Virus Inmunodeficiencia Humana

CONCEPT:

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a lentivirus that causes acquires immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in wich progressive failure of the immune system allowslife-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive. Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIVis present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells. The four major routes of transmission are unsafe sex, contraminated needles, breast milk and transmission from aninfected mother to her baby at birth (perinatal transmission).

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

The stages of HIV infection are acute infection (also known as primary infection), latency an AIDS. Acute infectionlasts for several weeks and may include symptoms such as fever, lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), phayngitis (sore throat), rash, myalgia (muscle pain), malaise, and mouth and esophageal sores. Thelatency stage involes few or no symptoms an can last anywhere from two weeks to twenty years or more, depending on the individual.

TRANSMISSION:

*SEXUAL.- The majority of HIV infections areacquired through unprotected sexual relations. Complacency about HIV plays a key role in HIV risk. Sexual tanmission can occur when infected sexual secretions of one partner come into contact with thegenital, oral or rectal mucous membranes of another. In high-income countries, the reisk of female-to-male transmission is 0.04 % per act male-to-female transmission is 0.08 % per act. For variousreasons, these rates are 4 to 10 times higher in low-income countries.

The rate for receptive anal intercourse is much higher 1.7 % per act.

*BLOOD PRODUCTS.- In general, if infected blood comes intocontact with any open wound, HIV may be transmitted.

This transmission route can account for infections in intravenous drug users, hemophiliacs, and recipients of blood transfusions and blood...