Cara Bristow by Cara Bristow

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

carambristow — 2024-12-05 01:44:02 UTC

AIDS is the most advanced stage of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. It weakens your immune system by destroying your T-cells until you are unable to fight off even minor illnesses.

HIV is a ribonucleic acid (RNA) viral pathogen with 2 subtypes: HIV-1 and HIV-2.

How can it spread? Take a look at HIV & breastmilk

carambristow — 2024-12-05 01:53:30 UTC

AIDS is spread through contact with infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk; however, not every child born to an HIV-infected mother will acquire the virus.

Did You Know?

Babies born with HIV experience no immediate symptoms.

Even though there are no symptoms, the virus is actively infecting and killing cells of the immune system.

Children may remain asymptomatic until 3-5 years of age

In untreated children, the most commonly exhibited manifestations of HIV infection include but are not limited to recurrent bacteremia, increased opportunistic infections, frequent diarrhea, cardiomyopathy, hepatitis, generalized lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, oral candidiasis, cancers, and central nervous system manifestations, such as growth delay, delayed cognition, low IQ, and frequently global developmental delay.

Cutaneous manifestations of HIV infection (molluscum contagiosum).

carambristow — 2024-12-05 01:54:48 UTC

Children in general are prone to infection with the virus causing molluscum contagiosum. Children infected with the HIV are more likely to develop persistent, widespread eruptions due to molluscum contagiosum, and are more likely to develop the numerous giant lesions that are pictured above.

Source: Section 18 Cutaneous Manifestations of HIV Disease, Prose NS, Kristal L. Weinberg's Color Atlas of Pediatric Dermatology, 5e; 2017.

Symptoms - Stage 1

carambristow — 2024-12-05 02:10:36 UTC

Stage 1: Acute HIV Infection

Within 2 to 4 weeks after infection with HIV, about two-thirds of people will have a flu-like illness.

Fever
Chills
Rash
Night sweats
Muscle aches
Sore throat
Fatigue
Swollen lymph nodes
Mouth ulcers

Symptoms - Stage 2

carambristow — 2024-12-05 02:12:45 UTC

Stage 2: Clinical Latency

In this stage, chronic HIV infection, the virus still multiplies, but at very low levels. People in this stage may not feel sick or have any symptoms.

People can stay in this stage for 10 or 15 years.

Symptoms - Stage 3

carambristow — 2024-12-05 02:15:34 UTC

Stage 3: AIDS

Rapid weight loss
Recurring fever or profuse night sweats
Extreme and unexplained tiredness
Prolonged swelling of the lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck
Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week
Sores of the mouth, anus, or genitals
Pneumonia
Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids
Memory loss, depression, and other neurologic disorders

Treatment throughout the years

carambristow — 2024-12-05 02:21:13 UTC

1981 - The CDC made its first official report of HIV-related illness in the United States.

1987 - The FDA approves azidothymidine (AZT) as the first medication to treat HIV.

1997 - HAART becomes the new standard of care for HIV, which leads to a 47% drop in HIV-related deaths.

2012 - The FDA approves Truvada as the first form of pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection.

2014 - The CDC announces that the annual rate of new HIV diagnoses declined 30%

2021 - The FDA approves the first long-acting injections to treat and prevent HIV.

Myths

carambristow — 2024-12-05 02:24:48 UTC

You can't become infected with HIV through casual contact. That means you can't catch HIV or get AIDS by hugging, kissing, dancing or shaking hands with someone who has the infection.

HIV isn't spread through air, water or insect bites. You can't get HIV by donating blood.

HIV/AIDS-related Cancers

carambristow — 2024-12-05 02:28:16 UTC

Lymphoma

Cancer starting in white blood cells.

Early sign is painless swelling of the lymph nodes.

Kaposi sarcoma

Tumor of the blood vessel walls.

It can affect the internal organs, including the lungs and organs in the digestive system.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers

These include anal, oral and cervical cancers

Preventing the Spread of HIV

carambristow — 2024-12-05 02:35:09 UTC

There's no vaccine to prevent HIV infection and no cure for HIV/AIDS. But you can protect yourself and others from infection.

Take preexposure prophylaxis, also called PrEP or post-exposure prophylaxis medication.
It can reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%.
Use a new condom every time you have anal or vaginal sex.
Be Honest - Tell your sexual partners you have HIV
Get treatment during pregnancy asap
Male circumcision