HIV-AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is referred to as HIV. If left untreated, it can develop into AIDS and other illnesses.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is referred to as AIDS. It is a deadly condition brought on by the HIV retrovirus, which messes with the immunological system of the body. It is the HIV infection's last stage. AIDS is an infection that develops when our immune systems are severely compromised or underdeveloped. The body's capacity to combat diseases is decreased.

Due to their low immunity, HIV/AIDS patients are more susceptible to illness.

Receptacle for Infection:

• There is an infection spread.
• Once a person is infected, the virus stays in their system for the rest of their lives.
• The patient is infected for years by the carrier who exhibits fewer symptoms.

Infection Sources:

• Blood, semen, and cerebrospinal fluid are where the HIV/AIDS virus is most commonly found.
• And less in urine, vaginal secretions, breast milk, tears, saliva, and tears.

Incubation Periods:

• HIV infection to AIDS can progress from a few months to six years or longer.

Mode of Transmission:

• Vaginal intercourse with an AIDS patient.
• Anal sex.
• Sharing needles or using syringes with an infected individual.
• Transfusions of infected blood and contact with contaminated blood.
• Contamination by bodily fluids such as blood, urine, rectal fluids, and pre-semen secretions from an infected person.
• Oral sex.
• Blood and other body fluids from the infected partners coming into contact with the broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes.
• Before, during, and after birth, from an infected mother to her child.

High risks groups:

• Sex workers' people.
• Drug addicts.
• Migrant spouses and housewives.
• Street kid.
• Drivers and conductors who work in transportation.
• Surgeons.
• Doctors and nurses.

HIV/AIDS can be prevented by following:

• Every intercourse should involve a fresh condom.
• If you have HIV, let your partners know before engaging in faithful sexual activity with them.
• Use of fresh, sterile, and clean needles for transfusing drugs.
• When pregnant, seek immediate medical attention.
• Use caution when handling and discarding the contaminated needle and syringe.
• Count your sexual partners carefully.
• Both spouses should have HIV/AIDS testing.

Treatment

• Anti-retroviral therapy

HIV medications are used to treat HIV infection. A combination of HIV medications known as the HIV regimen is taken by people receiving ARV therapy. While ARV therapy does not treat HIV, it does help HIV-infected individuals live longer. It lessens the chance of HIV transmission.

Goals of the anti-retroviral therapy:

• Restoring and preventing the body's immune system from malfunctioning.
• Lowering the mortality and morbidity associated with HIV.
• Enhancements to the HIV-infected population's standard of living.
• Prevention of transmission from mother to child.
• After-exposure prevention.

Anti-retroviral drugs

The anti-retroviral drugs are classified into 3 categories:

• Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  • Lamivudine, zidovudine, zalcitabine, dideoxycutidine, abacavir, stavudine
• Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors
  • Tenofovir
• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
  • Nevirapine, delaviradine, rilpivrine, etravirine,
• Protease inhibitors
  • Amprenavir, tipranavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, darunavir

The spread of HIV from an HIV-positive woman to her unborn child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breast-feeding is known as mother-to-child transmission. It is also known as prenatal HIV transmission. The measures known as PMTCT were created to lower the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child (vertical transmission).

Following measures can effectively stop mother-to-child transmission:

• Preventing unintended pregnancies among women who are HIV-positive
• Preventing the HIV virus from spreading from an HIV-positive mother to her child while she is pregnant, giving birth, breastfeeding, and after.
• Preventing HIV from being shared within the family.

HIV's effects on the pregnancy period:

• Faulty fetal growth
• Early labor and delivery
• A small birth weight
• Neonatal and perinatal mortality
• No further pregnancies occur
• Congenital disorders

PMTCT components:

The PMTCT primarily consists of three components throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery:

• Providing ARV prevention throughout pregnancy and labor
• Putting the safe delivery procedures into practice

Delivering the necessary advice and assistance regarding infant feeding.

The JAMA, 2000.283:1175–1182 mentions the estimation of transmission times and absolute transmission rates as follows:

The spread of HIV from an HIV-positive woman to her unborn child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breast-feeding is known as mother-to-child transmission. It is also known as prenatal HIV transmission. The measures known as PMTCT were created to lower the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child (vertical transmission).

Following measures can effectively stop mother-to-child transmission:

• Preventing unintended pregnancies among women who are HIV-positive
• Preventing the HIV virus from spreading from an HIV-positive mother to her child while she is pregnant, giving birth, breastfeeding, and after.
• Preventing HIV from being shared inside the family.

HIV's effects on pregnancy's gestational period:

• Faulty fetal growth
• Early labor and delivery
• A small birth weight
• Neonatal and perinatal mortality
• No further pregnancies occur
• Congenital disorders

PMTCT components:

The PMTCT primarily consists of three components throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery:

• Providing ARV prevention during pregnancy and labor
• Putting the safe delivery practices into practice

Delivering the necessary advice and assistance on newborn feeding.