HIV Virus

Definition

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a systemic viral infection that weakens the body's ability to fight infection and can cause acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS, the last stage of HIV disease). HIV preventative measures are a set of procedures that lower the risk of health care professionals being exposed to the virus.

Description

HIV is the most dangerous sexually transmitted disease (STD), affecting people of all ages. In 1999, HIV was considered the fifth cause of death among American men and women between 25 and 44 years of age. It is believed that 40,000 Americans are infected every year. There have already been 700,000 cases reported in the United States. Globally, over 36 million people have been infected with the AIDS virus.

Most HIV-positive people are men. According to a 2001 survey by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (www.cdc.gov), of 3,000 gay and bisexual men in six major U.S. cities (interviewed in public places, such as gay clubs and bars), 4.4% of gay and bisexual men, ages 23 to 29, are infected with HIV every year. Another study in 2001, also conducted by the CDC, reported that HIV infections among gay men of all races in their 20s were common in large American cities. Thirty percent of blacks, 15% of Hispanics, 7% of whites, and 3% of Asians were affected with HIV. In the general population, one in seven blacks becomes HIV-positive each year.

The incidence of the HIV and AIDS is rapidly increasing in women and children, too. Like many other viruses, HIV remains in the body for life. As of 2001, there is no vaccine against HIV.

Causes and symptoms

HIV infection can present no clinical symptoms, cause a spectrum of conditions, or appear as full-blown AIDS. A unique virus, HIV continually reproduces after it enters the body, eventually overwhelming the immune system and weakening the body's ability to fight lethal infections and cancers.

Most people infected with HIV are not ill. Some are without symptoms for more than 10 years. A "carrier" can host the virus and pass it on to other people without knowing it. Once the virus is established in the body, the chances of getting AIDS increase.

Some of the frequently reported symptoms of HIV/AIDS infections are:

• constant or rapid unexplained weight loss of more than 10 pounds in two months; lack of appetite
• unexplained long-lasting diarrhea or bloody stools
• constant fatigue that is not associated with physical activity or mental depression
• persistent fevers, night sweats, dry cough, or difficulty breathing for more than two weeks
• lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches, mental disorders
• a thick, whitish coating of yeast on the tongue or mouth that cannot be scraped off (This is called "thrush.")
• severe or recurring vaginal yeast infections and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• purplish growths or blotches on or under the skin, inside the mouth, or on the nose, eyelids, or rectum
• swollen glands or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin for more than a month

Many HIV/AIDS symptoms are similar to those of tuberculosis, influenza, pneumonia, minor yeast infections, and other STDs. Basically healthy people tend to ignore their symptoms until they are ill enough to seeks medical care.

HIV is found in bodily fluids. It is most prevalent in blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. HIV infection cannot be transmitted through casual contact. Rather, HIV is transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person, exposure to contaminated blood (e.g., by sharing needles or accidental exposure to contaminated needles) and maternal-fetal transfer.

Activities that spread HIV/AIDS to others are:

• anal and vaginal intercourse (It is less commonly transmitted through oral sex.)
• sharing contaminated needles for injecting illicit drugs
• transfusion of contaminated blood products
• childbirth and breast feeding
• accidental pricks with contaminated needles while providing health care to infected patients

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Author Info: Aliene S. Linwood B.S.N., R.N., D.P.A., F.A.C.H.E., The Gale Group Inc., Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health, 2002

This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the care and information received from your healthcare provider. Please consult a healthcare professional with any health concerns you may have.