The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Causative agent of AIDS.
HIV belongs to the family of retroviruses. Normally the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sends messages to the RNA (ribonucleic acid), but in the case of a retrovirus, RNA is converted into DNA.
There are two sub-types of HIV: type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2). Type 2 is found mostly in West Africa.
HIV is a lentivirus, which means it stays a long time dormant.
HIV destroys the immune cells (CD4) and various infections and cancers that can enter the human body without defense. These diseases are called opportunistic.
The virus can not survive long outside the human body and therefore can be transmitted only from person to person, in the following ways:
- by having sex with a person living with HIV / AIDS without condom protection.
- to receive blood, its derivatives or organs of a person living with HIV / AIDS (including the sharing of syringes).
- A pregnant woman living with HIV / AIDS to her child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
- Viral load serves as an indicator of the progress and prognosis of the disease.
- The number of CD4 cells indicates how much damage HIV has already caused.
HIV can not survive long outside the human body, and therefore only transmitted between people.
The three routes of transmission:
- Sexual transmission: sexual intercourse without condoms with people living with HIV / AIDS.
- Transmission through blood and blood products contaminated with the virus, or injure infected sharps instruments (injection or blood). This includes inter alia via blood transfusions or blood products, contaminated needles and tattooing.
- Vertical transmission of a mother living with HIV to her child through the placenta during pregnancy, during birth or through breast milk (via perinatal or mother-child).
HIV is not transmitted by:
- Share bathroom with other people or with people living with HIV/AIDS
- Sharing food and utensils with other people or with people living with HIV/AIDS
- Insect bite
- By sharing social life
- By sharing the work environment
- Hugs, handshakes, kisses
- Hugging, kissing or caring for a person living with HIV/AIDS
- Then, social contact with people living with HIV / AIDS does not contain any risk of HIV transmission. HIV is transmitted only through sexual, parenteral and perinatal.
When HIV enters the human body, infection process occurs between the virus and the immune system’s T lymphocytes, T lymphocytes produce antibodies in response to attack in the presence of HIV. It can detect these antibodies by ELISA. When this test is positive, another test is ELISA. When these tests are positive to do a confirmatory test, Western blot.
Source: http://www.ops.org.bo/its-vih-sida/?TE=20040628161659
photo source: www.babble.com
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