Daily Health Advices

Archive for the ‘HIV and AIDS’ Category

It was discovered and considered as the agent of the emerging AIDS epidemic by Luc Montagnier’s team in France in 1983. The virion is spherical, equipped with an envelope and a capsid protein. The genome of a chain of single-stranded RNA to be temporarily copied into DNA in order to multiply and integrate into the genome of the cell it infects. The protein antigens of the outer casing are coupled specifically with membrane proteins of infected cells, especially T4 lymphocytes.

The process of converting RNA into DNA is a major characteristic of retroviruses and is performed by reverse transcriptase enzyme actions. With the demonstration of reverse transcriptase, began in the 1970s the search for human retrovirus, which in 1980 allowed the isolation of leukemia virus of adult T cells, HTLV-I (R. Gallo and al.)

HIV has a diameter of about 100 nanometers. Its outside is the “deck”, a membrane that originally belonged to the cell where the virus emerged. On the cover is a virus protein, gp41, or “transmembrane glycoprotein. Gp41 is connected to gp120, which can bind to the CD4 receptor located on the surface of T lymphocytes to penetrate them. The nucleus has a “capsid”, composed by the p24 protein. Inside is the RNA, the form of HIV genetic information.

In December 2006, according to the World Health Organization, 39.5 million people with HIV worldwide, of which 24.7 million lived in sub-Saharan Africa.

Three modes of transmission have been observed:

• Through sex, which is the principal.
• Through blood: especially for injection drug users, hemophiliacs, transfusion recipients and health professionals.
• Of mother to child can occur in utero in the last weeks of pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

A pandemic has developed from the late 1970′s, making this disease a new global health problem. Prevention, such as condom use, is by far the best option because there is currently no vaccine to protect themselves from viruses, and antiviral medications currently available do not cure. Although some efficacy, they can only delay the arrival of the stage “AIDS” in slowing the spread of HIV within the body. Furthermore, these therapies, costly, are easily accessible in developed countries can ensure that the financial burden and in developing countries, over 95% of patients are now receiving any effective treatment. It is for this reason that the United Nations, through the UNAIDS program, has made the fight against AIDS a priority.

AIDS
AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). When AIDS is the defense (or immune) system of the body sufficiently. “Acquired” means that it is not innate, hereditary disease, but something in the life originated or acquired. The lack of working people are immune to AIDS susceptible to diseases that people without HIV generally do not get, such as certain types of pneumonia, infections and skin cancer. AIDS is caused by a virus : HIV.

HIV
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus can enter the body in different ways. Once someone is infected with HIV, this means that the virus has invaded the body and are able to maintain it. Once the virus in the body begins to break down the immune system. Normally the immune system defends the body against harmful bacteria and viruses and protects against such diseases. When HIV weakens the immune system, bacteria and viruses get a chance to cause disease.

Whom HIV infection rises in points since the beginning of little or nothing. Sometimes there are short ‘flu like’ symptoms (the phase of “acute HIV infection”). After some time, symptoms occur. Sometimes that happens after many years. HIV, the immune system then largely demolished. The body can therefore not protect against many diseases, people without HIV who rarely or not usually get. At that point, we speak of AIDS. With time starting with ‘HIV drugs’ can someone with HIV long life without disease to get. The stage AIDS can be prevented, or at least long delayed. These medications can HIV infection in Western countries are now regarded as a chronic illness.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV by their initials in English) is a virus that destroys the immune system.

HIV targets are cells that have the CD4 marker, also known as helper T cells, which are blood cells that help your body fight disease. Over many years, the CD4 cells are destroyed. The body then has a weaker defense against infections such as lung infections, mouth and eyes. May occur some cancers such as lymphoma or cervical cancer.

When infections and other problems caused by the loss of CD4 cells, it is said that the person has acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is known by its initials as AIDS.