HIV

HIV Infection
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HIV Infection
HIV/AIDS is a prevalent disease. It kills people of different ages, ranging from children, adolescents to adults. Although there are many questions about HIV/AIDS, the most prevalent ones touch on how it affects the body, how it is transmitted, how it is diagnosed, and how it is treated. Each of these aspects is addressed in this piece.
Effects on the Body
Once in the body, HIV destroys the body’s defense cells known as CD4 helper lymphocytes. According to Stolley and Glass (2009), lymphocytes are crucial parts of the body’s immune system. The role of the immune system is to fight diseases. However, with the presence of HIV in the body, this system weakens gradually till the time the body loses the ability to defend itself completely. At this time, the number of CD4 cells will have dropped drastically, enabling the progression of HIV into AIDS. Opportunistic diseases become severe. The body experiences extreme fatigue, rapid weight loss, and frequently prolonged fevers. The patient may similarly have chronic diarrhea, swollen lymph glands, prolonged coughs, and sore throat among other key symptoms (Stolley & Glass, 2009).
Transmission
HIV is always spread through exchange body fluids. According to Stolley and Glass (2009), this exchange can happen through (1) when one engages in an unprotected sexual intercourse with HIV with an infected individual, (2) when one share sharp piercing objects…