Introduction
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome AIDS is a chronic, potentially life-threatening disease in patients caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV causes damage to tissues of the immune system, making a patient’s body vulnerable to infection and some cancerous cells. AIDS is the medical term described as the final phase of the virus, marked by significant damage to the immune system.
Understanding the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention methods as well as potential side effects can greatly contribute to proper handling of AIDS and improvement of quality of life in such patients.
Causes of AIDS
The main cause of AIDS is infection with the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, which is transmitted by specific body fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk. HIV is mainly acquired by:
Unprotected Sexual Contact: Having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse with an infected person is the most common way of acquiring HIV.
Sharing Needles: Those drug injectors who share needles with others have a greater risk of exposure.
Mother-to-Child Transmission: It is passed from mother to child through gestation, during delivery, or with breastfeeding.
Blood Transfusions: Though their rates are very low in developed countries since verification of blood is very stringent, HIV can still be transmitted via contaminated transfusion of blood.
Symptoms AIDS
Most manifestations of AIDS are due to the intense weakening of the immune system, thus opening the body to a variety of infections and cancers. The symptoms of infection with HIV arise in phases, as explained below:
Acute HIV Infection: Flu-like symptoms develop 2–4 weeks after infection and may include fever, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. It is also sometimes called acute retroviral syndrome (ARS).
Asymptomatic Stage: The virus at this stage stays within the body, and for several years, no symptoms may be observable as HIV gradually kills the disease-fighting mechanism of the body.
If left untreated, HIV generally progresses to AIDS. Some of the widespread symptoms include:
a. Uncontrolled fever, night sweats, and exhaustion
b. Unintentional loss of weight and persistent diarrhea
c. Life-threatening infections with tuberculosis, pneumonia, and fungal infection
d. Cancers like Kaposi’s sarcoma, lymphoma
e. Altered mental condition and loss of memory in some people
Treatment of AIDS
Currently, HIV and AIDS do not have a cure, but so far antiretroviral therapy (ART) has proved to be very effective in managing the virus. ART refers to the use of medications in a combination that suppresses the replication of the virus, reducing viral loads within an individual’s body, and helps maintain a healthy immune system.
ART: ART is the main treatment for HIV. At steady state, it can suppress viral load to undetectable levels and clearly prolong the lifespan of persons who live with the virus, while preventing the disease from developing into AIDS.
Prophylaxis for Opportunistic Infections: Because people infected by HIV are at higher risk for opportunistic infections, prophylactic therapy should be administered in any of the following opportunistic infections, including PCP and MAC.
Continuous Monitoring and Support: HIV/AIDS treatment requires continuous medical care, monitoring, and counseling. Patients should be closely coordinated with healthcare providers for the treatment to ensure that treatment by ART is effective and medications are changed if necessary.
Prevention of AIDS
Prevention of HIV infection is the nucleus of limiting the spread of AIDS. Some of the ways of prevention include:
Safe Sex: The use of condoms at every sexual encounter definitely reduces the chance of HIV being spread. Reducing the number of partners, one has sexual relations with and testing frequently also help prevent this infection.
Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (Prep): Prep is a preventive drug for people exposed to a high risk of HIV infection. It works as an antiretroviral medication, taken daily to reduce the chances of infection when exposed to it.
Non-Injecting Prevention: Injecting drug users should not share needles. Sterile needle exchange programs can reduce HIV transmission among drug users, as they provide clean syringes to inject drug users.
Vertical prevention: Pregnant women infected with HIV should start antiretroviral therapy to prevent infecting their babies during delivery. C-section birth and avoiding breastfeeding also greatly lowers the risk of infection for the baby.
Screening blood for HIV and observing universal precautions in the healthcare environment also prevent HIV transmission.
Side Effects of AIDS Treatment
ART has transformed HIV/AIDS from a killing disease to a chronic disorder that can be managed. ART, however, is not without side effects. Side effects vary according to the drug used and the reactions of individual patients. However, some of the most common side effects of ART include:
1. Short-term side effects:
Nausea and Vomiting: Gastrointestinal discomfort is one of the most frequent side effects at the onset of ART.
Fatigue: Some antiretroviral drugs cause patients to feel extremely tired and drowsy
Headaches and dizziness: These side effects occur frequently at the onset of treatment but tend to abate over time.
2.Long-Term Side Effects:
Liver or kidney toxicity has been documented as a side effect of some antiretroviral drugs; hence, monitoring is a routine process.
Osteoporosis: It predisposes patients to losing bone density, enhancing fracture risk in the long-term end.
Heart Diseases: Some ART drugs result in long-term usage, increasing the chances of heart diseases.
Lipodystrophy: A condition that causes the distribution of fat stores in the body, thus creating body changes.
Psychological Problems: Some of the side effects of ART drugs include mood swings, depression, or anxiety that have an effect on a person’s health condition.
Conclusion
AIDS is indeed a serious health issue, but through medical science advancements, people suffering from HIV can even survive healthy for more extended periods with proper medication. In an attempt to curb the HIV/AIDS pandemic, awareness, safe practices, and preventive strategies will come into play.
Even though ART has impressively succeeded in the management of HIV/AIDS, attentiveness to its side effects on the patient’s part and effective cooperation with patients on the part of healthcare providers remain tasks for the two parties. With greater emphasis on prevention, timely diagnosis, and effective treatment, AIDS can be less burdensome both to individuals and society.
