AIDS
Synonyms in a broader sense
Humanes - I.mmundeficiency - Virus, immune disease
English: HIV, human immunodeficiency virus
definition
AIDS stands for a disease called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), which is caused by the HI virus is triggered.
The HI virus is an RNA virus from the group of retroviruses. It only affects certain cells that the immune system / immune system and the Nervous system belong.
Summary
HIV is an RNA virus that causes the disease AIDS triggers. To be HIV positive does not mean to have AIDS. AIDS is the name for the disease that has broken out.
The disease spread from Africa around the world and is still increasing today. There are 2 different HI viruses. The infection usually takes place sexually, via infected needles in the case of drug abuse or via infected blood products. The HI virus only affects cells that have special features on their surface (including CD4 cells called) wear. These cells belong to the defense system / immune system of the body, which makes it very weak.
The disease is divided into different stages, only the end stage is called AIDS. Often there are infections with pathogens, which are usually completely harmless for healthy people with an intact immune system. The diagnosis is made through the detection of antibodies against the virus or even through direct virus detection. So-called NRTI, NNRTI or PI (please refer Therapy AIDS) used.
Since the disease is not curable to this day and neither is any vaccination exists, prophylaxis is of particular importance. Since AIDS to the STDs matters, in addition to educating risk groups about the routes of infection, the use of condoms (“safe sex”) and the containment of prostitution play a major role.
Epidemiology
The oldest known HIV infection comes from Zaire in 1959. From 1980 the virus spread from Central Africa via the Caribbean to the USA. From there the disease spread to Europe and other regions. Mainly homosexual men and IV drug addicts fell ill. However, transmission through heterosexual contact is steadily increasing.
Common cause of death AIDS
AIDS is one of the top 5 infectious causes of death in the world.
AIDS diagnosis
The diagnosis of AIDS is made with the help of the patient's anamnesis (questioning) about the specific risk situations (vacations in high-risk areas, IV drug abuse, blood transfusion, sexual contact), the symptoms and the pathogen detection.
In order to be able to detect AIDS in the blood, the patient's declaration of consent must be obtained. Different methods are then available:
- Antibody detection: The antibody detection is only positive about 6 weeks after the initial infection.
- Virus detection: virus quantification (determination of the viral load for therapy control)
Do you have AIDS? Find out very easily - also possible at home - with the HIV rapid test. Read about it: HIV rapid test - you should know that!
Pathogen HIV
There are two forms of HIV:
- HIV 1: This is the most common type in the world. There are three subgroups.
- HIV 2: There are six subgroups, most of which are found in West Africa.
As a rule, one becomes infected with one of these groups, although double infections can also occur.
The HI virus belongs to the group of Retroviruses and contains RNA. With the help of an enzyme, it has the ability to rewrite its RNA (RNA), on which the genetic information of the virus is stored, in DNA (DNA). The virus has a direct damaging effect on the immune system and nervous system. Although antibodies are made in infected people, the virus cannot be eliminated from the body.
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Routes of infection of AIDS
There are three main ways of getting infected with HIV:
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Sexually
The main risk here is unprotected sexual intercourse, especially in the risk areas. Homosexual men are most often affected.
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Parenteral
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IV drug abuse is one of the most dangerous here
Types of infection, especially when so-called “needle sharing” is used -
Infection via blood (products) (e.g. during transfusions)
- Accidental injuries in the medical field (very rare)
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AIDS transmission from mother to child
An HIV - positive mother transmits the virus to her unborn child in 15-20% of cases. With the help of chemoprophylaxis, the risk drops to below 3%.
Causes of AIDS
The disease AIDS is caused by the HI virus (HIV). This virus mainly attacks cells of the immune system that have very specific surface features (CD4). This is how it will be immune system (Defense system) of the body damaged by destroying the T helper cells. The body of an AIDS infected person only has a very weak immune system, which makes those affected very susceptible to various diseases.
Cells in the brain are also affected by the virus.
Symptoms of AIDS
The HIV infection can be divided into different stages. The CDC (Center of Disease Control) of the USA makes the following subdivisions:
A Asymptomatic / acute HIV disease
- A1: T helper cells> 500 (/? L)
- A2: T helper cells 200 - 499 (/? L)
- A3: T helper cells <200 (/? L)
B Symptomatic, but not A or C
- B1: T helper cells> 500 (/? L)
- B2: T helper cells 200 - 499 (/? L)
- B3: T helper cells <200 (/? L)
C AIDS
- C1: T helper cells> 500 (/? L)
- C2: T helper cells 200 - 499 (/? L)
- C3: T helper cells <200 (/? L)
(A, B and C indicate the categories.)
AIDS prophylaxis
In general, so-called risk groups (for example residents in Africa or homosexuals, but also the heterosexual population) should be informed about the infection (“How do I get infected?”) And prophylaxis (“What can I do about it?”).
The use of can also help reduce the incidence of new infections Condoms and the Curb prostitution.
To reduce the transmission of the virus through donated blood, all donors must be screened for the virus. Before a planned upcoming operation, autologous blood donation can be considered in order to rule out the infection. Gloves should always be worn when handling someone else's blood. This is especially true for medical personnel.
In order to protect others, infected people should contact the treating person doctor or dentist draw attention to their infection. The doctors' obligation to maintain confidentiality does not give rise to any cause for alarm. The person concerned decides who he or she would like to share his illness with.
If a pregnant woman is HIV positive, the risk of infection for the newborn child can be reduced to less than 1% by starting antiretroviral therapy after the 32nd week of pregnancy.
The newborn can also be given antiviral prophylaxis for six weeks. The mother should also be aware of this Breastfeeding refrain as the virus also spreads over the Breast milk transmits. Also a delivery by caesarean section in the 36th week of pregnancy on the contraindicated uterus is intended to reduce the risk of infection.
A vaccination is unfortunately not yet possible to this day, as the many different mutants (variants) of the virus make this immunization difficult.
AIDS prognosis
For one unfavorable prognosis AIDS has the following parameters:
- high viral load at initial examination
- Decrease in the number of T helper cells
- Progression in the categorization (e.g. from A1 to A3 or even B2)
However, there are also cases that stay in one category for a long time: no symptoms and many cells with certain surface features (CD4) after more than 10 years. Unfortunately, this only includes a maximum of 5% of those infected.
A Cure from AIDS is to this day not possible. However, due to the HAART therapy, significant decreases in AIDS-defining diseases were recorded.
Unfortunately, access to the successful HAART therapy is not possible in the particularly affected countries of the Third World. These countries are too poor and the health system is not structured enough to offer this therapy.
