Understanding HIV: The Virus that Attacks Helper T Cells

2. HIV it all starts with the virus • Human • Immunodeficiency • Virus - Attacks Helper T Cells

3. What is HIV ? • Retrovirus- changes every time it reproduces • The virus attacks and takes over the Helper T cells (CD4 T cell) and • May remain dormant for a long time depending on the infected person’s immune system Helper T Cell

4. Three Stages of HIV • 1st stage HIV + Asymptomatic • 2nd stage ARC or AIDS related complex • 3rd stage “AIDS” or Full Blown AIDS

5. 1st Stage Asymptomatic Carriers -No symptoms, but are HIV positive -Biggest concern is many of these people don’t know they are infected and are spreading it unknowingly

6. 2nd Stage ARCAIDS Related Complex • When the immune system starts to weaken due to a lower helper T cell count • Count drops from a normal range of 800-1000 to 500-300 • Symptoms include night sweats, chills,yeast infections of the mouth, chronic diarrhea, body rash and weight loss

7. 3rd Stage “AIDS”Require Two main criteria • A person is said to have AIDS if their T cell count drops below 200 or • They have acquired one of the (23) OPPORTUNISTIC DISEASES associated with late term infections

8. Opportunistic Diseases • PCP or pneumoncystis Carinii pneumonia • Kaposis sarcoma a rare skin cancer • Brain dementia • Tuberculosis • Yeast infections of mouth

9. Major problems in Underdeveloped Countries • Education -knowledge is the key to slowing the disease • Money / Treatment: Expensive and most don’t have access to Dr. or $$$ to pay for drugs • Language barriers make it difficult • Transmission – prostitution is high (or legal)

10. Transmission orHow you get it • Exchange of certain body fluids during sex • Tiny rips in vagina, anus, mouth or on penis allow entry of virus • More likely to spread 1. During anal sex 2. Males to females 3. Multiple partners 4. Prostitution

11. Sharing Contaminated Needles • Intravenous drug use with another person • Tattooing with infected instruments • Piercing

12. From mother to baby • Infected pregnant female or new mother • Exchange of blood during gestation or at time of delivery • Breast feeding • About 20% of babies get infected if mother is infected (depending on her viral load)

13. Mother to Baby

14. High Risk Body Fluids • Blood • Semen (not the sperm) • Vaginal Secretions • Breast Milk

15. Low Risk Body Fluids • Tears • Sweat • Saliva • Urine

16. Prevention • Education • Abstinence • Monogamy • Condoms

17. Testing and Detection • What do they look for ? • They Look forHIV Antibodies in Blood • It usually takes 2 to 6 months for the antibodies to show up in a test • Two Test • ELISA developed to screen blood supply 2. Western Blot Test -More expensive and accurate

18. Everybody ? Not practical Incubation period, cost Most people don’t put themselves at risk Unconstitutional Mandatory testing 1. Active Military personnel & Applicants 2. prison inmates 3. life insurance Applicants (screen for) Who should be tested?

19. Treatment -There is no cure or vaccine for HIV at the present time. -The only treatment right now is to STOP or SLOW the VIRUS from reproducing

20. Drugs • AZT developed in 1994, help clean up the blood supply • Protease Inhibitors • 1996 to present • Combination of drugs that are taken to attack the virus at its different stages of development • 20 different pills daily

21. Treatment Facts • Has shown to increase someone's life • Can reduce the virus to where it is undetectable • Lowered peoples concern of getting the disease causing a false sense of security • Virus mutates and becomes resistant to new drugs • Very expensive $15,000/ year