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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Jason Petrina | Posted under Health
HIV Virus:Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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HIV tends to develop in stages. For example, a person may contract the HIV virus; however, they may not notice any signs or symptoms immediately. In this instance the person is referred to as being HIV positive. It is only later, when the T-cells have been infected and destroyed by the virus that the person begins to be seriously affected by the disease. At this point, other problems begin to develop and the person may develop a syndrome referred to as AIDS. The organs of the patient may be directly attacked by the HIV virus at this point and it becomes increasingly difficult for the patient to fight offer other diseases; such as particular infections and even various types of cancer. The patient may develop dementia, renal, heart, kidney and brain failure as the disease progresses. HIV can be contracted in a number of ways. Generally, in order for the virus to be contracted, direct contact must be made between a mucous membrane containing body fluid that is infected with the HIV virus and another person. The most common examples of such mucous membranes include breast milk, vaginal fluid, semen, blood and preseminal fluid. While it is widely known that HIV can be contracted through sexual intercourse, it is important to also understand that HIV can be contracted through oral sex as well. Other types of contact that can lead to the transfer of HIV include blood transfusions, use of contaminated needles, breastfeeding and the exchange of fluids between mother and child during pregnancy and childbirth. Handling body fluids infected with HIV may also pose a risk for infection. It should be stressed that while HIV is certainly a serious and potentially deadly virus, transference does not necessarily indicate infection. Once an HIV infected cell is transferred from a carrier to a second party, one of two eventualities may occur. It is possible that the infected cell may become dormant or it may become active. The risk of infection varies, depending on type of transmission and the viral load of the carrier. There are a number of ways to prevent and limit the transmission of HIV. One of the most important ways to prevent the spread of HIV from sexual transmission of the disease is the use of latex condoms. A number of treatment options are currently used and are under research; however, there is still no current cure for HIV. Some of the most important treatments for HIV hope to delay the progression of HIV; however at the present time current treatments options can only delay that progression. The most effective treatments include post-exposure antiviral drugs; which must be started no later than 72 hours after exposure. There has been a serious amount of debate regarding the origins of the HIV virus and the question still continues to be debated vigorously today. Many researchers believe the virus originated in a particular region of Africa during the twentieth century. Although the disease did not begin to come to the attention of the world until the 1980's, it is estimated that almost 40 million people around the world currently have HIV. Further estimates indicate that some 28 million people have died of HIV and HIV related issues. The HIV virus was first discovered in France in 1983 by researchers looking for a clue for the virus that causes AIDS; which had first been recognized by the Center for Disease Control in 1981. About The Author: Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com |
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