HIV and AIDS

1. HIV and AIDS

2. What is HIV? Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the virus that weakens the immune system and can cause AIDS. The virus can be passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. Pregnant women can pass HIV to their baby during pregnancy or delivery as well as through breast feeding. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Traditionally only AIDS cases have been reported. But recently in California, new cases of HIVinfection are being reported by a unique identifier (no names).

3. Where did it come from? The earliest known case was from a blood sample collected in 1959 from a man in the Republic of Congo (how he became infected is not known). Genetic analysis of this blood sample suggests that HIV-1 may have stemmed from a single virus in the late 1940’s or early 1950’s. The cause of AIDS is a virus that scientists isolated in 1983. The virus was first named HTLV-III (human T-cell lymphotropic virus-type III. Later it was changed to HIV. There are two types of HIV. HIV-1 mostly found in the U.S. HIV-2 mostly found in Europe, Asia, Africa and Sub-Saharan countries.

4. Some scientists believe HIV spread from monkeys to humans between 1926 – 1946. Recent research indicates HIV most probably first crossed species from chimpanzees to humans as early as 1675 and did not establish itself as a epidemic in Africa until 1930. 1926 History Researchers studied 1,213 plasma samples obtained from Africa between 1959 – 1982. The 1959 sample tested positive HIV-1 becoming the oldest confirmed case of HIV. The case of a Manchester sailor who died of AIDS-like illness in 1959 was reported to be the oldest, but it has not been confirmed. 1959 Gay men in the US & Sweden – heterosexuals in Tanzania and Haiti begin showing symptoms of what later be called AIDS. 1978

5. 1984 Robert Gallo claims he discovered the virus a year later after the French isolated it. U.S. President Reagan has not mentioned the word AIDS in public. 11,055 cases in the U.S.; 5,620 dead. History CDC notices an alarming rate of of rare cancer (Kaposi's Sarcoma). First called “gay cancer” soon after rename it GRID (gay related immune deficiency). 1,614 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 619 dead 1981 CDC warns blood banks of possible problem with the blood supply. Institut Pasteur in France finds the virus. 4,749 cases of AIDS in the U.S.; 2,122 dead. 1983

6. History FDA approves the first HIV-1 antibody test. The first International Conference on AIDS is held in Atlanta, GA. Nothing from President Reagan yet. 22,996 AIDS cases in the U.S.; 12,592 dead – including: Rock Hudson and Ricky Wilson (B-52’s). 1985 AZT becomes the first drug approved by the FDA. 71,176 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 41,027 dead – including: Liberace and Michael Bennett (Chorus Line). 1987 Ronald Reagan apologizes for his neglect of the epidemic while he was president. Magic Johnson tells the world he has HIV. 257,750 AIDS diagnosed in the U.S.; 157,637 dead – including: Keith Haring (artist), Ryan White. 1990

7. History FDA approves the first Protease Inhibitors for HIV treatment. 534,806 AIDS diagnosis, 332,249 dead in the U.S. 1995 For the first time, death from AIDS plummeted more than 40 percent during the first half of 1997. Scientists say the decline can be traced to new drugs. As well the number of new cases of AIDS are decreasing, but about 40,000 new HIV infections occur each year.'' 1997 For the first time in more than 17 years, the Bay Area Reporter (A SF Gay weekly) contained no obituaries of AIDS victims. 1998 CDC reports that HIV infection rates rising among Gay and Bisexual men. 2003

8. How HIV infects the body When HIV infects the body, it prefers to attack certain cells of our defense system. These cells are called helper T cells. HIV specializes in these cells since these cells have CD4 molecules on the surface to which HIV binds. helper T cell A person normally has between 600 – 1500 T cells

9. How HIV infects the body The virus anchors itself to the CD4 on the surface of the helper T cell causing the viral membrane to fuse with the host cell’s membrane. This is how the virus genetic information gets inside the cell. The virus’s DNA converts itself into RNA

10. How HIV infects the body A copy of the RNA genetic information is added to the bubble . This section of the cell membrane turns inside out and new viruses are released. Cell Death: The release of new virus particles significantly weakens the host cell which soon dies. That’s how the immune system weakens.

11. Transmission These bodily fluids have been proven to spread HIV: • blood • semen • pre-ejaculate or pre-cum • vaginal fluids • breast milk

12. HIV Symptoms • rapid weight loss • dry cough • recurring fever or profuse night sweats • profound & unexplained fatigue • swollen lymph glands • diarrhea lasting more than one week • white spots or unusual blemishes on the tongue, mouth or throat • pneumonia • Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids. • Memory loss, depression, and other neurological disorders

13. What is AIDS? Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome An HIV infected person receives an AIDS diagnosis after developing one of the CDC-defined opportunistic infections and or a CD4 cell count of below 200. AIDS cases are reportable to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

14. AIDS Defining Conditions: (Opportunistic Infections) 1. Candidiasis of bronchi, trachea, or lungs 2. Candidiasis, esophageal 3. CD4 counts below 200, or a CD4 percentage less than 14 4. Cervical cancer, invasive 5. Coccidiomycosis, disseminated or extrapulmonary (Valley Fever) 6. Cryptococcosis, extrapulmonary 7. Cryptosporidiosis, chronic intestinal (>1 month duration) 8. Cytomegalovirus disease (CMV); other than liver, spleen or nodes 9. Cytomegalovirus retinitis (with loss of vision) 10. HIV encephalopathy 11. Herpes simplex: chronic ulcer(s) (>1 month duration); or bronchitis, pneumonitis, or esophagitis 12. Histoplasmosis, disseminated or extrapulmonary

15. Opportunistic Infections (continued): 13.Isosporiasis, chronic intestinal (>1 month duration) 14. Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) 15. Lymphoma, Burkitt's (or equivalent term) 16. Lymphoma, immunoblastic (or equivalent term) 17. Lymphoma, primary in brain 18. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), disseminated or extrapulmonary 19. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, any site (pulmonary or extrapulmonary) 20. Mycobacterium,, disseminated or extrapulmonary 21. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) 22. Pneumonia, recurrent 23. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) 24 Salmonella septicemia, recurrent 25. Toxoplasmosis of brain 26. Wasting syndrome due to HIV

16. Testing Antibody Testing Detects the specific immune response to HIV the body sends out to fight HIV infection (antibodies). Takes 2 weeks to 6 months (window period) to develop enough antibodies for the test to be 99.8 % accurate. • Oral test – OraSure • Blood test • Rapid Test PCR/DNA (Viral Load) Detects the presence of the HIV-1 or HIV-2 in the body. The window period for this test is 14 days to be 100% accurate. • Blood only

17. Prevention • Not having sex (abstinence) is the safest • Condoms are best protection to prevent the transfer of fluids • Limit the number of sex partners. This may lower your chances of getting infected • Not sharing needles for IV drug use, steroids, vitamins, etc.. • Not sharing toys • Test every 6 months for all STD’s. The presence of an STD increases the chances of HIV infection. • Communicate with your partners about safer sex.