Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, commonly referred to as AIDs, is a health condition that damages the immune system, rendering it incapable of defending the body against pathogens and disease-causing germs. Since AIDs syndrome is an advanced version of HIV infection, the two terms are frequently used interchangeably (Hosek & Pettifor, 2019). Transmission of HIV occurs through bodily secretions, such as testicular and vaginal fluids, blood, and breast milk (Hosek & Pettifor, 2019). If these infected fluids come into direct proximity with mucosal membranes present inside the mouth, genitals, or rectum of a healthy person, the latter can contact the virus. Fever, sore throat, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, and diarrhea are some of the common symptoms associated with acute HIV infection. A breakdown of the history of AIDs, its demographical distribution, effects on the respiratory system, complications, and treatment options alongside my opinion regarding the disease form the basis of this paper.
History of AIDs
The history of AIDs, similar to that of any other chronic or opportunistic disease, dates several years back. In June 1981, a novel and peculiar diagnostic trend was reported by scientists in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Yang et al., 2019). Younger people began to develop a more virulent variant of Kaposi’s Sarcoma, a generally mild malignancy that often affects the ageing population. Later that year, a strange strain of pneumonia started to appear alarmingly in separate cohorts of patients across the world. By 1982, researchers started to link these novel diagnoses to other opportunistic diseases (Yang et al., 2019). This led to the discovery of AIDs, the full-blown condition caused by HIV after different strains of pneumonia had been tested empirically beyond selected case reports. The section below highlights the current AIDs prevalence across different sexes and races.
Demographic Data: Age, Sex, Race, and Distribution in Population
The CDC is a global health organization that publishes yearly reports on trends associated with chronic and multiple chronic diseases. Based on its 2020 report, the Black, Latino, and Hispanic races recorded greater rates of AIDs infection in the US (Eisinger et al., 2021). However, from 2012 to 2018, there were no significant racial disparities in diagnostic trends (Singhvi et al., 2019). During this time, both male and female adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 recorded an increase in diagnosis rates (Leung, 2023). At the same time, it was estimated that 2.1% of adults between the ages of 35 and 64 had the condition (Leung, 2023). As of 2023, around two per cent of the world’s population has been diagnosed with HIV, with men being disproportionately affected compared to their female counterparts (Leung, 2023). The section that follows describes the composition of the immune system which is usually affected by AIDs.
Anatomy of the System Involved
One of the most intricate systems in the human body is the immune system. Composed of different cells, organelles, and tissues, it is responsible for protecting the body against infections and pathogens. The lymphatic system, which includes lymph ducts, thymus glands, and the spleen is the main constituent of the immune system (Yang et al., 2019). It further encompasses specialized blood cells such as leukocytes, phagocytes, and lymphocytes that fight disease-causing germs and viruses. HIV, which is the precursor for AIDs, has been identified as one of the worst intruders that significantly weakens immunity, rendering it less resistant to other infections like cancer and COVID-19.
AIDs Diagnosis and Related Complications
The analysis of CD4 cell count and the occurrence of opportunistic infections are commonly used to diagnose AIDs. CD4 cells are special white blood cells that act as major building blocks of the immune system. Thus, HIV traces and eliminates these cells, impairing the immune system in its entirety and rendering it vulnerable to opportunistic diseases. One of the prerequisites for a positive AIDS diagnosis result is a CD4 count lower than 150 cells/mm3 (Hosek & Pettifor, 2019). On the other hand, opportunistic diseases like Kaposi sarcoma, candidiasis, and pneumocystis pneumonia can be used to diagnose AIDS. Furthermore, AIDS can be diagnosed using additional variables, such as the presence of HIV antibodies in the blood. Following a positive diagnosis, common complications associated with the disease include but are not limited to significant weight loss, which is frequently accompanied by general body weakness, diarrhea, opportunistic diseases, and fever.
Opportunistic infections usually develop as a result of a weakened immune system. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other disease-causing microorganisms that are often benign to persons with strong immune systems can trigger opportunistic diseases in AIDs victims. Pneumocystis pneumonia, cancer, tuberculosis, CMV infection, and cryptococcal meningitis are some of the most typical opportunistic illnesses among AIDS patients (Leung, 2023). Cancer variants such as Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and cervical cancer, are more prevalent among individuals with AIDS. Whereas non-lymphoma Hodgkin’s targets the lymphatic system, Kaposi sarcoma usually affects the skin and other tissues in the integumentary system. These malignancies require specific medication since they can be invasive and challenging to treat.
Concurrently, several neurological conditions, including myelopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and dementia, can be spurred on by AIDS. People with AIDS may develop HIV-induced dementia which is usually typified by mental impairments such as confusion and acute memory loss. In addition, neurological disorders like amnesia and anxiety have been attributed to untreated AIDs. HIV patients stand a higher chance of developing peripheral neuropathy which results in tingling and numbness in hands and feet. Additionally, they may suffer from myelopathy, a condition that can damage the spinal cord.
The nature and chronicity of these AIDS-related complications are useful in determining appropriate treatment modalities. From an infectious disease specialist stance, the treatment of underlying opportunistic infections requires specific medications. For instance, the treatment of HIV-induced cancer requires surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. On the other hand, a combination of both physical therapy and pharmaceuticals is recommended for neurological diseases. The segment below illustrates the impacts of AIDs on a patient’s breathing system.
Effects on Respiratory System
HIV infection makes it difficult for the body to combat respiratory infections such as flu and common cold. As a result, a person diagnosed with HIV could easily contract illnesses such as pneumonia. In the absence of proper medication, HIV/AIDs patients stand a higher chance of contracting infectious diseases including Pneumocystis Jiroveci Pneumonia (PJP) and tuberculosis (Yang et al., 2019). PJP is a fungal infection that causes difficulty in breathing, coughing, and chronic fever. Concurrently, when a patient’s CD4 count drops significantly, they become more vulnerable to tuberculosis and lung cancer (Leung, 2023). The section that follows outlines the two common treatment options that can be administered to AIDs patients.
Treatment Options
Antiretroviral therapy, commonly referred to as ART, is a special medication used to treat HIV/AIDs and prevents the virus from spreading to a healthy person. Previously, HIV-positive individuals would begin antiretroviral therapy once their CD4 count dropped below optimum levels or when they experienced HIV-related comorbidities (Trujillo-Cáceres et al., 2021). However, in modern treatment, ART administration is recommended to all patients regardless of their CD4 count to buffer the severity of the disease.
The first treatment option requires the patient to take pills (ARVs) at different intervals every day. Patients with a negligible viral load or those who have been on ARVs for at least three months are eligible for the second treatment option which involves receiving HIV shots (Eisinger et al., 2021). To ensure that the viral load is maintained at low levels or suppressed before using this approach, routine blood tests are recommended. Conclusively, the purpose of the two treatment approaches is to reduce the viral load to undetectable levels thus prolonging the lifespan of victims.
Conclusion
In January 2023, an empirical study by CDC revealed that pembrolizumab, which is commonly used to fight carcinoma cells and other related malignancies, can digest HIV viruses in immune cells. This provides a promising future for the development of a long-term HIV cure. In a separate study, Bionor Inc. is conducting randomized trials on three plant-based treatment alternatives that might be used to produce a feasible HIV cure depending on the reliability of the results that will be obtained. The research team is working on an antibody vaccine that will buffer viral replication and a polypeptide medication candidate capable of preventing HIV from entering the human immune system.
In terms of prevention, one can employ techniques like abstaining from sex, avoiding sharing cutting and piercing tools, and practicing safe sex. Furthermore, HIV prevention drugs like pre-and post-exposure prophylaxis are available for those who seek to protect themselves against the disease. Being diagnosed with HIV, in my opinion, can be a life-changing moment which requires adequate emotional and moral support. Most HIV patients can lead healthy lives if they adhere to therapy, exercise regularly, and eat a balanced diet. Additionally, healthcare practitioners should ensure that their patients have access to mental health therapies to support them through the early phases of the infection.
References
Eisinger, R. W., Lerner, A. M., & Fauci, A. S. (2021). Human immunodeficiency virus/AIDs in the era of coronavirus disease 2019: A juxtaposition of 2 pandemics. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 224(9), 1455-1461. Web.
Hosek, S., & Pettifor, A. (2019). HIV prevention interventions for adolescents. Current HIV/AIDs Reports, 16, 120-128. Web.
Leung, J. M. (2023). HIV and chronic lung disease. Current Opinion in HIV and AIDs, 18(2), 93-101. Web.
Singhvi, D., Bon, J., & Morris, A. (2019). Obstructive lung disease in HIV—phenotypes and pathogenesis. Current HIV/AIDs Reports, 16, 359-369. Web.
Trujillo-Cáceres, S. J., Castillo, J., Alvarez-Moreno, C., Valbuena, A., & Acuña, L. (2021). Burden and magnitude of risk in HIV/AIDs in the Colombian health system: A real-world data approach. Infectio, 25(3), 163-168. Web.
Yang, H. Y., Beymer, M. R., & Suen, S. C. (2019). Chronic disease onset among people living with HIV and AIDs in a large private insurance claims dataset. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 18514. Web.