WHAT IS HIV?

HIV: means Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is the virus or micro-organism which is in the group of viruses called retro-viruses that causes AIDS. In other words, HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. When the virus gets in contact with the human body, it gradually weakens the human system. Once the body immune system is weakened, it becomes exposed to all sort of illnesses. A person is said to be HIV positive if the virus is found in his/her body. On the other hand, a person is HIV negative if he/she is not infected by the virus.

HIV belongs to a subset of retroviruses called lentivirus (slow viruses) which means that there is interval, sometimes years between the initial infection and the onset of symptoms. Upon entering the bloodstream through mucus membranes or blood to blood contact, HIV infects CD4+Tcells and begins to replicate rapidly.
Scientist believes that when the virus enters the body, HIV begins to disable the body’s immune system by using the body’s aggressive immune responses to the virus to infect, replicate and kill the immune system cells. Gradual deterioration of the immune function and eventual destruction of lymphoid and immunologic organs is central to triggering the immunosuppression that leads to AIDS.

AIDS: is an acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. It is the final stage of HIV infection. AIDS is therefore the disease condition arising from HIV infection. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) establish the definition for AIDS, which occurs in HIV infected persons with fewer than 200 CD4+Tcells and or persons with HIV who develop certain opportunistic infections (OIs).

HIV CARRIER: is the person infected by HIV, who does not have full blown AIDS because he/she has an unusually strong body immune system.

RETROVIRUS: a retrovirus is any of a group of virus that contain two single-strain linear RNA molecules per viron, which means it carries its genetic blue-print in the form of ribonucleic acid (RNA) instead of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Additionally, the enzyme reserve transcriptase is employed to copy its genome into the DNA of the host cell’s chromosomes. Usually the cellular process involves transcription of DNA to RNA. Reverse transcriptase makes it possible for genetic materials to be permanently incorporated into the DNA genome of an infected cell.

WINDOW PERIOD: is the period following the initial HIV infection. It is called window period because this period reflects the window of time between the infection with the virus and when the antibodies develop in the bloodstream. An HIV test that looks for antibodies taken during this time can result in a false negative, though antibodies usually appear with in six months of the initial infection.

SEROCONVERSION: refers to the period of time during which one’s body is busy producing HIV antibodies, trying to protect its self against the virus. This is the period after the initial infection when many people experience flu-like symptom and swollen lymph nodes. This is a highly infectious stage.

ASYMPTOMATIC PERIOD: this refers to the period after seroconversion in which the body experiences a symptom-free. This stage can last for 6months to 10 years varying from person to person. Although the person with HIV is experiencing no symptoms, the virus is still replicating inside the body and weakening the immune system.

SYMPTOMATIC PERIOD: this refers to the period where there is serious CD4+Tcell loss in which the body experiences the symptoms associated with HIV. This is the final stage before developing into AIDS.

CD4+Tcells: are the immune system’s key infection fighters and the entity that allows HIV to enter, attach and infects the body’s immune system. The CD4+Tcells (also called T4cells) are disabled and destroyed by the virus, often with no symptoms, causing a significant increase in the blood levels of T4cells.

In the advanced stages of HIV the body may have fewer than 200 T4cells, while a healthy adult count is 1000 or more, in this way the body’s immune system is continuously weakened from the moment of infection and the inability of the immune system to fight infection opens the door for opportunistic infections.

OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS (OI): are as a result of the weakened immune system present in persons with HIV/AIDS infection. According to the CDC, AIDS defining opportunistic illness are the major cause of morbidity among Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected persons. An infection takes the ‘‘opportunity’’ provided by the weakened immune system to cause an illness that is usually controlled by a healthy immune system. These infections are some times life threatening and require medical intervention to prevent or treat serious illness. Persons living with advanced HIV infection suffer opportunistic infections of the lung, brain, eyes and other organs. There are medical treatment that can slow down the rate at which the immune system is weakened and early detection offers more options for treatment and preventive care.

HIV POSITIVE RESULT: this is a situation in which HIV virus is found in a person’s body. In other words the person is infected with HIV.

HIV NEGATIVE RESULT: this is a satiation in which HIV virus is not found in the person’s body. In other words the person is not infected with HIV.

DISCORDANT HIV RESULT:  this is a situation where by one’s HIV result is negative while his/her sex partner’s HIV test result is positive. A couple in this situation can adopt condom use as a means to protect the uninfected partner.

ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUGS (ARV): these are the drugs that keep the level of HIV at a low level, so that the immune system is able to recover and work effectively. Antiretroviral drugs enable many HIV positive people to live long and healthy lives.

ANTIRITROVIRAL THERAPY (ART): this refers to the treatment given to people infected/living with HIV/AIDS. ARV is given to such people to keep the level of HIV in their body at a low level.

TESTING/HIV TEST: this is a bold decision taken by the client to know his/her HIV status. Prior to this, a client must have earlier been counseled. (Pre-test counseling) on HIV/AIDS by the counselor. There are various types of HIV test, but most commonly used is the antibody or ELISA test; detects HIV antibody in a person’s blood. Here a little sample of blood is drawn from the client’s arm and then carry out the laboratory test on it. HIV test is the only way to know for certain if a person is infected by HIV or not. There are two ways t get tested for HIV, if you can visit a place that provides HIV testing services such as HCT centers, VCT centers, local health department, your family doctor, a hospital, or you can purchase a home self-test kit. HIV test could be anonymous (in which counseling and testing is carried out with out collecting client’s data or details) or confidential (in which client’s data are collected and kept as confidential as possible) test is usually offered by a health care worker as part of regular medical care.

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