HIV/AIDS

History

thought to be in nonhuman primates first before transferring to humans in the early 20th century. The disease was officially identified in the early 1980s.

1984: HIV was isolated and transmitted through blood

Magic Johnson and Arthur Ashe diagnosed and help raise awareness as it was thought to only be in gay men at first

Epidemiology

38 million people living with it

prevalence varies drastically with sub Saharan Africa most affected

HIV

A retrovirus (RNA has to be converted to DNA through reverse transcriptase) transmitted through sexual contact, bodily fluids, and mother to child

• invades T cells which continue to lower

Neurological effects

can be caused by the virus or as side effects of other conditions occur

½ HIV patients will display emotional and cognitive disturbances

Treatments

HAART: started with azidothymidine - reverse transcriptase inhibitor - but has many side effects and can lose effectiveness or become resistant

• now a cocktail of drugs which involves jumping around to different medications with protease inhibitors

• very expensive

PrEP (pre exposure prophylaxis

• antiretroviral agents taken daily to prevent infection for people with high risk

PEP (post exposure prophylaxis)

• antiretroviral agents taken after possible exposer to reduce risk (taken within 72 hours for full effect)

Psychosocial factors

influence behaviors that contribute to risk

• stress may influence the pace at which it progresses

• social support may influence progression and slow down t cells

Stage 1

acute infection (contagious)

• lasts up to 8 weeks with flu like symptoms

• mostly controlled by immune system

Stage 2

clinical latency (contagious)

• no symptoms shown

• lasts for month or years

• HIV is being replicated

• T cells continue to fall

Stage 3

defined either by low T cell counts (AIDS) or by the occurrence of opportunistic infections.

• pneumocystis pneumonia

• cachexia = later stage; body can’t extract nutritional value in foods; become weak

• esophageal candidiasis