HIV OR AIDS [Symptoms and Signs / Progression to AIDS / Pathogenesis / Spread / Complications / Risk factors] 

            

           Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome[AIDS] is a chronic potentially life-threatening condition caused by human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]. The world health organization [WHO] estimates that in 2017, about 37 million people, including 1.8 million children [<15 years], were living with HIV worldwide; of the total, about 25.7 million live in sub-Saharan  Africa. more than two million Indians are suffering from HIV/AIDS. By damaging one's immune system, it interferes with the body's ability to various organs that cause disease.


 

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

      Symptoms and sign vary with the stage of the disease;

        1] Primary infection [acute HIV]

              * Fever 

              * Headache

              * muscle aches

              * Joint pain 

               * Rash

               * Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

           

           2]Clinically latent infection [chronic HIV]

                  There are no symptoms or signs in this stage. This stage may last 10 years.


           3]Symptomatic HIV infection 

                 *Fever                                                                *Weight loss

                 *Fatigue                                                             *Diarrhoea

                 *Swollen lymph 

Progression  to AIDS

              This stage occurs when the patient's immune system has been severely damaged. Pathogens that normally cannot attack the human body are now able to enter the body and produce disease. Such bacteria, viruses and fungi are called opportunistic pathogens. Body loses ability to detect and destroy malignant cells. Therefore, the patients is more prone to develop cancer. At this stage, symptoms and signs may include;

     *Night sweats                                              *Persistent fatigue

     *Recurring fever                                         *Weight loss

     *Chronic diarrhea


Pathogenesis

                   The human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] mainly infects the CD4 cells [helper T-cells] in the immune system. over years of HIV infection. CD4 cell numbers usually drop gradually, but constantly, and the immune system is weakened. When the CD4 cell number falls below 200mm, symptoms of AIDS develop. At this stage complications listed below begin to appear. Due to opportunistic infections/tumor, severe muscle wasting can be observed in the patients.


SPREAD

          HIV infection is transmitted by sexual intercourse. One can also get HIV infection by coming in contact with infected blood directly or through transfusion of infected blood or use of contaminated syringes.


 COMPLICATION OF AIDS

           1.Viral infection; such as Cytomegalovirus[CMV], herpes simplex, molluscum, contagiosum, herpes zoster, human papillomavirus[HPV],etc

           2.Bacterial infections; such as recurrent bacterial pneumonia, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas, Septicaemia and vasculitis, etc.

           3.Fungal infections; such as Candida, Pneumocystis jirovecii, Pneumonia, Cryptococcus neoformans

           4. Protozoal infections

           5.Tumers; such as kaposi' s sarcoma, primary cerebral lymphoma, high- grade non- Hodgkin lymphoma, carcinoma of the cervix, etc.


RISK FACTORS

           * unprotected sex with a person with HIV \AIDS

            *infected blood transfusion 

               *sharing injection needles with a person with HIV\AIDS