HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a dangerous virus that attacks immune system and specifically destroys the CD4 cells also known as the T-cells; these cells play a significant role of helping the body fight infectious objects affecting it. With time and depending on action taken after one is diagnosed with HIV, this virus can destroy almost all or most of the CD4 cells and reduce them in number thus making the body prone to several infections. Once the CD4 cells are destroyed, the body is not able to fight disease and infections attacking its systems (CDC, 2018). Studies show that if HIV is not treated the person suffers from AIDs; during this stage there is an indication that opportunistic infections have continued to attack and weaken the body’s immune system. Researchers have said that various studies have identified a certain type of chimpanzee found in central Africa as the source for the HIV virus in humans (CDC, 2018); it is believed that HIV virus mutated from an almost similar virus found in these chimpanzees called the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). This virus spread in most parts of Africa and later to the rest of the world through various transmission methods.
Causes, symptoms, mode of transmission, complications, treatment
Research shows that HIV is one of the leading concerns in healthcare sector in the world today; according to statistics from research conducted on HIV in the world, close to 25 million people have lost their lives and about 46 million people are living with the HIV virus in the world today (Simon et.al, 2010). HIV is therefore considered an evolving epidemic based on its mode of transmission, distribution and density; this pandemic has touched every part of the world today and affected people of all races and ages regardless of their gender and sexual orientation.
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Symptoms
People suffering from HIV show various symptoms while others do not show any symptoms until in the advanced stage of the infection. Studies have shown that during the early stages of the HIV infection which is 2-4 weeks, the infected person might have flu related symptoms which include but not limited to rash, chills, cold or fever. Although HIV infection continues to multiply within the body system while destroying the immune system, serious symptoms are not realized for many years; these symptoms are related to opportunistic infections which occur as a result of the weakened immune system (NIH, 2017). These might include: loss of weight, loss appetite, skin rashes, cough, and loss of hair among others.
Mode of transmission
HIV is transmitted through various ways when one comes into contact with certain body fluids from an infected person; these fluids can include: semen, blood, vaginal fluids, pre-seminal fluids, rectal fluids and breast milk (NIH, 2017). HIV transmission is the spread of HIV viruses from one person to the other while the spread of HIV viruses from the mother to their child during breast milk is called mother to child transmission. The highest mode of HIV transmission is through sexual intercourse; sharing of needles or injection for drug users is another leading cause in the world. Studies have shown even children suffer from HIV with mother to child transmission during breast feeding being the highest mode of transmission in the world. There are several beliefs and myths that have been said to modes of transmission; these include spread of the HIV viruses through hand shake, hugging, seating on toilet seats, coming into contact with dishes and knobs that are used by a HIV infected person (NIH, 2017). These myths are not true but they are misleading to people who have limited access to proper infection about HIV infection.
Diagnosis
HIV viruses can be diagnosed by conducting an antibody or antigen test through screening using certain commercial test kits. Rapid antibody test are convenient for screening and diagnosis within a short time and they can be done suing saliva, blood, plasma or serum by healthcare providers (Simon et.al, 2010). These tests suffer some limitations which include failed detection of the virus during the primary infection stage for persons who antibodies are present and failed detection for the virus in kids below 18 months whose bodies might be baring the maternal HIV antibodies (Simon et.al, 2010).
Treatment
Although no effective cure has been established for HIV infection, various treatment methods have been used to reduce and treat infections caused by the opportunistic diseases one suffers once they have HIV infection. Research has shown that with proper medical care and treatment HIV infection and other related infections can be controlled; treatment used for HIV infection is known as ART (antiretroviral therapy). HIV is not fully cured and once infected a person will need to start the ART therapy to help them prolong their life; ART compound are believed to reduce mortality and morbidity rates (Simon et.al, 2010). During this treatment a combination of more than one type of drug in needed so as to help the patient return their normal CD4 count that is previously destroyed by the HIV. Persons suffering from HIV infection can use ARV medication where they have to take these drugs every day.
Complications
Various complications related to HIV infection might arise during treatment; the most significant complication is drug resistance (Simon et.al, 2010). Drug resistance is a serious complication that might result to failure in treatment thus posing a serious health care problem. These complications resulting to drug resistance occur because of the different HIV sub types that cause a difference in mutation.
Demographic of interest
According to research findings HIV infection is considered a non-white epidemic because of its high rates of infection in Africa compared to other parts of the world characterized by the white race. HIV is also said to affect more women than men, drug users who use injections and heterosexuals ( Osmond, 2003 ). The trend of increased percentage in the number of women being infected every year has continued to be realized over the years; although the gap narrows down in terms of numbers, the percentage has risen from the earlier years between 1996 and 2001. There is also remarkable evidence in the demographic changes based on race and ethnicity; the number of infected white persons that are non-Hispanic has been reducing significantly over the years while the number of infected African American has increased remarkably between 1981 and 2001. There has also been an increase in cases of infection in the Hispanic race in 2001 with the blacks being 4 time represented and the Hispanic being represented twice in the cases of HIV infection in United States population by the end of 2001 ( Osmond, 2003).
Based on mortality rates HIV infection that resulted to AIDs was considered the leading cause of death by the year 1993 for persons aged between 25 and 44 years. In the year 1994 this infection accounted to 23% of deaths among men and 32% of deaths among African American men living in United States ( Osmond, 2003). Studies suggest that there are possibilities that the rates of death causes by HIV infection among young adults could have been underestimated. But there has been a steady decrease in the number of deaths resulting from HIV infection over the years because of the use of ART treatment which helps prolong life among infected persons ( Osmond, 2003).
Is HIV infection a reportable disease?
In some countries HIV infection is considered a reportable disease while in other it is not; depending on the definition given to reportable diseases in every country HIV infection can either be considered a reportable or non-reportable disease. For example in some countries such as Canada, HIV infection is not considered a reportable disease because according to the healthcare definition a reportable disease is one that is considered sufficient to be recorded to the authorities in case it is identified or observed; these can be disease that had disappeared for some time then reoccurred or infections caused by certain chemicals or parasites ( Fondation québécoise du sida, 2016 ). In other countries HIV infection is not considered a reportable disease and the privacy of the infected person should be considered; HIV infection status in some countries is therefore confidential. Therefore the infected person is not under any obligation to disclose their status and they can only do that to their partners and while taking a healthcare insurance policy ( Fondation québécoise du sida, 2016 ).
Determinants of health and how they contribute to development of HIV infection
Health determining factors fall under several categories which include policymaking, healthcare services, individual behavior, social factors and biological and genetic factors. Policies developed by healthcare sectors affect individual health significantly because they affect a specific population over a certain period of time; for example policies can help change peoples’ behavior thus impacting their health (Federal Government, 2018). Policies developed can impact HIV infection depending on the availability of treatment and affordability of the services required. Social factors are other significant health determinants; they are characterized by physical conditions, social norms, cultural practices, daily activities people indulge in and the environment people live in. Social determinants include but not limited to norms, resources, education, infrastructure etc. (Federal Government, 2018). Social health determinants significantly contribute to development of HIV infection; for example people who get involved in bad social habits such as drug abuse, crime and unprotected can increase the rate HIV infections. Another health determinant that contributes increased development of HIV infection is health care services; access to quality and affordable health care can either increase or decrease the rate of deaths caused by HIV infection. Studies have shown that lack of quality health care services or limited access due to increased cost can impact access for health care services for HIV patients. Access to quality and affordable healthcare services for HIV infected patients can improve their health and thus prolong life (Federal Government, 2018).
Epidemiologic triangle and how it relates to HIV
Epidemiological triangle is used to explain the cause and conditions that allow reproduction and spread of various diseases; this triangle is characterized by host, agent and environment ( Engard, 2017 ).
Agent: HIV targets and affects the human immune system thus exposing it to more infections; this makes it impossible for the body to fight the HV infection by itself. This disease is passed from one person to the other by having direct contact with an infected person’s body fluids; some of the significant modes of transmission are sexual transmission and sharing of injection needles for drug users ( Engard, 2017 ).
Host: research by scientists indicated that chimpanzees are considered the host carriers of HIV and humans contacted it while hunting; the virus mutated from the previous SIV in chimpanzees to HIV in humans through blood. While blood comes into contacts with the mucous membrane the tissues get damaged.
Environment: various socioeconomic factors impact the spread of HIV in a community with sexual activities registering the highest level and social pressure registering low impact. On the other hand poverty level and discrimination impact access to treatment among individuals in the community ( Engard, 2017 ).
Role of the community health nurse
Community health workers play different important roles which vary from reporting, case finding, data collection, data analysis and follow up for HIV infected patients. Community health nurses are involved in service delivery and organization; this means that they play the role of guiding patients through various departments within the health facility. Another important role played by community health nurses includes data collection, surveillance and reporting of the number of HIV related activities which include: number of people affected, those taking drugs, mortality rate and other data findings. Community nurses also offer counseling, treatment and follow up on persons affected and infected by HIV infection (Mwai et.al, 2013).
National organization
World Health Organization (WHO) is one of the leading organizations that address HIV infection communicable disease; this is an organization within the United Nations system whose significant role is to provide a healthier future for all the people around the world. WHO has different departments dealing with a specific communicated disease; this organization works in over 150 countries in partnership with the governments from these countries and other NGOs. WHO HIV department provides technical and financial support needed to make sure that proper treatment, counseling and any other form of support required while dealing with the HIV infection and enhancing sustainable response this communicable disease (U.S. Government, 2017).
Global implication of HIV infection
HIV infection is considered a devastating epidemic that has affected the lives of many people and families around the world leaving many children orphaned. Research shows that HIV infection is more significant in developing countries compared to developed countries (Gayle & Hill, 2001). Studies shows that east and southern Africa are the most hit geographical areas by HIV infection; most countries in these nations have to rely on donors and international organizations for funding and financial aid to help them deal with the implications of HIV infection affecting its people (AVERT, 2017).
References
AVERT. (2017). HIV and AIDS in East and Southern Africa. Retrieved from https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/sub-saharan-africa
CDC. (2018). About HIV/AIDS. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html
Engard, B. (2017). What Is the Epidemiologic Triangle? Retrieved from https://online.rivier.edu/epidemiologic-triangle/
Federal Government. (2018). Determinants of Health. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/foundation-health-measures/Determinants-of-Health
Fondation québécoise du sida. (2016). IS HIV A REPORTABLE DISEASE? Retrieved from http://fqsida.org/en/is-hiv-a-reportable-disease/
Gayle, H. D., & Hill, G. L. (2001). Global Impact of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and AIDS. Clinical Microbiology Reviews , 14 (2), 327-335. doi:10.1128/cmr.14.2.327-335.2001
Mwai, G. W., Mburu, G., Torpey, K., Frost, P., Ford, N., & Seeley, J. (2013). Role and outcomes of community health workers in HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. Journal of the International AIDS Society , 16 (1), 18586. doi:10.7448/ias.16.1.18586
NIH. (2017). HIV/AIDS: The Basics. Retrieved from https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv-aids/fact-sheets/19/45/hiv-aids--the-basics
Osmond, D. H. (2003). Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in the United States. Retrieved from http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite?page=kb-01-03
Simon, V., Ho, D. D., & Abdool Karim, Q. (2006). HIV/AIDS epidemiology, pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment. The Lancet , 368 (9534), 489-504. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(06)69157-5
U.S. Government. (2017). Global HIV/AIDS Organizations. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/pepfar-global-aids/global-hiv-aids-organizations
