The History Of HIV

Submitted By keliejo
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Among many diseases that are incurable HIV is one of the most well known. Dedicated scientists and doctors are on a search for the cure for this disease since the first case was presented in 1968 in St. Louis. A young black male was hospitalized and died from complications. Later on the tissues and semen taken and frozen from this young male was found to have the HIV virus, which was his ultimate demise. According to the CDC "in 2011, the estimated number of diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States was 49,273". Also according to the CDC, most of these individuals who were diagnosed with HIV were among the ages 20-24. HIV or the human immunodefiency virus is able to reproduce itself within the body, invading cells. The cells that are invaded with the virus are then copied to produce more HIV cells which are sent out to the rest of the body to invade more cells with the virus. It is a repeating cycle. These cells are known as CD4 cells also known as, T-cells or T4 cells, along with dendretic cells and macrophages. The healthier your immune system the higher the CD4 cell count will be. If infected with HIV the body tries to defend itself with the CD4 cells to be able to cope with the reproduction of the virus. The body will also start producing antibodies to fight off the infection of HIV. Many individuals will act and feel normal even though HIV is present within the body for months even years. Once an individual is infected with HIV the damage has already started, because the immune system is in a state of over-activation, which eventually drains the body and the immune system of all defenses. In the absence of treatment for HIV the CD4 count dwindles over 6 to 10 years. Eventually AIDS-related diseases such as thrush and other skin conditions will start to occur along with minor infections that are persistant. Due to HIV having such an extreme effect on the body and it's immune system several complications can occur including; Tuberculosis (TB), Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Candidiasis, Cryptococcyl meningitis, Taxoplasmosis, Kaposi's sarcoma (which is a rare cancer), and Lymphomas. Tuberculosis is the most common complication that can occur with someone who is infected with HIV. It is also the leading cause of death in individuals with AIDS. Those people who are infected with HIV are more than likely infected with TB as well, experts consider the diseases to be twin epidemics. "As of 2011, CDC estimated 6% of all TB cases and 10% of TB cases among people aged 25–44 occurred among people who were HIV-positive" (Tuberculosis). TB is not transmitted through shaking hands, hugging, sharing toothbrushes or kissing, but rather it is a aerosol which is spread through the air when a person who is infected with the TB virus coughs, sneezes, or speaks. It can infect the air for at least 7 hours. TB infects the body with a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It often affects the lungs, however there are other areas of the body such as the brain, kidney, spine or other organ systems within the body. Mycobacterim tuberculosis when in the body multiplies and attacks the tissues of these organs. TB can cause other health problems as well including death if left untreated. There is treatment available for TB, but it is necessary to start treatment right away to prevent further damage on the organs the bacteria has invaded. There are two types of TB latent and active. Latent TB is when the body has the bacteria, but it is not in an active state. The individuals with latent TB are not able to spread the infection, however it is possible for it to go from latent to active without treatment. The most common treatment for latent TB is a single antibiotic called IsoniazidIt. This particular antibiotic is used to block the bacteria from growing and multiplying into active TB. It is very important that the treatment be taken in full, if not there could be the chance of having active TB. Active TB is when the bacteria (Mycobacterim
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