* HIV
* Manifestation of the AIDS infection.
In 1981 , in the U.S. large numbers of young men in New York and California began to succumb to illness which had previously responded to treatment , or had only been seen in people suffering gross impairment of the immune system. At first , these deaths were regarded as isolated incidents , but as the numbers increased , there came the realisation that health care faced a tremendous challenge. Those effected early in the epidemic presented a number of correlating factors: the patients were either young homosexual men , male or female intravenous drug abusers , recipients from Haiti living in the U.S. At the same time there was also evidence of a similar epidemic emerging in sub-Saharan Africa. As now the majority of those affected in the earliest days of the epidemic in the West were young homosexual or bisexual men and the early investigations into the cause concentrated on the sexual and social behaviour of this group. It was believed that the presence of certain infectious agents in semen , such as cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus , were transmitted through sexual intercourse of stimulants through lesions in the anal mucosa. It was also thought that the use during sexual intercourse of stimulants , such as butyl or amyl nitrate , might have affected the immune system. Early investigations named the conditions - "GAY RELATED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME" or "GRIDS".
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most fearful infections man has ever encountered. There is no absolute cure or vaccine available to date. Current evidence shows that the incubation period may be as short as 10 days or as long as 10 years. Infected persons who may or may not exhibit signs or symptoms in the early stages of disease are infectious to other persons. A lot of fear and misinformation has been generated since the disease was first described in 1981 and this is not confined only to the general population.
As only regular and accurate education can counteract irrational fears it is important that persons dealing with HIV positive individuals should keep in touch with information as it becomes available. Health care staff have a large role to play in this emotive field and must be well informed as to the real risks as opposed to the myths associated with the disease.
Manifestation of the AIDS infection.
Infection with HIV occurs after the virus in the blood, semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk of a carrier gains entry to a particular form of host lymphocyte, the helper T lymphocyte. After a variable period, antibodies to the virus appear in the blood. this seronconversion may coincide with a transient glandular fever-like illness. These anti-bodies do not seem to be protective as the virus continues to be found in the helper T lymphocytes, where it's continued replication destroys these cells and causes disordered immune function. At present it appears that many HIV-infected individuals remain ill, although they have the potential to infect others by the previously described routes.
In addition to having enlarged lymph nodes others develop symptoms such as night sweats, diarrhoea, weight loss and malaise, a condition known as AIDS-Related Complex (ARC).
Examination of the blood may show abnormally low platelet and neutrophil counts in addition to low lymphocyte counts
Only individuals with an opportunistic infection or unusual tumour can be diagnosed as having AIDS. At present the majority of these known to be infected with HIV are asphomatic for these conditions; this demonstrates the error of calling the HIV antibody test the, 'AIDS test.'
A more recently phenomenon is the effect of HIV on the nervous system.
The early manifestations include personality changes and memory disturbances, whilst in the late stages there may be fits, AIDS dementia and painful peripheral neuropathy. It must be realised that, as control of HIV depends to a great extent on behavioural modifications, the onset of dementia carries with it serious implications.
There are several things to remember about infection with HIV. Not everyone who is infected will produce detectable antibodies and, although infected and infectious, will be negative on testing. Similarly, there may be a decrease in detectable antibodies in people with advanced manifestations of AIDS. For those who do progress to AIDS-related illness, vary from a few weeks to five years or more. Because of this extraordinary long incubation period, all those who wish to be tested for antibodies to the virus should first be exposed to in-depth counselling, by experienced counsellors, about the implications which may result from a positive test. The reactions of society to this condition has, on very many occasions, been alarming and these known to be infected with HIV have sometimes been rejected by society, with consequent loss of employment, housing and insurance.
ARC
ARC is an AIDS related complex. It is an acute episode of illness (lasting 2 weeks or more) when the patient has symptoms similar to those of a person with full blown AIDS or clinical AIDS. They are fever, unexplained weight loss, swollen lymph nodes and fungal infection of the mouth and throat. Patients with ARC may eventually go on at some time in the future to develop clinical AIDS.
How Can You Catch The AIDS Virus?
The virus has been isolated from blood, semen, tears and saliva. However, there are only four proven ways in which it can be passed from person to person:
Intimate sexual contact, heterosexual or homosexual, with an infected person.
Injection or transfusion of blood or blood products (usually factor viii) taken from an infected person.
Sharing injection needles with an infected person.
From a pregnant mother to her baby.
How Easily Is The AIDS Virus Spread?
Not easily, unless sexually transmitted ... or else transmitted through someone else's contaminated needle in the case of drug addicts.
However, the virus is, in fact, very delicate and does not survive well outside the body. It can only be spread in the ways already mentioned.
Although the AIDS virus has been found in saliva and tears, there have been no cases in which exposure to either was shown to spread the virus.
By ; Gwen Byrne, Claire Forde, Threasa Mc Loughlin.
