AIDS, medically termed Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, has been one of the most unprecedented challenges that the global health sector has faced in the last few years. It is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which usually slows down the body’s immune defenses, enabling further infections and diseases.
As with most diseases, information about HIV and AIDS should be known both by those infected and the rest who would want to understand the health state that prevails in the world. Fortunately, treatment for the ever-improving health condition of those living with HIV/AIDS has come with this revolution. This blog looks into what AIDS really is and how it alters one’s body along with the new approaches in the health facility that are real at the moment.
Exploring AIDS/HIV: Definition and Key Insights
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) damages the immune system by destroying the T cells, which are essential for controlling an infection. Such infection states arise when the immunity of the human body became severely compromised due to other diseases and some cancers. Thus, this last stage of HIV is called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS.
This is basically transmitted when there is a change in the body fluids of the infected person with the same. These body secretions include blood, semen, vaginal secretions, rectal fluids, and breast milk. So it includes unprotected sexual contact; the use of needles, syringes, or any other striking instruments contaminated by the virus and up transfer from mother to child when giving birth or breastfeeding.
On the contrary, AIDS is the last stage of infection by the virus that does not qualify many people with HIV to become AIDS patients. AIDS is caused by the HIV virus and as we know, once a person receives the proper medical treatment or cure, HIV is manageable. Most AIDS patients have very low CD4 cell counts, an average count falling within a certain range, and many of them suffer from several opportunistic diseases or infections.
The Impact of HIV on the Human Body
HIV causes havoc in T helper cells which are one of the most important types of the immune system of a human being. When CD4 cells in the body are less, the immune system becomes weak and cannot fight any infections and diseases. So HIV, if not treated, can cause very severe damage to one’s immune system and hence give way to many other diseases like pneumonia or tuberculosis or cancers such as Kaposi’s sarcoma or lymphoma.
The time it usually takes for a person to go from HIV to AIDS varies from person to person. While some may progress to AIDS after a couple of years of being infected, others may take decades. The stages are basically dependent on factors such as the individual’s overall health status, how the immune system responds to the virus, as well as the treatment if any.
Advancements in HIV/AIDS Healthcare and Treatment
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
A similar piece of important discovery over the years has ART or antiretroviral therapy to it. ART is the rendering of fixed daily doses of antiretroviral medication or antiviral medicines for HIV.
These medications are not for healing HIV but generally extend lives, improve the quality of life, and lower chances of transferring HIV to others. It achieves this through decreasing the quantity of virus in blood to levels undetectable by conventional tests.
As long as the viral load is undetectable, we might not assume that sexual partners will come in contact with it, and slightly, we may witness the human immune system bouncing back to normalcy.
Pre-Exposure prophylaxis (PREP)
PREP is the main form of treatment for HIV prevention of someone at risk. This is really an oral medication within which two antiretroviral ingredients per day became ingested in a tablet. Taken properly, PREP would limit the chances of becoming infected with HIV during sexual behaviors or needle sharing tremendously. It works marvels for this subspecies and with its taking method.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
This kind of medication allows an individual to take it if he/she was exposed to HIV within 72 hours. The person’s risk is often quite high, mainly from sharps injury or sexual contact with an HIV-positive person. Prophylaxis after exposure should start as soon as possible and should be offered within a maximum of 28 days
Research on an HIV Vaccine
However, there is currently no vaccine available for HIV. Although at present this is, scientists and researchers are working as hard as possible
Conclusion
There are many improvements made in medical treatments even though somehow HIV/AIDS is not a highly alarming problem of the present day. Better health treatments have changed the outlook of HIV-positive people. With efficient therapy, preventive methods, and further research, the day is nearing when we could live in a world where people are infected with HIV/AIDS. Prevention of HIV/AIDS must, however, set targets in education, awareness, and access to care; such advancement would be instrumental in achieving that future.
FAQs
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
The HIV virus deteriorates the immune system; in contrast, AIDS represents the advanced condition of HIV infection and an immune system extremely damaged or compromised.
How does HIV spread?
HIV, which can spread from one body to another through the exchange of bodily fluids – blood, semen, secretions through the vagina, rectal fluids, and breast milk- can be sexually via unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing needles, or from the mother to child through childbirth or breastfeeding.
What are some advancements in HIV/AIDS treatment?
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and potential ongoing research for an effective HIV vaccine are some of the advancements made.
Can HIV be cured?
So far, no steps could cure HIV medically; however, courses such as ART prove to be effective in the long run to live a healthy life, transmittable as well.
