Name
Institution
Professor
Course
Date of submission
HIV and AIDs PandemicHuman immunodeficiency virus abbreviated as HIV is a virus spread through sexual intercourse and blood contact and it causes AIDs which significantly affects the human body’s ability to fight against infections. The interfered with immune system by the HIV is the body’s fundamental natural defense against diseases. On the other side, AIDs stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome that signifies the set of symptoms instigated by the HIV. Aids can be significantly referred as the late stage of HIV as it results from the advanced infection of HIV. The HIV and Aids pandemic has been a threat to the human health as since its discovery there believed to no cure even though there is an active treatment that enables the victim to live a long and healthy life. It is commonly medicated through the use antiretroviral treatment and the earlier the identification of the infection the more efficient the medication. In this paper, the HIV and Aids pandemic is discussed to a profound with regards to its symptoms, the causative agents, the preventive measures as well as the peoples’ perception about the disease in the society today.
The T-helper cell is the type of white blood cells are the vital components of the immune system of the human body that plays the role of fighting against infections. These cells are significantly affected by the HIV, and it duplicates itself in the white blood cells making them weak in performing their function in the body. Furthermore, the virus destroys the CD4, and they reproduce themselves in the cells breaking down the victim’s immune system (Gay, et al. page 22). Therefore, people with HIV infection should receive treatment to boost the immune system in fighting against illness. Nevertheless, it the difficulty of the immune system coming up with the diseases increases with the virus spread, and the result is the demise of the affected person. Aids being the last-stage of the fatal virus, the immune system has become too weak making the person prone to illness, and they develop the significant symptoms. Being the advanced level of the disease, death of the patient is the result if left untreated.
Today HIV and AIDs pandemic have significantly spread worldwide affecting a high number of people globally. In the previous years, the infection developed an intense fear to the community as its medication was expensive and to even not available to the developing countries resulting in the demise of many people. However, the concern has been curbed by the active antiretroviral treatment and the daily physician’s efforts of coming up with its curative measures. The HIV is spread through blood contact, from mother to child when giving birth or during breastfeeding as through unprotected sexual intercourse. It can be significantly be transmitted through infected vaginal fluid and semen as well as infected blood. Sharing of sharp objects such as piercing tools, needles, razor blades, scalpels and other cutting objects with other people is hazardous to human health as it puts one in a high risk of contracting the HIV and AIDs infection (Gallant, page 9).
However, the HIV cannot be transmitted through other body fluids such as sweat and saliva as well as sharing food and other facilities with infected people. Therefore, it is advisory to be cautious and take necessary precautionary measures not to contract the HIV through the mentioned above ways. For instance, the use of both male and female condoms is effective in preventing the spread of HIV and AIDs and well as other sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea among many others. Also, to be on the safe side make use of clean needles, cutting tools as well as piercing objects among other sharp substances and entirely avoid sharing of these materials. On the other hand, it is crucial for the pregnant mothers to go for HIV and AIDs test and seek medication when giving birth to avoid the risk of transmitting the infection to the innocent baby.
The HIV and AIDs symptoms advance to the infection stage, and at the initial level, one may not be able to tell the signs unless a test is done. At the early stage of HIV infection, the individual will experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, weariness as well as a sore throat. It is easy to treat the disease at the initial stage, and it is possible to be completely cured. HIV infection is asymptomatic, and it is until it develops to Aids that the severe symptoms are clear and easy to tell. The significant symptoms of Aids include fatigue, night sweats and fever, loss of weight as well as recurrent diseases as at this stage the immune system has been severely weakened (Fauci, et al. page 11). Even if no cure of the disease that exists, strict adherence to antiretroviral medication significantly prevents advancement of the infections to the advanced level and effectively slows down its progress. Therefore, going for the regular test is recommended as it saves one from the risk of diseases advancement to Aids stage which fatal to treat and hazardous to human well-being. Also, consult a medical officer in case of any typical symptoms.
In the world today, many myths have been developed regarding HIV and AIDs epidemic making it more complicated and giving the infected hard time to take the appropriate medication. For instance, stigmatization has been dramatically spread to the society where people who have contracted the disease are viewed morally eradicated beings. The segregation in the community will develop more infections to the victims making it difficult for them to undergo the recommended treatment. In such a society, the infected people will fear to get the medical services as they are afraid of what their colleague and family members will say about them. It is true that the disease has significantly spread in the society and thee sound way to cope up with it is facing it with courage, educating people on how to seek medication as well as how to properly live with the affected people in the community. Showing love to the victims, spending time with them and giving them hopes of long lasting life is the best way of psychological encouragement. Also, people should have a clear understanding of mortality salience and stop victimizing people living with HIV and AIDs (Earnshaw et al. page 63).
From the discussion above, HIV and AIDs pandemic is a fatal pandemic that is globally spreading at a high rate. Therefore, it is every individual’s responsibility to be cautioned by not sharing sharp equipment, using a clean needle, and using protection during sexual intercourse as well as advising the expectant mothers to seek medical care to prevent the spread of the disease to the young ones. The government, on the other hand, should improve the medical facilities and offer the antiretroviral medicine at an affordable price. The introduction of HIV and AIDs lessons in the education curriculum has significantly enhanced global awareness of the disease, and many know the safety measure to take as well as living with the infected people.
References
Earnshaw, Valerie A., et al. “HIV stigma and physical health symptoms: Do social support, adaptive coping, and/or identity centrality act as resilience resources?.” AIDS and Behavior 19.1 (2015): 41-49.
Fauci, Anthony S., and Hilary D. Marston. “Ending the HIV–AIDS pandemic—follow the science.” New England Journal of Medicine 373.23 (2015): 2197-2199.
Gallant, Joel E. 100 Questions & Answers about HIV and AIDS. Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2016.
Gay, Caryl L., et al. “Psychometric limitations of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale for assessing depressive symptoms among adults with HIV/AIDS: a Rasch analysis.” Depression research and treatment 2016 (2016).
