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Epidemiology Hiv

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Submitted By MrsDinham
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Epidemiology: HIV
Tomekia L. Dinham, RN
Grand Canyon University
Concepts in Community and Public Health
NRS-427v
Dr. A. Cline-Owens, RN, Ph.D.
December 14, 2015

Epidemiology: HIV
Epidemiology is the science of studying the history, causes and treatment of diseases and infections. Epidemiological information is used by nurses to identify high risk populations with preventable health conditions (Maurer & Smith, 2013). Human Immunodeficiency Virus, also referred to as HIV, is a preventable sexually transmitted disease that requires persistent monitoring by healthcare professionals. Community health nurses play a pivotal role in supporting efforts against HIV by understanding and exploring the epidemiology of HIV through collecting, reporting and analyzing data related to the determinants of health.
Simply put, HIV is a virus that attacks a person’s immune system. It specifically affects CD4 cells which are also called T cells. These cells are what the body uses for an immune response. HIV destroys the T cells that fight infection leaving the patient susceptible to immune system compromise. This results in the patient being open to opportunistic infections that lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. AIDS, as it is commonly referred as, is a progression of HIV after the CD4 count falls to 200 or less (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015).
HIV is transmitted by bodily fluids such as blood, semen, breastmilk, and vaginal secretions. Anal sex carries the highest risk of transmittal however blood transfusions, needle sharing and breastfeeding are also actions that can transmit the virus ("Transmission," 2015). Clinical presentation of HIV appears very subtle in the early stages. Patient might present with flu-like symptoms, headache, fever or sore throat. As it progresses, the symptoms advance to weight loss, diarrhea, and swollen

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