Since HIV was first identified over twenty years ago it has affected and even killed millions upon millions of people. It is believed that the disease originated and has spread from Africa and this is the location that is most affected by HIV overall. Subsequently it is becoming an ever serious problem within the western world as well and appropriate treatments are still not available to many. People that are afflicted by HIV often have no hope for a cure and must live with the symptoms for the rest of their shortened lives.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus can be passed from one person to another through any form of bodily fluids whether it be blood, saliva or sexually transmitted fluids. The disease itself takes a toll on the body’s immune system and makes it impossible to ward off the effects of other viruses and medical issues. The main cell that is affected by HIV is known as CD4 lymphocyte.
A person that suffers from the disease is labeled as being HIV positive and are much more susceptible to a number of different illnesses and conditions. Their immune system is essentially incapacitated and their body does not have the ability to fight off even the least harmful of medical issues. After being HIV positive for a number of years, when the disease begins to take over, a patient is then said to suffer from AIDS. This is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
HIV positive patients suffer from a variety of debilitating symptoms even though they may look or feel completely healthy. The first symptoms are often the same as the common flu or may be as innocent as a small rash or swelling in the throat. At this early stage, doctors are often unable to diagnosis a patient as being HIV positive. It often takes as much as three months for the virus to be detected by routine medical tests. If someone who suffers from this illness develops a disease such as a skin infection or tuberculosis they will be unable to recover in many instances. It may take as much as ten years for the virus to truly make an impact on a patient, but it is often inevitable. In serious cases HIV can cause a person to develop different forms of cancer or even suffer from nervous system damage.
More people are susceptible to HIV than they even realize and there are a number of ways to contract the virus. Being in contact with infected blood, having unprotected sex or using shared needles are all ways that the virus can be spread. Within the world there are over 40 million people that suffer from HIV and over 25 million have passed away due to the disease since 1981 alone.
There are a few treatments available for patients suffering from HIV but less than 15 percent of these people have access to the medication they need. There is still very little known when it comes to the treatment of HIV and there is no cure in sight. Antiretroviral drugs are the most common treatment and can extend the life expectancy of an HIV patient significantly when taken on a regular basis. The problem is that these drugs are extremely expensive and very limited when compared to the amount of people suffering from the illness.
© Insider Health
Human Immunodeficiency Virus can be passed from one person to another through any form of bodily fluids whether it be blood, saliva or sexually transmitted fluids. The disease itself takes a toll on the body’s immune system and makes it impossible to ward off the effects of other viruses and medical issues. The main cell that is affected by HIV is known as CD4 lymphocyte.
A person that suffers from the disease is labeled as being HIV positive and are much more susceptible to a number of different illnesses and conditions. Their immune system is essentially incapacitated and their body does not have the ability to fight off even the least harmful of medical issues. After being HIV positive for a number of years, when the disease begins to take over, a patient is then said to suffer from AIDS. This is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
HIV positive patients suffer from a variety of debilitating symptoms even though they may look or feel completely healthy. The first symptoms are often the same as the common flu or may be as innocent as a small rash or swelling in the throat. At this early stage, doctors are often unable to diagnosis a patient as being HIV positive. It often takes as much as three months for the virus to be detected by routine medical tests. If someone who suffers from this illness develops a disease such as a skin infection or tuberculosis they will be unable to recover in many instances. It may take as much as ten years for the virus to truly make an impact on a patient, but it is often inevitable. In serious cases HIV can cause a person to develop different forms of cancer or even suffer from nervous system damage.
More people are susceptible to HIV than they even realize and there are a number of ways to contract the virus. Being in contact with infected blood, having unprotected sex or using shared needles are all ways that the virus can be spread. Within the world there are over 40 million people that suffer from HIV and over 25 million have passed away due to the disease since 1981 alone.
There are a few treatments available for patients suffering from HIV but less than 15 percent of these people have access to the medication they need. There is still very little known when it comes to the treatment of HIV and there is no cure in sight. Antiretroviral drugs are the most common treatment and can extend the life expectancy of an HIV patient significantly when taken on a regular basis. The problem is that these drugs are extremely expensive and very limited when compared to the amount of people suffering from the illness.
© Insider Health
