HIV/AIDS is a disease which has ravaged the human population. The location for the infected populous is in 3rd world countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Though Africa is the primary location of the disease, HIV/AIDS still infects those who reside in 1st world countries as well. The disease proves to be very problematic for those infected, as it effectively begins to shut down the victim’s immune system. Therefore, a victim would not directly die from the HIV/AIDS, but rather another acquired pathogen which entered their system as a result from the HIV/AIDS. If there is going to be any hope of thwarting the disease, there needs to be a better understanding of the disease itself, treatment methods, and the most effective prevention methods.
The most common form of transmission is the transfer of infected bodily fluids to someone not infected. This includes the transfer of the disease from pregnant women to the baby, as the baby is in constant contact with amniotic fluid and blood, both bodily fluids which carry the disease. Other fluids which can transmit the disease are semen, pre-seminal fluid, breast mild, vaginal fluid, and rectal mucous. It is obvious from the list that HIV/AIDS can be very easily contracted through sexual intercourse. Another way to acquire the disease is through the injection of needles which have come been contaminated prior to their usage.
In the early 1980s after the HIV/AIDS epidemic started, those infected usually died within a couple of years after their contraction. However, now there are 31 antiviral drugs approved by the FDA which have extended the life expectancy of the victims and allow for healthier, happy lives. Though there are a variety of drugs available, the quality is lacking as they merely treat the symptoms rather than curing it and the disease is still very much contagious through bodily fluids. This means that antiviral HIV/AIDS medication should in no way be used as a way to prevent the disease from spreading. Despite the constant effort, and research being done to understand this disease, there is no cure for HIV/AIDS.
The Essay on Hiv & Aids
HIV and AIDS Introduction HIV, which stands for human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus can be passed from one another through blood to blood and sexual contact. A person with HIV has an incredibly weak immune system, causing them to contract one of numerous disease that causes AIDS, which stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Causes Someone cannot "get" ...
Perhaps more important for an individual than the hopes of there being a cure for HIV/AIDS are the methods which can be taken to help not obtain the disease. One way to prevent against the unlikely chance of getting HIV/AIDS from a needle is to simply always sterilize any needle before injection. The implementation of condoms as prevention method for the transmission through sexual intercourse has proven to be an effective technique of defense. There has been multitude of conclusive studies showing that condoms are highly efficient when using to prevent the disease.
HIV/AIDS is a disease whose infection rate needs to be halted and can be done so if those at risk were to have a better understanding of the disease. The onslaught of the disease can also be slowed if more prevention methods were to be better used more often. Since it appears as though there will be no cure available within the near future, as the cross over from primates to humans has been relatively recent, the best way to slowly eradicate the disease would be prevent it in the first place.
Works Cited
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
“HIV/AIDS.” Treatment. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
“How Do You Get HIV or AIDS?” How Do You Get HIV or AIDS? N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
