Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
diseases:hiv [2018/12/07 01:34] – [HIV/AIDs] mckenna.lacydiseases:hiv [2018/12/08 00:07] (current) – [Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis] mckenna.lacy
Line 31: Line 31:
  
  
- ===== Progression of HIV to AIDS =====+===== Progression of HIV to AIDS =====
  
 If left untreated, HIV can turn into Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, commonly known as AIDS. For individuals who are able to treat their HIV, they are unlikely to have their HIV progress into AIDS. If left untreated, HIV can turn into Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, commonly known as AIDS. For individuals who are able to treat their HIV, they are unlikely to have their HIV progress into AIDS.
  
-There are five major stages that an individual goes through when exposed to HIV. Stage one is the initial infection of HIV. Infection can occur through the sharing of needles, unprotected sex, and pregnancy if the mother is affected. The second stage is when the infected individual begins exhibiting flu like symptoms. The third stage is clinical latency, or a prolonged period without symptoms. During this period, the number of T cells decline drastically while the HIV RNA copies increase.Clinical latency can last for years. The fourth stage is when the individual starts experiencing opportunistic infections as a result of their impaired immune system. These infections often include tuberculosis and various forms of tumors. Finally, during stage five, the individual begins to show late symptoms of infection, signaling the person has progressed to AIDS. A person’s life expectancy is bleak once AIDS has developed as viral RNA is reproducing rapidly.((Brandt, Adam. "Human Diseases" St. Norbert College. November 2018. Lecture))+There are five major stages that an individual goes through when exposed to HIV: 
 + 
 +  * Stage one is the initial infection of HIV. Infection can occur through the sharing of needles, unprotected sex, and pregnancy if the mother is affected. 
 +  * The second stage is when the infected individual begins exhibiting flu like symptoms; 
 +  * The third stage is clinical latency, or a prolonged period without symptoms. During this period, the number of T cells decline drastically while the HIV RNA copies increase.Clinical latency can last for years; 
 +  * The fourth stage is when the individual starts experiencing opportunistic infections as a result of their impaired immune system. These infections often include tuberculosis and various forms of tumors; 
 +  * During stage five, the individual begins to show late symptoms of infection, signaling the person has progressed to AIDS. A person’s life expectancy is bleak once AIDS has developed as viral RNA is reproducing rapidly.((Brandt, Adam. "Human Diseases" St. Norbert College. November 2018. Lecture)) 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Treatment ===== 
 + 
 +Although there is no cure once an individual contracts HIV, there are antiretroviral therapies (ART) available to help slow the progression of the virus. If taken correctly, they can greatly reduce the risk of transmission to partners as well as the ability to lead a long and relatively normal life. However, if taken incorrectly or intermittently, it can lead to drug resistant strains of HIV, severely decreasing available treatment options and life expectancy. ((“HIV Treatment Overview.” HIV.gov, 13 Nov. 2018,  [[http://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/staying-in-hiv-care/hiv-treatment/hiv-treatment-overview|www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/staying-in-hiv-care/hiv-treatment/hiv-treatment-overview]])) 
 + 
 +There are four main types of ART’s: nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, and drugs that interfere with viral entry, such as fusion inhibitors and CCR5 antagonists. It is often recommended that a combination of these are used in order to target multiple pathways of the virus to yield the greatest outcome. These multi-drug cocktails are called Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy or HAART. 
 + 
 +The overall goal of HAART is to prolong the life of an HIV positive individual while also improving their immune system in order to more effectively fight off other infections. The introduction of antiretroviral therapies have been a great success in the past few decades. Such medications have led to a longer life expectancy and quality of life for affected individuals. In South Africa, there has been an overall decrease in people developing new cases of HIV as well as the number of AIDS related deaths, giving hope to future generations.((“Antiretroviral Therapy (Anti-HIV Drugs).” MyVMC, 22 May 2018,  [[http://www.myvmc.com/treatments/antiretroviral-therapy-anti-hiv-drugs/|www.myvmc.com/treatments/antiretroviral-therapy-anti-hiv-drugs/]])) 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Prevention ===== 
 + 
 +There are many preventative methods to decrease the chance of spreading or contracting HIV. The most effective of these include abstinence and refraining from sharing needles. Other preventative methods include using condoms and preventative medicines such as pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis. For the aforementioned, it is extremely important they are used properly or they will not work to their full extent.((7)) ) 
 + 
 +==== Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis ==== 
 + 
 +Pre-exposure prophylaxis are drugs taken daily that dramatically reduce the chance of HIV making it through your body and latching on to T cells. If used effectively, it can lower an individuals chance of contracting HIV through intercourse by 90%. Further, it can lower an individual’s chance of contracting HIV through shared needles by nearly 70%. Combining these with other methods lower the risk even more.((8)) 
 + 
 + 
 +==== Post-Exposure Prophylaxis ==== 
 + 
 +Post-exposure prophylaxis prophylaxis is a type of antiretroviral medication that must be taken within 72 hours after being potentially exposed to HIV. When in need of a post-exposure prophylaxis, every hour counts– it is much more likely to work the sooner it is taken after suspected exposure. ((“HIV/AIDS.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 31 Oct. 2018,  [[http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prevention.html|www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prevention.html]]))
  
 ===== Treatment ===== ===== Treatment =====
Line 51: Line 80:
 ==== Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis ==== ==== Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis ====
  
-Pre-exposure prophylaxis are drugs taken daily that dramatically reduce the chance of HIV making it through your body and latching on to T cells. If used effectively, it can lower an individuals chance of contracting HIV through sex by 90%. Further, it can lower an individual’s chance of contracting HIV through shared needles by nearly 70%. Combining these with other methods lower the risk even more.((8))+Pre-exposure prophylaxis are drugs taken daily that dramatically reduce the chance of HIV making it through your body and latching on to T cells. If used effectively, it can lower an individuals chance of contracting HIV through intercourse by 90%. Further, it can lower an individual’s chance of contracting HIV through shared needles by nearly 70%. Combining these with other methods lower the risk even more.((8)) 
  
 ==== Post-Exposure Prophylaxis ==== ==== Post-Exposure Prophylaxis ====
Line 61: Line 91:
 South Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV positive individuals in the world at nearly 7.1 million people. Because a lot of the country is still impoverished as a legacy of apartheid, those who live in South Africa are at a greater risk of contracting and being unable to treat HIV.((“HIV and AIDS in South Africa.” AVERT, Avert, 23 Oct. 2018,  [[http://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/sub-saharan-africa/south-africa|www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/sub-saharan-africa/south-africa]])) South Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV positive individuals in the world at nearly 7.1 million people. Because a lot of the country is still impoverished as a legacy of apartheid, those who live in South Africa are at a greater risk of contracting and being unable to treat HIV.((“HIV and AIDS in South Africa.” AVERT, Avert, 23 Oct. 2018,  [[http://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/sub-saharan-africa/south-africa|www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/sub-saharan-africa/south-africa]]))
  
-In South Africa, studies have shown a link between low income, high unemployment, violence, poor education, and HIV prevalence. In each of these groups, young women are the most affected by HIV than their male counterparts. This pattern is likely due to sexual and cultural norms. These norms include, but are not limited to, it being typical for a man to have many partners and few using condoms because it is viewed as being less masculine. Many men have multiple partners because they consider it to be their cultural right.+In South Africa, studies have shown a link between low income, high unemployment, violence, poor education, and HIV prevalence. In each of these groups, young women are the most affected by HIV than their male counterparts. This pattern is likely due to sexual and cultural norms. These norms include, but are not limited to, it being typical for a man to have many partners and few using condoms because it is viewed as being less masculine. Many men have multiple partners because they consider it to be their cultural right.((P. Rohleder et al. (eds.), HIV/AIDS in South Africa 25 Years On, 13 
 +DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-0306-8_2, C Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009))
  
 In contrast, in some African communities, women want to show they are fertile before marriage so they will attempt to become pregnant by engaging in unprotected sex, further raising their risk of contracting HIV. In some parts of rural Africa, the high rate of women with HIV is attributed to still being seen as subordinates to men as well as having limited personal resources to deal with this power struggle. In many cases, women do not have much say in when and with whom they engage in intercourse with.((Mswela, M. “Cultural Practices and HIV in South Africa: a Legal Perspective.” Journal for the Study of Religion, Journal for the Study of Religion,  [[http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1727-37812009000400007|www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1727-37812009000400007]])) In contrast, in some African communities, women want to show they are fertile before marriage so they will attempt to become pregnant by engaging in unprotected sex, further raising their risk of contracting HIV. In some parts of rural Africa, the high rate of women with HIV is attributed to still being seen as subordinates to men as well as having limited personal resources to deal with this power struggle. In many cases, women do not have much say in when and with whom they engage in intercourse with.((Mswela, M. “Cultural Practices and HIV in South Africa: a Legal Perspective.” Journal for the Study of Religion, Journal for the Study of Religion,  [[http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1727-37812009000400007|www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1727-37812009000400007]]))

Trace:

Print/export