HIV/AIDS Research Paper

HIV and AIDS
Name:
Institution:
HIV and AIDS
This is an aspect thatis commonly confused as most people assume that the two are one and the same thing. In most cases the two are used interchangeably. Ideally, HIV which is the short form of Human Immunodeficiency Virus is as the term states a virus which is highly infectious, which attacks the human immune system rendering it ineffective against other infections(Ellis, 2014). At the moment, there are no medical interventions that have been devised which can completely defeat the virus in the body. Most of the medication is for rendering the virus ineffective in its strategies(Ellis, 2014). AIDS on the other hand is a condition or syndrome that results from the infection from the HIV virus.AIDS as commonly referred to as Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome is relative to the fact that HIV virus has attacked the immune system. One can have the virus and not have the condition but it is not possible to the have the condition devoid of the virus(Aids.gov, 2015a).
Transmission
The HIV virus is transmitted in number of ways and one of the major ones is sexual contact. When people have unprotected sex, they increase their chance of contracting the disease if they have intercourse with infected persons. Having anal sex poses the greatest risk of contracting the virus while virginal sex is second riskiest(Aids.gov, 2015a).Oral sex has also been found to pose a significant amount of risk of contracting the virus, especially due to the exchange of bodily fluids. Having multiple is also considered to be quite risky and one of the main reason that the virus keeps spreading. One other means that the virus gains in the infections rates is through the use if injections, when sharing needles, or using poor sterilized equipment. Drug addicts that share needles when injecting drugs in their body pose a great risk of contracting the virus is their counterparts have the virus. In medical facilities where medical equipment is poorly sterilized, the virus can be transmitted between patients. Although it is less common, HIV can be transmitted from a mother to her unborn child. Breastfeeding has also been found to transmit the virus from the mother to the child through the milk(Aids.gov, 2015a). These later cases are much rare especially with the advanced prenatal, birth and post natal care. Medical practitioners are also at risk of contracting the virus relative to interacting with patients. Where medical practitioners are stuck with needles and other contaminated implements, they run the risk of contracting the virus. If they also come into contact with the body fluids and they have open skin, they stand a chance of contracting the virus as well. Blood transfusion and organ transplant also poses significant risk to the recipients if the donor is infected with the virus(Aids.gov, 2015a).
HIV causing AIDS
The CD4 positive (CD4+T cells) are the white blood cells that are responsible for maintaining the body’s immune system.It is possible for infected persons to have the virus in their body are remain health as far as the virus does not attack the immune system. When the HIV virus attacks the immune system, it is the CD4 cells that are attacked(Niaid.nih.gov, 2015). As the virus at...