HIV/AIDS
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25 million killed worldwide
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33 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide and most of them have no idea they carry HIV and may be spreading the virus to others
One ARV is good, 3 ARV is better, why?
HIV is a very active virus that makes lots of copies of itself that then damage the body's immune cells (CD4 cells). It a clever virus that can adapt to whatever medicines are being taken as it tries to change itself through mutations so that those medicines no longer work. Taking more than 3 medicines makes the virus harder to adapt. The medicines must be taken everyday at the right time and the right way to keep the right levels of the medicine in the body. This makes it very hard for the virus to become resistant to the medicines.
Define HIV/AIDS and know the difference between them.
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV infects human cells and uses the energy and nutrients provided by those cells to grow and reproduce. AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The immune system breaks down and is unable to fight off infections. This cause illnesses to take advantage of the weakened immune system. When a person is infected with HIV, the virus enters the body and lives and multiples primarily in the white blood cells, which normally protect us from disease.
Link between HIV and secondary STDs
Having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) can increase the risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV. Open sores or breaks in the skin, HIV can enter and exit the bloodstream more easily. Also STIs can cause biological changes, such as swelling of tissue, which may make HIV transmission more likely.
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In the U.S., approximately 1.1 million are living with HIV/AIDS, about 56,300 Americans become infected very year.
Prevention methods / strategies
If you are sexually active, protect yourself. Practice safe sex. Use a condom, especially latex condoms.
PMTCT / vertical transmission issues
In 2009, about 1,000 babies were infected with HIV every day during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding Globally, there are approximately 1.4 million pregnant women living with HIV in low-and middle-income countries. Only 26% of pregnant women living in these countries received HIV tests.
Why are younger people more vulnerable than older?
Many of the 1.1 million people now living with HIV in the U.S. became infected when they were teenagers. The CDC's 2007 statistics show that about 48% of American high school students had been sexually active.
Link infection to Alcohol, drugs, risky behaviors
Many young people use drugs and alcohol, which can increase the likelihood that they will engage in high-risk sexual behavior.
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Since the beginning of the epidemic, AIDS has killed more than 25 million people worldwide, including more than 583,000 Americans.
T-helper or CD4 cells
The hallmark of HIV infection is the progressive loss of a specific type of immune cell called T-helper, or CD4, cells. weakens the immune system; making it easier for other opportunistic infections and other illnesses, like pneumonia and cancer to occur.
CDC's Clinical Definition of AIDS
The presence of one or more AIDS-related infections or illnesses. A CD4 count that has reached or fallen below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. Also called the T-cell count, the CD4 count ranges from 450 to 1200 in healthy individuals.
Why are women (worldwide) more vulnerable to infection than men?
Women are at least twice as likely to contract HIV through vaginal sex with infected males than vice versa.
Routes of Transmission
Unprotected sex (vaginal or anal) with someone who has HIV Sharing needles or syringes with someone who is infected. Infection during pregnancy, childbirth, or breast-feeding (mother to infect or vertical transmission) Unprotected oral sex with someone who has HIV (cuts, spores, ejaculation in mouth)