What is HIV and AIDS? - Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Explained

MedBoard

3 Apr 202210:24

Summary

TLDRThis video provides an in-depth overview of HIV and AIDS, exploring their symptoms, causes, and treatments. It explains how HIV attacks the immune system, leading to AIDS if untreated, and highlights the importance of antiretroviral therapies in managing the disease. The video also covers transmission methods, early and advanced symptoms, associated cancers, and preventive measures such as barrier protection and safe injection practices. Viewers will learn about the importance of early diagnosis, available treatment options, and how to reduce the risk of HIV transmission, enhancing understanding of this critical health issue.

Takeaways

🦠 HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which attacks CD4 cells, weakening the immune system.
⚠️ Without treatment, HIV can progress to AIDS, which is diagnosed when CD4 counts fall below 200 cells/mm³ or when opportunistic infections occur.
💊 Antiretroviral treatments have significantly reduced the progression of HIV to AIDS.
📊 In 2018, more than 1.1 million people in the U.S. were living with HIV, with around 6,000 AIDS-related deaths.
🛡️ HIV transmission mainly occurs through unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, sharing drug injection equipment, or, rarely, from mother to child during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
🤒 Early HIV symptoms may resemble the flu, including fever, chills, swollen glands, and joint pain, but some people may not show symptoms for years.
🔬 HIV can be detected as early as 10 to 21 days after exposure using different types of tests, such as nucleic acid amplification or antigen/antibody tests.
⛔ While there is no cure for HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART) can stop the progression and reduce the risk of transmission.
🧪 Several classes of antiretroviral drugs are used, including protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which work by preventing HIV replication.
👩‍⚕️ Prevention strategies include using barrier protection, practicing safe injection, and taking post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within 72 hours of possible exposure.

Q & A

What does HIV stand for and what does it do to the human body?
-HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It attacks immune cells called CD4 cells, which are types of T cells that detect infections throughout the body. HIV uses these cells to create more copies of itself, destroying them in the process and reducing the body's ability to combat other infections and diseases.
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
-AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and is an advanced stage of HIV infection. Doctors identify AIDS when a person has a CD4 count of fewer than 200 cells per cubic millimeter or if they experience characteristic opportunistic infections or associated types of cancer.
How does HIV transmission typically occur?
-One of the main causes of HIV transmission is unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse without using barrier protection or without taking pre-exposure prophylaxis. Another main cause is sharing equipment for injecting drugs. Less commonly, HIV can transmit to babies during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, or through blood transfusions, although the risk is extremely low with effective screening.
What are some early symptoms of HIV?
-Early symptoms of HIV may include fever, chills, sweating particularly at night, enlarged glands or swollen lymph nodes, weakness, pain including joint pain, a sore throat, thrush or a yeast infection, and unintentional weight loss.
Can a person with HIV be asymptomatic?
-Yes, some people with HIV have no symptoms for months or even years after contracting the virus. However, the virus continues to develop and damage the immune system and organs even when a person feels well and appears healthy.
What are some opportunistic infections that can signal a person has AIDS?
-Opportunistic infections that can signal a person has AIDS include candidiasis of the bronchi, trachea, esophagus, and lungs, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, cytomegalovirus disease (CMV), herpes, histoplasmosis, tuberculosis with mycobacteria, recurrent pneumonia, recurrent salmonella septicemia, toxoplasmosis, and some others.
What types of cancer are associated with HIV infection?
-A person with HIV may have a higher risk of various types of cancer including lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and herpesvirus. Additionally, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma have strong links to HIV infection, and females with HIV should receive regular checks for cervical cancer.
How can HIV be diagnosed?
-HIV can be diagnosed through various tests including the nucleic acid amplification test (NAT), which can detect HIV infection as early as 10 days after exposure, and antigen or antibody blood tests that can detect HIV in a blood sample as early as 18 days after exposure. Most rapid tests and self-tests are antibody tests and can detect HIV antibodies as early as 21 days after exposure.
What are the treatment options for HIV?
-Treatment for HIV involves taking antiretroviral medications which fight the infection and slow the spread of the virus. People generally take a combination of medications called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) or combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). There are various types of antiretrovirals, including protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, chemokine receptor antagonists, and entry inhibitors.
How can HIV transmission be prevented?
-HIV transmission can be prevented by using barrier protection during intercourse, practicing safe injection techniques, avoiding exposure to relevant body fluids, and taking post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if potentially exposed to the virus within the last 72 hours.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding HIV and AIDS: Causes and Effects

This paragraph introduces HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and its impact on the immune system, particularly targeting CD4 cells, a type of T cell that helps fight infections. HIV replicates within these cells, destroying them and weakening the immune system, leading to an increased risk of opportunistic infections and certain cancers. If untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), characterized by a CD4 count below 200 cells per cubic millimeter or the presence of specific opportunistic infections or cancers. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of antiretroviral treatments in preventing the progression to AIDS, highlighting the decreased incidence of AIDS due to these medical advancements.

05:01

🦠 Modes of HIV Transmission and Early Symptoms

This paragraph discusses the primary ways HIV is transmitted, including unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing needles for drug injection, and less commonly, from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. It also covers the low risk of transmission through screened blood transfusions. Many people with HIV may not show symptoms for a long time, leading to undiagnosed cases. Early symptoms, often appearing 2-6 weeks after infection, include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, weakness, joint pain, sore throat, and unintentional weight loss. This stage is known as acute retroviral syndrome. The virus can continue to damage the immune system silently for years without treatment, progressively weakening the body's defenses.

10:02

🔍 AIDS Symptoms and Complications

This paragraph describes the symptoms of AIDS, which occur when the CD4 count drops below 200 cells per cubic millimeter, marking the severe stage of HIV infection. Symptoms include blurred vision, a persistent dry cough, night sweats, white spots on the mouth or tongue, persistent swollen glands, chronic diarrhea, prolonged fever, severe fatigue, and significant weight loss. People with AIDS are at high risk of life-threatening infections and cancers, such as candidiasis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, cytomegalovirus, and various forms of pneumonia and tuberculosis. The text stresses the importance of managing AIDS with appropriate medication to prevent or treat these serious complications, noting that without treatment, life expectancy is typically around three years.

🧬 HIV-Related Cancers and Diagnostic Tests

This section covers the increased cancer risk associated with HIV, including types like lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and cancers linked to human herpesvirus 8. The importance of regular cancer screenings, especially for women with HIV, is emphasized. To diagnose HIV, various tests are used, such as the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAT), which can detect HIV within 10 days of exposure, and antigen/antibody blood tests, detectable as early as 18 days post-exposure. Rapid and self-tests, mostly antibody-based, can identify HIV around 21 days after exposure. Early detection through these tests is crucial for timely treatment and prevention.

💊 HIV Treatments and Prevention Strategies

This paragraph focuses on treatments for HIV, including emergency HIV pills known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which should be taken within 72 hours of potential exposure to prevent infection. PEP involves a 28-day course of medication and monitoring for HIV thereafter. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the main treatment for managing HIV, involving combinations of medications like protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which prevent the virus from replicating. Common side effects of ART include nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, headaches, and rashes. Prevention strategies highlighted include the use of barrier protection during sex, safe injection practices, and avoiding exposure to bodily fluids. The goal of treatment is to halt the virus's progression, reduce transmission risk, and improve quality of life.

👍 Support and Stay Connected!

This final paragraph encourages viewers to like the video and subscribe to the channel for more informative content on topics like HIV and AIDS. It also invites them to connect on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram for updates and further engagement with the community.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡HIV

HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a virus that attacks and destroys CD4 cells, which are critical for the immune system. In the video, HIV is introduced as the core topic, and it is explained how it undermines the body’s ability to fight infections, eventually leading to AIDS if untreated.

💡CD4 cells

CD4 cells, also known as T cells, play an essential role in detecting infections in the body. The video explains that HIV specifically targets these cells, weakening the immune system over time by reducing their count and function. CD4 cells are a key indicator for monitoring the progression of HIV.

💡AIDS

AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is the advanced stage of HIV infection, characterized by a severely weakened immune system. The video explains that AIDS occurs when the CD4 count drops below 200 cells per cubic millimeter or when certain opportunistic infections or cancers develop. It is considered the final stage of HIV if untreated.

💡Opportunistic infections

Opportunistic infections refer to infections that occur more frequently and are more severe in individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS. The video lists examples like tuberculosis, pneumonia, and candidiasis, which are common when HIV progresses to AIDS.

💡Antiretroviral therapy (ART)

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a treatment for HIV that involves taking a combination of drugs to control the virus. The video explains how ART slows down HIV replication, helps maintain CD4 levels, and prevents progression to AIDS. ART has significantly reduced the progression of HIV to AIDS in modern medicine.

💡Transmission

HIV transmission refers to how the virus spreads from one person to another. The video highlights the main modes of transmission, including unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles, and, less commonly, from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. Preventative measures like barrier protection and safe injection practices are also discussed.

💡PEP (Post-exposure prophylaxis)

PEP is an emergency medication taken after potential exposure to HIV to prevent infection. The video explains that PEP must be taken within 72 hours of exposure and is used as a preventative measure after risky contact with the virus. It is part of the discussion on prevention methods for HIV.

💡Flu-like symptoms

Flu-like symptoms are common in the early stages of HIV infection, occurring within 2-6 weeks after exposure. The video lists symptoms such as fever, chills, night sweats, and swollen lymph nodes, referring to this stage as acute retroviral syndrome. These early signs may go unnoticed, leading to a delay in diagnosis.

💡Integrase inhibitors

Integrase inhibitors are a class of antiretroviral drugs that prevent HIV from integrating its genetic material into the host’s T cells, thus halting replication. The video mentions these drugs as a first-line treatment option due to their effectiveness and relatively mild side effects.

💡Opportunistic cancers

Opportunistic cancers are cancers that people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, are more prone to developing. The video gives examples like Kaposi’s sarcoma and lymphoma, explaining that HIV-infected individuals have a higher risk of these cancers due to their compromised immune systems.

Highlights

Introduction to HIV and AIDS, including their symptoms, causes, and treatments.

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which targets and destroys CD4 cells, weakening the immune system.

HIV progresses to AIDS when the CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells per cubic millimeter or when opportunistic infections appear.

Without treatment, HIV can progress to AIDS, but modern antiretroviral treatments have made this progression less common.

As of 2018, over 1.1 million people were living with HIV in the U.S., with around 6,000 AIDS-related deaths.

HIV transmission primarily occurs through unprotected sex and sharing injection drug equipment, with lower risks from childbirth, breastfeeding, and blood transfusions.

Around 80% of people with HIV develop flu-like symptoms within two to six weeks of contracting the virus, known as acute retroviral syndrome.

HIV can remain asymptomatic for years, continuing to damage the immune system even as the infected person appears healthy.

Symptoms of AIDS include blurred vision, chronic diarrhea, persistent fever, night sweats, and weight loss.

People with AIDS have a higher risk of developing life-threatening illnesses, including certain cancers and infections.

HIV can be diagnosed through tests such as nucleic acid amplification, antigen/antibody blood tests, and rapid antibody tests.

There is no cure for HIV, but antiretroviral treatments can stop the infection’s progression and reduce the risk of transmission.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can be taken within 72 hours of potential HIV exposure to prevent infection.

Common HIV treatments include protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which prevent HIV from replicating.

Prevention strategies for HIV include using barrier protection, safe injection practices, and avoiding exposure to body fluids.