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HIV/AIDS
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Introduction
The human body is vulnerable to a number of diseases. The body consists of cells which make up tissues,
which in turn make up organs that form organ systems such as lymphatic, cardiovascular, respiratory, and
urinary, among others. While some diseases tend to affect many organ systems, some affect mainly a
single organ system.
In this assignment, I will write about a disease affecting the immune system; HIV/AIDS. It exists in two
forms, HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV subtype 1 is the most prevalent and virulent form of HIV. Unlike HIV-2
which is limited to Western Africa and nearby countries, HIV-1 is found virtually in all parts of the world.
The virus replicates inside human host cells, mostly the CD4 cells which normally are responsible for
immune defense, thus lowering the body’s immunity to other infections. Normally, infections occurring
as a result of the lowered immunity (opportunistic infections) are responsible for death in the infected
individuals. These opportunistic infections include but not limited to Kaposi’s sarcoma and pneumocystis
jiroveci pneumonia.
Definition
HIV is a single stranded RNA virus of retrovirus broader group and Lentivirus family .HIV is the virus
responsible for causing AIDS. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus while AIDS stands for
acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Methods of diagnosis
Diagnosis of HIV can be made through clinical and laboratory investigations. The laboratory tests include
testing for antibodies and viral antigens. Antibodies to HIV normally appear in the circulation 3 to 12
weeks after infection and thus testing for antibodies is not relevant before this period. HIV has a standard
screening test called ELISA which is an extremely sensitive test. ELISA test has low specificity and thus

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HIV/AIDS
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individuals that are found positive are confirmed with a more specific test such as Western blot. Western
blot is the most common confirmatory test. It makes use of reactivity of the blood sample to proteins such
as p24 and p55. Patients having an intermediate or a positive ELISA with a negative Western blot test are
considered to be negative and the ELISA test is termed as a false positive test.
Other tests are available as well including, OraQuick rapid HIV-1 antibody test which detects antibodies
to HIV in about 1 to 60 minutes. HIV RNA material can be studied as well through PCR amplification.
Symptoms and complications of the disorder
The clinical manifestation of HIV/AIDS can be divided into acute syndrome, asymptomatic state and
advanced disease. Acute syndrome occurs between the third and the sixth week prior to the exposure. The
general findings in the acute syndrome include; the general symptoms such as fever, anorexia, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, arthralgia, headache, lymphadenopathy and pharyngitis. Neurologic
symptoms such as meningoencephalitis and dermatologic manifestations such as mucocutaneous
ulceration can also be evident.
Asymptomatic state is the duration between the initial infection and the appearance of clinical disease.
Normally this duration is about 10 years. Generally, this stage has little to no symptoms as the body’s
immunity is still strong enough to fight against the HIV viruses.
Advanced disease occurs when CD4 count drops drastically. It is characterized by opportunistic infections
such as pneumocystis jiroveci, mycobacterium tuberculosis, toxoplasma gondii, cryptococcus
neoformans, Kaposi’s sarcoma, candida, cytomegalovirus, among others.
Diagnostic findings from imaging and histology

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HIV/AIDS Introduction The human body is vulnerable to a number of diseases. The body consists of cells which make up tissues, which in turn make up organs that form organ systems such as lymphatic, cardiovascular, respiratory, and urinary, among others. While some diseases tend to affect many organ systems, some affect mainly a single organ system. In this assignment, I will write about a disease affecting the immune system; HIV/AIDS. It exists in two forms, HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV subtype 1 is the most prevalent and virulent form of HIV. Unlike HIV-2 which is limited to Western Africa and nearby countries, HIV-1 is found virtually in all parts of the world. The virus replicates inside human host cells, mostly the CD4 cells which normally are responsible for immune defense, thus lowering the body’s immunity to other infections. Normally, infections occurring as a result of the lowered immunity (opportunistic infections) are responsible for death in the infected individuals. These opportunistic infections include but not limited to Kaposi’s sarcoma and pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. Definition HIV is a single stranded RNA virus of retrovirus broader group and Lentivirus family .HIV is the virus responsible for causing AIDS. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus while AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Methods of diagnosis Diagnosis of HIV can be made through clinical and laboratory investigations. The laboratory tests include testing for antibodies ...
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