| AIDS is an acronym for Acquired | | | | person is in the final stages of |
| Immunodeficiency Syndrome it causes a | | | | HIV--AIDS. Severe chest infections with |
| destruction of the immune system. It is | | | | high fever are common and survival rate |
| the most advanced stage of the HIV virus | | | | is above 70% but decrease with each |
| (HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency | | | | recurrence. |
| Virus). AIDS is defined by the Centers | | | | A person is diagnosed with AIDS when he |
| for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | | | | she has one or more positive HIV |
| as the presence of a positive HIV | | | | screening and the presence of an AIDS |
| antibody test and one or more of the | | | | defining condition. Some of the common |
| illnesses known as opportunistic | | | | conditions include but are not limited |
| infections. | | | | to: Meningitis, Encephalitis, Dementia, |
| The HIV virus, type 1 or 2 is widely | | | | Pneumonia, Kaposi sarcoma, and Lymphoma. |
| known to be the cause of AIDS. HIV | | | | There is also a blood test called an |
| breaks down and attacks your T cells so | | | | Immune Profile that can be done. This |
| your body is unable to defend itself | | | | test is used to measure the loss of |
| against different infections. The HIV | | | | immunity and help decide on the best |
| virus also attacks your peripheral | | | | treatment. There is a test that is |
| nervous system, this causes nerve and | | | | rarely used due to its high cost, it is |
| muscle pain, especially in the feet, | | | | known as a Viral Load: This test detects |
| legs, and hands. | | | | the virus itself, and also measures the |
| HIV is spread through direct contact | | | | amount of HIV in the blood. It shows how |
| with semen or blood of an individual | | | | quickly the HIV infection is likely to |
| that is infected. This can be | | | | advance. A high viral load suggests that |
| transferred in many ways the most common | | | | the person may progress rapidly to AIDS. |
| is unprotected sexual intercourse. Other | | | | Although there is no cure for AIDS there |
| means of infection are infected blood | | | | are medical treatments that aide in |
| transfusions, mother to infant (at time | | | | prolonging, and maintaining the best |
| of birth, or through breast milk), | | | | quality of life possible. These include |
| sharing needles with an infected person, | | | | two nucleoside inhibitors, lamivudine |
| and rarely a healthcare worker that gets | | | | and zidovudine. Actual treatment plans |
| pricked with an infected needle. | | | | will vary with each patient, along with |
| Often people who are infected with HIV | | | | the physical aspect of this disease. The |
| have few symptoms and in some cases | | | | psychological side has to be addressed |
| there are none. Other times, symptoms of | | | | in order for a treatment plan to be |
| HIV are confused with other illnesses | | | | effective. |
| such as the flu. This may be severe, | | | | The easiest way to escape contracting |
| with swollen glands in the neck and | | | | this disease is to avoid the risk |
| armpits, tiredness, fever and night | | | | factors that you are in control of. Such |
| sweats. This is where as much as 9 out | | | | as: unprotected sex, not sharing a |
| of 10 of the infected individuals will | | | | needle, and if you are in the healthcare |
| develop AIDS. At this point the person | | | | field be sure to use all precautions |
| may feel completely healthy and not even | | | | necessary to avoid an accidental prick |
| know that he/she has the virus. The next | | | | from a possible infected needle |
| stage begins when the immune system | | | | (remember that in this diseases early |
| starts to break down and the virus | | | | stages it is common for the person not |
| becomes more aggressive in damaging | | | | to even know they are infected). Today |
| white cells. Several glands in the neck | | | | AIDS is the fifth leading cause of death |
| and armpits may swell and stay swollen | | | | among all adults aged 25 to 44 in the |
| for an extended period of time without | | | | United States. Among African-Americans |
| any explanation. As this disease | | | | in the 25 to 44 age group, AIDS is the |
| progresses boils or warts may spread | | | | leading cause of death for men and the |
| over the body. They may also feel | | | | second leading cause of death for women. |
| tremendously tired, night sweats, high | | | | Our society needs to become aware that |
| fevers, chronic diarrhea, and they may | | | | by not protecting ourselves we are |
| lose a considerable amount of their body | | | | killing ourselves and that this has to |
| weight. Most cases have shown thrush as | | | | stop. |
| a symptom as well. At this point the | | | | |