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Human Immunodeficiency Virus

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a deadly virus. Once you are infected with this virus you are sooner or later going to develop AIDS 'Aquired Immunodeficiency syndrome'. There is at present no cure for this disease. It is spread from one person to another via blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. Once you become infected, the virus attacks and gradually weakens your body's Immune System which is the defense mechanism against infections which our body is exposed at every minute of our life. Thus this reduced defense system of our body makes it possible for unusual diseases and cancers to take hold in our body.

	Natural History of HIV Infection
	Laboratory Tests for HIV Infection
	Manifestations of HIV
	Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
	Management of HIV infection
	HIV Update
	Predictors of HIV Disease Progression
	WHO Clinical case definition for AIDS in South East Asia

HIV infection and AIDS are caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV infects CD4+ cells,also known as T-helper cells or Helper T Lymphocytes, which are part of the body's immune system. There are mainly two types of HIV virus, HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 causes most of the infection all over the world.

How the disease is spread
HIV is spread when blood, semen, or vaginal fluids from an infected person enter another person's body, usually in one of the following ways:

Sexual Contact: any type of sexual contact - anal, vagina, or oral.
Drug addicts sharing needles.
Tattooing and body piercing by un sterilized needles. Getting injected by un sterilized needles by quacks (especially in the underdeveloped countries.)
Accidental needle pricks to health workers or doctors.
Unsafe Blood or blood products.
Born to HIV positive mother. Pregnant female can transmit the virus to the newborn during pregnancy or during delivery or when she feeds her baby breast milk.

After years of scrutiny, there is no evidence that HIV is transmitted by casual contact or that the virus can be spread by insects, such as by a mosquito bite.

The risk of an HIV-positive woman spreading the virus to her baby can be greatly reduced if the mother takes a drug called zidovudine (ZDV) during pregnancy and if she does not breast-feed her baby. The baby should also receive ZDV after it is born.

AIDS is diagnosed when an HIV-infected person has --

A CD4+ cell count below 200 cells per microliter of blood.
Specific opportunistic infections and/or cancers

About 60% of HIV-positive adults who do not receive treatment develop AIDS after 12 or 13 years .This time period is too variable. Many with positive HIV develop opportunistic infections early and succumb to such infections.

Homosexuals, those who inject drugs and those with promiscuous lifestyle form a big part of HIV infections. Those visiting sex workers are at a very high risk. Truck drivers especially in the developing countries like India are a major part of infected population and are taking a big part in the spread of this infection back to their family when they happen to visit home.

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Natural History of HIV Infection

Laboratory Tests for HIV Infection

Manifestations of HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Management of HIV infection

HIV Update

Predictors of HIV Disease Progression

WHO Clinical case definition for AIDS in South East Asia

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Dr. Manbir Singh