Essay Example on Unravelling the Difference Between HIV & AIDS

Introduction

HIV is an abbreviation for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This is a virus that, once it gets into the body, fights body cells, and, as a result, makes the human defenseless to infections. AIDS is an abbreviation for Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome. A person is said to have AIDS if he or she is HIV positive. This essay discusses the differences between HIV and AIDS, modes of transmission, stages, opportunistic infections, target cells, tests, and prevention.

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Differences Between HIV and AIDS

HIV is the virus that results to AIDS. An individual with the HIV virus can live a healthy life without getting AIDS. However, a person who has already acquired AIDS is unprotected and has opportunistic infections, therefore, weakening the body. HIV can be diagnosed by testing. The results can either be positive or negative. AIDS, on the other hand, is complex to diagnose as it is a group of symptoms and signs that occur due to the presence of HIV in the body. There is no test for AIDS.

Modes of Transmission

HIV can be spread from one individual to another in various ways. Body fluids from an infected person usually have the virus. These body fluids consist of; blood, semen, breast milk, and vaginal fluids (Case et al, 2012). Sexual intercourse with an infected individual will surely lead to the transmission of the virus. Also, if blood from an infected individual is donated to a person without the virus, then the virus will be in existence in the recipient's body. An infected mother can also transfer the virus to the baby through breast milk. Moreover, sharing personal items such as towels and piercing instruments can lead to the transfer of the virus.

Stages of HIV

Here are four stages in the progression of HIV; incubation period, asymptomatic period, symptomatic period, and full-blown AIDS. The early stages of HIV are incubation and asymptomatic, while symptomatic and full-blown are the late stages.

Early Stages and Symptoms

During the early stages of HIV, the infected person experiences symptoms such as headaches, sore throat, muscle aches, and fever (Holzemer et al, 2001). The symptoms are usually short-lived since the body reacts to the infection by establishing antibodies. During these early stages, the infected person looks healthy and does not show any sign of weakness and can only know his or her status by getting tested.

Late Stages and Symptoms

Over time an infected person who is not yet aware of his status gets into the late stages of the virus.it is at this point that the victim starts to show signs and symptoms. They include; weight loss, fatigue, fever, coughing and breathing difficulty, headaches, and diarrhea (Holzemer et al, 2001). The symptoms are caused by the opportunistic infections that establish themselves as a result of the weakness in the victim’s immune. At this point, AIDS has already been acquired by the victim.

Target Cells

The disease-fighting cells in the human body are known as the white blood cells. Once the HIV virus establishes itself in an individual’s body, it attacks the white blood cells. These cells are also referred to as the CD4 cells. The virus attaches itself to the cells and dominates and continues to release more HIV into the body. At this point, the body can no longer fight diseases, and the person’s immune is very weak.

Kaposi Sarcoma Opportunistic Infection

Opportunistic infections are those that develop due to the weak immune of the body. It affects the skin and some internal organs. Severe infections of Kaposi sarcoma occur when a person has acquired AIDS. Painless spots appear on the skin and may vary in color from red, bluish, brown, or black depending on the skin color of the victim ((Holzemer et al, 2001). Once Kaposi sarcoma develops it may lead to swelling of arms and legs, swallowing problems, shortness of breath and serious coughing.

Antiretroviral drugs are known to treat Kaposi sarcoma. There has been no proven vaccine against Kaposi sarcoma. The best prevention against Kaposi sarcoma is avoiding things that may lead to HIV infection.

Available Tests for HIV

There are various ways in which a test can be done. First, the antibody test. An infected person produces antibodies. An antibody test checks for antibodies in body fluids such as blood, urine, and saliva. One the test is done, and antibodies are present, it indicates that the person has the virus (Branson et al, 2006). The results of this test are expected after a few day or weeks. The test is accurate if done after three months of exposure to the virus. This is the time taken by the body to start producing antibodies.

The second test is known as the fourth-generation HIV test. The test looks for antibodies and parts of HIV known as P24 antigens. The antigens are plentiful in the body weeks after infection (Branson et al, 2006). The test can detect the HIV virus a month after a person is exposed to the virus. The test takes a few days to weeks to get results.

The third test is the rapid test.it is common as it can be done at any health care facility. The test takes about twenty minutes. The test checks for antibodies in the blood sample taken from the finger (Branson et al, 2006). If the result is positive, the healthcare worker performs the test for a second time. This kind of testing is accurate three months after exposure to the virus.

The last method is the self-test. This is a kit designed for a person to test his or her status from home comfortably. The test kit has instructions to be followed, and results are expected after twenty minutes. Self-test kits facilitate privacy for the person. However, a positive result should then be confirmed by a health care professional.

Prevention

HIV can be prevented by avoiding all the things that may lead to its spread. First is by having protected sex. The use of condoms can prevent the spread of HIV (Case et al, 2012). Also, spouses should remain faithful to avoid exposing each other to the virus from other persons. People should also not share personal items as well as instruments used for piercing through the skin. Items such as injections should always be sterilized before use to kill all germs. Blood transfusion should also be done after blood has been completely screened and confirmed to be free from the virus. Breastfeeding mothers who are positive should seek healthcare guidance to avoid mother to child infection.

Conclusion

HIV can be prevented if people observed all measures. Also, patients with the HIV virus can live healthy and manageable lives if their status is known early enough. The public should be made aware of what HIV is to eradicate the myths and misconceptions in the society about the HIV virus.

References

Holzemer, W. L., Hudson, A., Kirksey, K. M., Hamilton, M. J., & Bakken, S. (2001). The revised sign and symptom check-list for HIV (SSC-HIVrev). Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 12(5), 60-70. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S105532900660263X

Branson, B. M., Handsfield, H. H., Lampe, M. A., Janssen, R. S., Taylor, A. W., Lyss, S. B., & Clark, J. E. (2006). Revised recommendations for HIV testing of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health-care settings. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Recommendations and Reports, 55(14), 1-CE. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24842342

Case, K. K., Ghys, P. D., Gouws, E., Eaton, J. W., Borquez, A., Stover, J., ... & Hallett, T. B. (2012). Understanding the modes of transmission model of new HIV infection and its use in prevention planning. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 90, 831-838A. https://www.scielosp.org/article/bwho/2012.v90n11/831-838A/en/