Topic: HIV/AIDS

 

1- Introduction to HIV/AIDS:

The first cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were reported in the United States in the spring of 1981. By 1983 the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, had been isolated. Early in the U.S. HIV/AIDS pandemic, the role of substance abuse in the spread of AIDS was clearly established. Injection drug use (IDU) was identified as a direct route of HIV infection and transmission among injection drug users. The largest group of early AIDS cases comprised gay and bisexual men (referred to as men who have sex with men(or MSMs). Early cases of HIV infection that were sexually transmitted often were related to the use of alcohol and other substances, and the majority of these cases occurred in urban, educated, white MSMs.

2. Causes - HIV and AIDS:

The body fluids that contain enough HIV to infect someone are:

• semen
• vaginal fluids, including menstrual blood
• breast milk
• blood
• lining inside the anus

Other body fluids, like saliva, sweat or urine, don't contain enough of the virus to infect another person.

The main ways the virus enters the bloodstream are: 

• by injecting into the bloodstream with needles or injecting equipment that's been shared with other people
• through the thin lining on or inside the anus, vagina and genitals
• through the thin lining of the mouth and eyes
• through cuts and sores in the skin

3. Types and site of Infection of hiv/aid:

Having HIV/AIDS weakens your body's immune system. It destroys the white blood cells that fight infection. This puts you at risk for opportunistic infections (OIs). OIs are serious infections that take advantage of your weak immune system. These infections are less common and less severe in healthy people.

 

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4. There are many types of hiv/aid:

• Bacterial infections, including tuberculosis and a serious related disease, Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)
• Viral infections, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and hepatitis C
• Fungal infections, like yeast infections, cryptococcal meningitis, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and histoplasmosis
• Parasitic infections, such as crypto (cryptosporidiosis) and toxo (toxoplasmosis)

Having HIV/AIDS can make infections harder to treat. People with HIV/AIDS are also more likely to have complications from common illnesses such as the flu.

You can help prevent infections by taking your HIV/AIDS medicines. Other things that can help include practicing safe sex, washing your hands well and often, and cooking your food thoroughly.

5. Mode of transmisstion of hiv/aids:

How Do You Get or Transmit HIV?

You can only get HIV by coming into direct contact with certain body fluids from a person with HIV who has a detectable viral load. These fluids are:

• Blood
• Semen (cum) and pre-seminal fluid
• Rectal fluids
• Vaginal fluids
• Breast milk

For transmission to occur, the HIV in these fluids must get into the bloodstream of an HIV-negative person through a mucous membrane (found in the rectum, vagina, mouth, or tip of the penis); open cuts or sores; or by direct injection.

People with HIV who take HIV medicine daily as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative partners.

 

 

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6. Pathophysiology of HIV/AIDS:

HIV is commonly transmitted via unprotected sexual activity, blood transfusions, hypodermic needles, and from mother to child. Upon acquisition of the virus, the virus replicates inside and kills T helper cells, which are required for almost all adaptive immune responses. There is an initial period of influenza-like illness, and then a latent, asymptomatic phase. When the CD4 lymphocyte count falls below 200 cells/ml of blood, the HIV host has progressed to AIDS,^[1] a condition characterized by deficiency in cell-mediated immunity and the resulting increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and certain forms of cancer.

                                                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Investigation Medical and Nursing Management of hiv/aids:

Nurses have a huge set of responsibilities for handling a patient with cancer. Nursing care plans for cancer involves assessment, support for therapies (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation, etc.), pain control, promoting nutrition, and emotional support.

8. Prevention of hiv/aids:

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Until an effective vaccine is developed, nurses need to prevent HIV infection by teaching patients how to eliminate or reduce risky behaviors.

• Safe sex. Other than abstinence, consistent and correct use of condoms is the only effective method to decrease the risk of sexual transmission of HIV infection.
• In March 2007, based on the results of three clinical trials, the WHO and UNAIDS recommended that circumcision be recognized as an effective strategy to reduce the risk of HIV acquisition in men.
• Sex partners. Avoid sexual contact with multiple partners or people who are known to be HIV positive or IV/injection drug users.
• Blood and blood components. People who are HIV positive or who use injection drugs should be instructed not to donate blood or share drug equipment with others.

 

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