing
HIV Symptoms
