Background
Many diseases have struck the world but not as AIDS has. Terminal diseases like cancer have become more manageable as researches advance. Early diagnosis of these diseases makes it easy to control their if not cure them. In the case of AIDS however, no cure has been known. Lots of work has been done on this subject since it was first discovered in 1981.an average of 25 million people have died from AIDS. It is the sixth major cause of death in major economies like the US. Deaths related with AIDS are observed mainly in working class of people. The Early AIDS cases in the western world were found among the gay men. This led to a misconception that AIDS was for homosexuals which caused a faster spread of the disease among the heterosexuals. With time, the level of homosexuals with AIDS has gradually decreased as compared to the heterosexuals (Linus & Anna, 2010, p 4).
In developing countries it is the leading cause of deaths. Its prevalence is highest in the sub-Saharan Africa. In this continent it has affected economies in that the amount of skilled labor is eventually diminishing to alarming levels. Lifespan has also decreased to 20 years. This has left many children orphaned and infected. Report by WHO shows that an approximate of two million children under the age of 15 yrs, are infected while 33 million of the world’s population is infected. This is a cause for alarm. In this review I seek to establish the rate at which the disease is spreading, the prevalence between genders and among different age groups and the measures taken. A research carried by National Cancer Research institute scientific scholars have found out that depending on the genetic makeup some people develop AIDs faster and others are able to inhibit its growth. This explains why some people die from Aids faster than others.
Prevalence among women
Most of the people infected and affected in the population are the women. A report by the WHO shows that a number slightly above half of those infected with AIDs are women. According to National institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases (NIAID) 27% of adults and adolescents who are newly infected people are women.US women account for the largest proportion of the infected. This is due so because of the openness of their reproductive system. Addition to this there are high cases of having sex without their consent and rape among women, unprotected sex and the promiscuity of their sexual partners. A study by NIAID shows that some women in the US do not easier access to healthcare this delays their diagnosis and treatment. In addition to complications suffered by men who are infected, women suffer other problems like frequent yeast infections, high risks of cancer and abnormal metabolisms. Cultural practices like female circumcision and polygamy especially in developing countries also predispose women to contracting. Ignorance by of early warning signs like frequent yeast infections (NIAID, 2008).
Method infection and Ways of spreading
This is a pandemic that has affected all people worldwide. It infects some cells in the immune system and nullifying their functional abilities. This may not be seen in the short term. After a number of years the infection limits and finally stops the whole immune system so that the body now becomes vulnerable to all disease attacks. It is caused by a virus called Human Immunodeficiency. This virus attacks a family of cells which are responsible for production of antibodies called T-4 cells. It is when the count of the CD-4 cells goes below the normal level that the person is diagnosed with AIDS. Being that antibodies carry out the defensive function against diseases in the body, their inhibited production causes the immune system to be incapable.
There are many ways through which this disease is spread. This is mainly through exchange of fluids which happens during sexual intercourse with an infected person, blood transfusion, open cuts, sharing of sharp objects and wounds and mother-to-child transmission. Among these, sexual intercourse accounts for the greatest percentage. Anal sex gives even higher predisposition of contracting it. Among the males, risky sexual behaviors and injection drug users are at a higher risk of contracting the disease this is according to a report released by John Hopkins University. This study was carried out in Baltimore between 1988 and 1998.a contradicting news by Dr.Wilner suggests contradicting news that sex does not cause AIDs. On the same note, he claims that HIV is not the causal virus of AIDs. He further asserts that over 500 scholars are against the theory by Robert Gallo who claimed that it is HIV that causes AIDs one day after the virus was discovered. In the developing countries, its spread has increased up to six times ((NIAID, 2008).
Complications associated with HIV/AIDS
Infected people are observed to be confused, forgetful, lack of sensation and other related symptoms. This is so because nervous system functions have been affected. Though the Aids does not directly attack the nervous system, it jeopardizes its functions. The same it affects the neuro-system, it can also affect other main parts of the body. Since the symptoms of the disease are as a result of the opportunistic infections (infections that are as a result of lowered immunity caused by AIDs).most of them are therefore are of the are of other ordinary diseases like weight loss, swollen nodes, mouth sores, headaches etc. bacterial pneumonia has also been observed mostly in women due to delayed treatments. This was observed by a group-Community Program for Clinical Research on AIDS (CPCRA).It can also cause cancer and tumors in the brain. Bacterial infections are also a common phenomenon especially in women, dementia complex and cytomegalovirus encephalitis (Healthline, 2009)
Corrective Measures
Since there is no cure or even vaccine for HIV/AIDS the only available option is to prevent is spread. This can be achieved by use of condoms during sexual intercourse, avoid sharing of sharp objects. With the discovery and development of antiretroviral drugs, lives of the infected people can be prolonged. There are 31 antiretroviral drugs that have been approved.. Antidepressants are the most appropriate measures for neurological and associated infects as a result of AIDs.
HAART is also a popular and an effective measure which includes a treatment of a combination of three drugs. It is meant to decrease the number of viruses in circulation. It helps in reducing the multiplication of the virus and the same time delays infections. Due to the increased spread especially in the developing countries, campaigns against its spread have also intensified. There has been a lot of funding from the rich economies to the developing countries through programs. Platforms like the United Nations have also been used. Fortunately the use of ARVs has gained reasonable popularity; this is a positive step towards fighting the pandemic.
Ongoing researches
A research on the consequences of Aids in the neuro-system is in progress in the US National institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases. More research is going on among the scientists on how to come up with more ways of preventing the spread. Some of these are a chemical that can be applied in the virgina during sex and that kill the virus thus preventing its transmission as well as ways of preventing transmission before and during. a major discovery was made when a vaccine was developed by worldwide research group. The vaccine is an antibody that will directly fight HIV virus Aids (infonet.org, 2010, p 2).
More research on these discoveries are still underway. More and researches on spread of the disease among the adolescents should be carried so that strategies can be laid on cubing irresponsible sexual behavior among adolescents especially those in high school and colleges. It should be included in curriculum especially in the developing countries where its spread is still preeminent. In line with the spread of HIV/AIDS in the developing world, cultural and traditional aspects should be considered as they among the factors that have a deal of influence. People who are deeply rooted in their traditions believe that AIDS is a curse and therefore, like any other, nothing can be done to prevent it from reaching someone. Cultural practices like cultural circumcision where a knife is share should be discouraged poverty is also a determining factor in its spread in poor countries. Stigma though not much of a problem in the resent past should continually be discouraged.
References
Aidsinfonet.org, 2010, Microbicides(http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/157?lang=eng, retrieved on 7th October 2010.
Greenberg, J, Bruess, C, Conklin, S, 2007, Exploring the dimensions of human sexuality. Chicago: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Healthline, 2009 (http://www.healthline.com/channel/hiv-aids_symptoms)
Retrieved on 7th October 2010
Linus, B, Anna T, 2010, Global HIV surveillance among MSM: AIDS. Official journal of International AIDs Society. 24(15):2301-2303, September 24, 2010.
National institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases (NIAID)
NIH-Funded Study Finds Early HAART during TB Treatment Boosts Survival Rate in People Co-Infected with HIV and TB:national institute of health, 2010(http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jul2010/niaid-22.htm)
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