Introduction of Immunodeficiency disease
Immune deficiency is a malfunction or a deficiency in one or more components of the immune system. Immune deficiency disorders can be inherited or may develop as a result of some other disease. Types of immunodeficiency diseases may include; DiGeorge Syndrome, Selective IgA Deficiency, Ataxia-Telangiectasia and HIV
Introduction of HIV and Aids
Aids and HIV first became known in the early 1980’s. In the last 20 years Aids and HIV have been the topic of fierce debate. The first recognized case of Aids was in USA in early 1980, at this time aids had no name. In New York and California a number of gay men started to develop rare opportunistic infections and cancers that were resistant to any treatment. The discovery of HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, was made soon after. There is clear proof that HIV causes Aids, HIV is the virus and Aids is the syndrome. In 2008 it was found that the origin of HIV was in between 1884 and 1924.
What does HIV do?
HIV specifically attacks the immune system cells (white cells found in bone marrow) until the immune system can no longer fight off other infections that it would usually be able to prevent. This causes the person to be infected by other diseases, which attack the body in a number of other ways. If left untreated, it takes around ten years on average for someone with HIV to develop AIDS. However, this average is based on the person with HIV having a reasonable diet. Someone who is malnourished may well progress from HIV to AIDS more rapidly. HIV cannot grow or reproduce on their own, they need to infect the cells of a living organism in order to replicate. The human immune system usually finds and kills viruses fairly quickly, but HIV attacks the immune system itself - the very thing that would normally get rid of a virus.
What type of virus is HIV?
HIV is a type of Lentiviruses they are in the group of viruses known as retroviruses. The name 'Lentiviruse' means ‘slow virus’ this is because of the long period it takes for them to cause any adverse effect in the body. Theses Lentiviruses have been found in a number of different animals, including cats, sheep, horses and cattle. In the investigation into the origins of HIV they found a Lentiviruse called SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus) this affects monkeys and if believed to be at least 32,000 years old.
So did HIV come from a SIV?
It is now thought that HIV came from a similar virus found in chimpanzees. There are two different strains of HIV (HIV -1 and HIV-2); these are generally accepted to be descendants of the SIV virus. HIV-1 is the more virulent, pandemic strain of HIV, this virus was found to have the closest counterpart with the SIVcpz virus in 1999 and was found in chimpanzees. HIV-2 corresponds with SIVsm which is also another strain of SIV, which is found in the Sooty Mangabey (white-collard monkey), in western Africa.
Where did HIV come from?
In 2001 scientists announced that chimpanzees were the source of HIV-1, and that the virus had at some point crossed species from chimps to humans. They also concluded that wild chimps had been infected simultaneously with two different simian immunodeficiency viruses which had "viral sex" to form a third virus that could be passed on to other chimps and, more significantly, was capable of infecting humans and causing AIDS.
How could have HIV crossed species?
There are many theories on how HIV crossed species between monkeys and humans. The most commonly accepted theory is that of the 'hunter'. In this scenario, SIVcpz was transferred to humans as a result of chimps being killed and eaten or their blood getting into cuts or wounds on the hunter. The oral polio vaccine (OPV) theory, where the vaccine called Chat, where the cultivating tissue used was a local chimp’s kidney that was infected by SIVcpz. The contaminated needle theory, in the early 1950’s the use of disposable plastic syringes became commonplace around the world, however the demand on them in Africa was too high and would have been very costly. So as to save money humans used a single syringe to inject multiple patients without sterilization in between use. The colonialism theory and the conspiracy theory or manmade are others.
What has cause HIV to spread?
There are a number of factors that may have contributed to the spread of HIV. Travel (Cars, planes and boats), blood transfusions, drug use, unprotected intercourse (vaginal or anal and as well as oral under certain conditions), contact with an infected person’s blood and from mother to child (pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding). Around 2.7 million people becoming infected with HIV in 2010, there are now an estimated 34 million people around the world who are living with HIV, including millions who have developed AIDS.
HIV symptoms
Some people experience a flu-like illness, develop a rash, or get swollen glands for a brief period soon after they become infected with HIV. These symptoms are common in less serious injuries and do not necessarily mean that a person has HIV. Often people infected by HIV have no symptoms, but may be able to transfer the virus on immediately after becoming infected. The only way to know for certain if someone is infected with HIV is for them to be tested.
Testing for HIV
There are various types of HIV test, but the most commonly used - the antibody or ELISA test - detects HIV antibodies in a person's blood. It is necessary to wait at least 3 months after the last possible exposure before having an HIV antibody test, to be certain of an accurate result.
How is HIV treated?
Antiretroviral drugs work by keeping the levels of HIV in the body to a minimum, this enables the immune system to recover and work effectively. These drugs enable many HIV infected people to live long healthy lives. For antiretroviral treatment to take effect commitment is essential, drugs have to be taken every day for the rest of the person’s life. If the person does not commit to the treatment it may increase the risk of drug resistance. There are more than 20 types of antiretroviral drugs approved, in the US and Europe as wells as many new HIV drugs being trailed. Even though in recent years access to access to antiretroviral treatment has become more widely available the treatment is limited.
How can HIV be prevented?
Despite considerable investment and research, there is currently no HIV and AIDS vaccine, and microbicides (designed to prevent HIV being passed on during sex) are still undergoing trials. However, there are other ways that people can protect themselves from HIV infection, which are the basis of HIV prevention efforts around the world. Education is an essential role in preventing HIV. Through education we can promote safe sex, needle exchange programs, for health care workers washing hands and wearing protective barriers (gloves, aprons and goggles), PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) is recommended as a HIV prevention measure for people exposed to HIV, antiretroviral drugs help mothers breast feeding their child dropping the chances of the child getting effected from 25% to less than 2% and bottle feeding can also greatly reduce the risk of HIV being passed from mother to child.