What is HIV and AIDS? - Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Explained
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
- π¦ HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which attacks CD4 cells, weakening the immune system.
- β οΈ Without treatment, HIV can progress to AIDS, which is diagnosed when CD4 counts fall below 200 cells/mmΒ³ or when opportunistic infections occur.
- π Antiretroviral treatments have significantly reduced the progression of HIV to AIDS.
- π In 2018, more than 1.1 million people in the U.S. were living with HIV, with around 6,000 AIDS-related deaths.
- π‘οΈ HIV transmission mainly occurs through unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, sharing drug injection equipment, or, rarely, from mother to child during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- π€ Early HIV symptoms may resemble the flu, including fever, chills, swollen glands, and joint pain, but some people may not show symptoms for years.
- π¬ 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.
- β While there is no cure for HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART) can stop the progression and reduce the risk of transmission.
- π§ͺ Several classes of antiretroviral drugs are used, including protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which work by preventing HIV replication.
- π©ββοΈ 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
π 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.
π¦ 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.
π 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.
𧬠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.
π 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.
π 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
π‘HIV
π‘CD4 cells
π‘AIDS
π‘Opportunistic infections
π‘Antiretroviral therapy (ART)
π‘Transmission
π‘PEP (Post-exposure prophylaxis)
π‘Flu-like symptoms
π‘Integrase inhibitors
π‘Opportunistic cancers
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 infectionβs 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.
Transcripts
[Music]
hello and welcome to medboard
in this video we will explore hiv and
aids including their symptoms causes and
treatments
to understand the topic better make sure
to watch the video till the end and also
support us by subscribing to our channel
let's begin the video by first
understanding what is hiv
hiv stands for human immunodeficiency
virus and it attacks immune cells called
cd4 cells
these are types of t cells that
circulate in the blood detecting
infections throughout the body and
anomalies in other cells
hiv targets and infiltrates cd4 cells
using them to create more copies of the
virus
in doing so it destroys the cells and
reduces the body's ability to combat
other infections and diseases
this increases the risk and impact of
opportunistic infections and some types
of cancer
without treatment the infection might
progress to an advanced stage called
aids
aids stands for acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome
doctors identify aids as having a cd4
count of fewer than 200 cells per cubic
millimeter
also they may diagnose aids if a person
is characteristic opportunistic
infections associated types of cancer or
both
when a person with hiv does not receive
treatment aids likely develops as the
immune system gradually wears down
however advances in antiretroviral
treatments have made this progression to
aids increasingly less common
in 2018 more than 1.1 million people
were living with hiv in the united
states and 6 000 deaths were related to
aids
one of the main causes of hiv
transmission is anal or vaginal
intercourse without using barrier
protection or without taking
pre-exposure prophylaxis
another main cause of hiv transmission
is sharing equipment for injecting drugs
less commonly hiv transmits to babies
during pregnancy childbirth or
breastfeeding
also there's a chance of transmission in
blood transfusions though the risk is
extremely low when blood donations are
effectively screened
some people with hiv have no symptoms
for months or even years after
contracting the virus
partly because of this one in seven
people with hiv in the united states
does not know that they have it
around 80 percent of people with hiv
develop flu-like symptoms around too six
weeks after contracting the infection
these symptoms are collectively called
acute retroviral syndrome
early symptoms of hiv may include
a fever
chills
sweating particularly at night
enlarged glands or swollen lymph nodes
weakness
pain including joint pain
a sore throat
thresh or a yeast infection
unintentional weight loss with advancing
hiv
after the symptoms of acute retroviral
syndrome resolve many people go on to
experience no hiv symptoms for years
while they feel well and appear healthy
the virus continues to develop and
damage the immune system and organs the
slow process can continue for around
eight ten years
if a person with hiv does not receive
effective treatment the virus weakens
the body's ability to fight infection
exposing it to serious illnesses
when cd4 cells are severely depleted at
fewer than 200 cells per cubic
millimeter a doctor can diagnose aids
which is sometimes called stage 3 hiv
symptoms of aids can include
blurred vision a dry cough
night sweats
white spots on the tongue or mouth
shortness of breath or dyspnea
swollen glands lasting for weeks
diarrhea which is usually persistent or
chronic
a fever of over 100 egg f
37 egg c that lasts for weeks
continuous fatigue
unintentional weight loss
a person with aids has a significantly
increased risk of developing a
life-threatening illness
without treatment people with aids
typically live for round three after the
diagnosis
however by taking other medications
alongside hiv treatment a person with
aids can control prevent and treat
serious complications
some opportunistic infections that can
signal to a doctor that a person has
aids include
candidacies of the bronchi trachea
esophagus and lungs
coccidioidomycosis
cryptokegosis
cytomegalovirus disease cmv
herpes
histoplasmosis
tuberculosis
with mycobacteria
recurrent pneumonia
recurrent salmonella septicemia
toxoplasmosis and some others
a person with hiv may have a higher risk
of various types of cancer including
lymphoma
kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus also known
as human herpesvirus aid causes a type
of cancer that involves the growth of
abnormal blood vessels
these can develop anywhere in the body
in addition hodgkin and non-hodgkin
lymphoma have strong links to hiv
infection
these affect the lymph nodes and
lymphoid tissues
also a female with hiv should receive
regular checks for cervical cancer
to diagnose hiv some tests may be
performed
these include
nucleic acid amplification test
sometimes called nat can detect hiv
infection as early as 10 days after
exposure
an antigen or antibody blood test can
detect hiv in a blood sample as early as
18 days after exposure
most rapid tests and self-tests are
antibody tests and these can detect hiv
antibodies as early as 21 days after
exposure
while there is no cure for hiv
treatments can stop the progression of
the infection
receiving these treatments can reduce
the risk of transmission
it can also extend a person's life
expectancy and improve the quality of
life
now let's look at hiv treatments and
medications for prevention
number one emergency hiv pills anyone
who may have been exposed to the virus
within the last 72 hours should speak
with a health care provider about
post-exposure prophylaxis pep
this medication may be able to stop the
infection especially if a person takes
it as soon as possible after the
potential exposure
a person takes pvp for 28 days and a
doctor monitors the person for hiv
afterward
pep is now 100 effective so it is
important to use prevention techniques
such as barrier protection and safe
injection practices including while
taking pvp
number two antiretroviral drugs treating
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
angioretroviral therapy or combination
antiretroviral therapy
a person might refer to the approach as
hard or cart respectively
there are many types of antiretrovirals
let us discuss each of them one by one
protease inhibitors
protease is an enzyme that hiv needs in
order to replicate
these medications bind to the enzyme and
inhibit its action preventing hiv from
making copies of itself
examples of protease inhibitors include
adesanovir and cavacista
lapanavir and ritanavir
darnavir and cobasystat
integrase inhibitors
hiv needs integrase enzyme to infect t
cells and these drugs block the enzyme
due to their effectiveness and limited
side effects these are often the first
line of treatment
integrase inhibitors include
alvin gravier
dolotegravir
roll the gravier
nucleoside and nucleotide reverse
transcriptase inhibitors
these drugs also called nrtis or nukes
interfere with the hiv as it tries to
replicate
types include
avicavir
lambovudine and zitovudine
intricidembine
tenefavir dysopraxial
some other less common medications
include
1
non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase
inhibitors
2.
chemokine corrector
antagonist three
entry inhibitors
people often benefit from a combination
of antiretroviral drugs and the right
combination depends on factors specific
to each person
each class of antiretrovirals has
different side effects but some common
ones include
nausea
fatigue
diarrhea
headaches
and rashes
the following strategies can prevent
contact with hiv
using barrier protection
using safe injection practices
avoiding exposure to relevant body
fluids
thanks for watching
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please hit the like button and subscribe
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videos
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