AIDS

(acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) - AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the name used to
describe a number of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that happen when your immune system has
been severely damaged by the HIV virus.

AIDS is the final, most severe stage of HIV infection. Because HIV has severely damaged the immune system, the body
can’t fight off opportunistic infections.

Without treatment, people with AIDS typically survive about 3 years.

History: Where did it came from?

 The first recognized cases of Aids occurred in America in the summer of 1981, and soon afterwards in Africa. In
the beginning doctors did not know what caused this disease, and it was only in 1983 that scientists discovered
that Aids is caused by a virus - now known as HIV-1.

 There are many theories about the origin of Aids, but the truth is that nobody really knows where Aids came
from. The most widely accepted theory is that HIV crossed the species barrier from primates to humans at some
time during the twentieth century.

 Scientists believe that HIV originally came from a virus particular to chimpanzees in West Africa during the
1930s, and originally transmitted to humans through the transfer of blood through hunting. Over the decades,
the virus spread through Africa, and to other parts of the world.

 1981. In the US, reporting of unusually high rates of the rare forms of pneumonia and cancer in young gay men
begins. The disease is initially called Gay-Related Immune Deficiency (GRID) because it is thought it only affects
gay men. Cases are also reported in Injection Drug Users by the end of the year.

 1982. The disease is renamed Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Canada reports its first case of
AIDS in March. It is realized that the infection can be sexually transmitted and caused by HIV. Cases are reported
in blood transfusion recipients.

 1991. The red ribbon became the international symbol of AIDS awareness, intended to be a symbol of
compassion for people living with HIV and their carers.

 1997. UNAIDS estimates there are 30 million people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide, with 16,000 new
infections daily. The Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS)

 2011. Confirmation is published that Timothy Ray Brown is cured of HIV, four years after completing treatment.

 2014. UNAIDS launched the 90-90-90 targets, which aim for 90% of
people living with HIV to be diagnosed, 90% of those diagnosed to be
accessing medical treatment, and 90% of those accessing treatment to
achieve viral suppression by 2020. UNAIDS established "Fast Track"
targets to dramatically scale-up HIV prevention and treatment
programs to avert 28 million new infections and end the epidemic as a
public health issue by 2030.

Stages of hiv/aids

First Stage: Acute HIV Infection

This is when your body's immune system puts up a fight, typically within 2 to 6 weeks after you've gotten the virus. It's
called acute retroviral syndrome or primary HIV infection. Symptoms are like that of flu that typically lasts a week or two
and then completely go away. They include Headache, Diarrhea, Nausea and vomiting, Fatigue, Aching muscles, Sore
throat, Swollen lymph nodes, A red rash that doesn't itch, usually on your torso, and Fever.

Second Stage: Chronic HIV Infection

After your immune system loses the battle with HIV, the flu-like symptoms will go away. Doctors may call this the
asymptomatic or clinical latent period. Most people don't have symptoms you can see or feel. This stage can last 10
years or more. During this time, untreated HIV will be killing CD4 T-cells and destroying your immune system.

Third Stage: AIDS

AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV infection. You can also be diagnosed with AIDS if you have an "AIDS defining illness"
such as Kaposi's sarcoma (a form of skin cancer) or pneumocystis pneumonia (a lung disease). People with AIDS who
don't take medication only survive about 3 years, even less if they get a dangerous infection. But with the right
treatment and a healthy lifestyle, you can live a long time.

 AIDS diagnosis is more complicated

 AIDS is late stage HIV infection. Healthcare providers look for a few factors to determine if HIV latency has
progressed to stage 3 HIV.

 Because HIV destroys immune cells called CD4 cells, one way healthcare providers diagnose AIDS is to do a
count of those cells. A person without HIV can have anywhere from 500 to 1,200 CD4 cells. When the cells have
dropped to 200, a person with HIV is considered to have stage 3 HIV.

 Another factor signaling that stage 3 HIV has developed is the presence of opportunistic infections.
Opportunistic infections are diseases caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that would not make a person with an
undamaged immune system sick.

Signs and symptoms of aids: what happens?

Signs  Feeling short of breath

 Thrush (a thick, white coating on your tongue or  Purplish growths on your skin or inside your
mouth) mouth

 Sore throat  Bleeding from the mouth, nose, anus, or vagina

 Bad yeast infections  Skin rashes

 Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease    Feeling very numb in your hands or feet, losing
control of your muscles and reflexes, not being
 Getting bad infections a lot
able to move, and losing strength in your
 Feeling really tired, dizzy, and lightheaded muscles

 Headaches Symptoms

 Losing lots of weight quickly  Being tired all of the time

 Bruising more easily than normal  Swollen lymph nodes in your neck or groin

 Having diarrhea, fevers, or night sweats for a  Fever that lasts for more than 10 days
long time
 Night sweats
 Swollen or firm glands in your throat, armpit, or
 Unexplained weight loss
groin
 Purplish spots on your skin that don't go away
 Deep, dry coughing spells
  Shortness of breath  Bruises or bleeding you can't explain

 Severe, long-lasting diarrhea

 Yeast infections in your mouth, throat, or vagina

HOW IT IS ACQUIRED?

Contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes and HIV-infected blood or blood-contaminated body
fluids. Deep, open-mouth kissing if both partners have sores or bleeding gums and blood from the HIV-positive partner
gets into the bloodstream of the HIV-negative partner. HIV is not spread through saliva.

PREVENTION, TREATMENT, CURE

 Because there is no cure or vaccine to prevent HIV, the only way people can prevent infection from the virus is
to avoid high-risk behaviors putting them at risk of infection, such as having unprotected sex or sharing needles.

 NIAID urges everyone ages 13 to 64 to get tested for HIV as part of their routine health care. Catching HIV in its
early stages can make a lifesaving difference.

 NIAID and other researchers have developed drugs to fight both HIV infection and its associated infections and
cancers. In combination with early detection through HIV testing, available HIV therapies can greatly extend
years and quality of life, and have resulted in a dramatic decrease in AIDS deaths in the U.S.

 Behavioral strategies designed to increase condom usage, delay sexual activity among young people, and reduce
sexually transmitted infections, which can make people more susceptible to HIV infection.

 Using HIV medicines that can treat HIV as a way to prevent infection among high-risk groups.

 Microbicides—gels, creams, or foams—that women could use to protect themselves against HIV.

 Developing a safe, effective vaccine against HIV infection.

 Drug abuse intervention and treatment programs to prevent HIV transmission among injection drug users.

 People who are HIV-positive need extra vitamins and minerals to help repair and heal damaged cells. Eat
foods high in these vitamins and minerals, which can helpboost your immune system: Vitamin A and beta-
carotene: dark green, yellow, orange, or red vegetables and fruit; liver; whole eggs; milk

 Treatment and life expectancy

 If HIV develops into stage 3 HIV, life expectancy drops significantly. It’s difficult to repair damage to the immune
system at this point. Infections and other conditions, such as certain cancers, resulting from severe immune
system impairment are common. However, with successful antiretroviral therapy and some immune system
recovery, many people with stage 3 HIV live long lives.

 With today’s treatments for HIV infection, people can live with HIV and never have AIDS develop. It’s also
important to note that successful antiretroviral treatment and a sustained undetectable viral load greatly lowers
the risk of transmitting the virus to a partner.