...Epidemiology Paper: HIV Grand Canyon University: NRS-427V 08/09/2015 Human immunodeficiency virus, otherwise known as HIV, is a serious disease that affects the bodies’ immune system. HIV affects the immune cells, specifically called the CD4 cells or T cells. As time passes, these cells are destroyed and soon the body begins to lose its ability to fight off infections and disease. HIV is the virus that could lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Unfortunately, there is no cure for HIV, meaning once infected, you will remain infected for the rest of your life. The earliest HIV case was known to be in 1959. While it is unknown when exactly it came about, or from where, the transfer of the disease is thought to be from animal to human decades earlier. Some scientists believe that the chimpanzee transmitted the virus to humans, back when humans would hunt the chimpanzees for their meat. The contact with their HIV infected blood caused the spread of the communicable disease. After slowly spreading across Africa through the years, the virus made its way out into the world. “The first cases of HIV in the United States date back to 1981.” (Holland, 2013) The HIV infection is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. There are many myths about how HIV is spread; the truth of how it is spread is simple, through blood, semen, vaginal/rectal fluids and breast milk. “These fluids must come in contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or be directly injected...
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...on HIV/AIDS Kionia Long University of South Florida Word Count: 2317 Abstract The Purpose of the world review paper is to gain an international perspective regarding the effects of HIV and AIDs in Liberia. Liberia also known as the Republic of Liberia is located in West Africa. Liberia has a population of 4 million individuals. It’s estimated that 30,000 of those individuals have either the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The most vulnerable of Liberia’s population are women young girls, and infants. Because of Liberia’s economic status resources are not as abundant as the Unites Stated. Some comparisons and contrasts between the United States of American and Liberia were conducted regarding treatment guidelines and resources, monthly treatment expenses, and prevention methods to decrease the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This will allow a better understanding of methods utilized by the United States and Liberia regarding preventing and managing the spread of both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS) in their country. International Perspective on HIV/AIDS “As the causative agent of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continue to be a major problem in the United States and in many other countries around the world”(Li et al., 2015, p. 1). The foreign country being discussed regarding both the human immunodeficiency...
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...and Selection The policy topic chosen for this paper is HIV/AIDS also known as the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Polices in healthcare are necessary, to achieve a common goal of the organization at the same time keeping patients and healthcare providers safe. Policies around HIV/AIDS are important due to the nature of the illness and disease. There are many stakeholders in healthcare that can be affected by polices surround HIV/AIDS such as patients and caregivers. According to, "What Is HIV?" (n.d.),”The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system.” HIV is passed from one individual to another through bodily fluids such as semen and blood. This can be passed from patient to caregiver if there are not policies in place for prevention, an example would be a nurse not recapping a needle after providing a patient with an injection. This would be a policy that every institution has to avoid a nurse getting an unnecessary needle stick. Another example would be a policy on contaminated items in an healthcare organization. Most institutions require using the bio hazard red bags, to disposes of anything that has bodily fluids or waste so those items can be handled with the appropriate precautions. The Centers for Disease Control also known as the CDC are dedicated to reducing the spread of HIV. According to "HIV/AIDS" (2013),”Through prevention programs, research and evaluation efforts, surveillance activities...
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...AIDS RESEARCH FOR A VIABLE VACCINE 1 AIDS RESEARCH FOR A VIABLE VACCINE 2 Abstract AIDS is a global issue. The virus ravages communities, families and lives. As it continues to spread, several countries have made the commitment to work continuously to find ways to stop it. This ongoing quest has brought forth many ideologies, some of single theories others collaborations of theories. It is thought that a single method could be utilized to stop the spread of this deadly virus. It is also thought that the virus is curable and that pharmaceutical companies, governments and corporate entities, rather see the virus continue its’ path for their financial gain. This paper will introduce information that leads to another thought: “AIDS Research and the development of a viable vaccine”, is not being preempted by any entity except, the virus itself. There are factors that hinder the development of a viable vaccine to prevent the transmission of AIDS further research needs to be pursued. AIDS RESEARCH FOR A VIABLE VACCINE 3 AIDS Research for a Viable Vaccine The Problem AIDS is a public health problem that has been adding to its’ numbers since 1981, when it was “first recognized”. (Rowland) Since, 1996, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC has noted, “over one million people are HIV positive and nearly half of that number has AIDS”. In 2007, this number was represented at 33.2 million people worldwide with approximately 25 million...
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...Epidemiology Paper HIV virus is a life threatening disease that has no regards for gender, race, color or age group. This disease can affect anyone at any given time especially when one is placed in a situation where they could be at risk. The HIV, which stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. H- this virus only can infect human beings. I- HIV weakens the immune system by destroying important cells that fight diseases and infection. V- a virus can only reproduce itself by taking over the cells in the body of the host. These viruses cannot develop or reproduce on their own; they need to infect the cells of a living organism in order to multiply. There are two types of HIV, HIV-1 and HIV 2. Both types of HIV equally can damage a persons body by destroying specific blood cells, called CD4+ T cells, which are important to assisting the body in fighting diseases (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2015). There are three main stages of HIV infection (aids, gov, 2015). The first stage is the acute infection; this is where individuals normally develop influenza, flu-like symptoms. Symptoms can contain swollen glands, diarrhea, weight loss, sore throat, and fevers, fatigue. At this time the body is producing many viruses in the body. The second stage is Clinical Latency Stage. The “latency” meaning the development of a virus in a living person without symptoms (aids.gov). The virus on goes into producing more viruses but at a steady rate. This stage can approximately last up to 10 years...
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...Epidemiology and HIV Jody Houghton Grand Canyon University Concepts in Community and Public Health NRS-427V-0191 Sandra White October 18, 2014 Epidemiology and HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, is a virus that attacks specific cells in the human immune system weakening the body so it cannot fight off infection. HIV is a major public health concern in the United States with an estimated 1.1 million Americans infected, and 1 out of 5 people don’t even know they have it (www.healthypeople.gov). The virus is transmitted by blood or certain body fluids, which must come in contact with mucous membranes of another person for transmission to occur. Currently no cure exists, but with effective interventions the risk of transmission is greatly decreased (www.cdc.gov). HIV affects the CD4, or T cells of the immune system. The disease uses these cells to replicate itself, and in the process destroying the T cells. In turn, the body cannot fight off infections, and AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome manifests (www.cdc.gov). It is believed that the virus originally was present in chimpanzees in West Africa, and transmitted to humans when the chimpanzees were hunted for their meat as far back as the 1800’s (www.cdc.gov). The early signs of the virus are like many other viruses, fever, swollen glands, sore throat, rash, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and headache (www.aids.gov).Testing is the only way to know for sure if you have the virus. Home testing kits are now...
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...Communicable Disease Paper Felicia Pinckney HCS/457 January 24, 2013 Communicable Disease Paper In this paper the author was given an assignment by her instructor to write a paper on a communicable disease. The author has to describe the disease that she has chosen to write about and discuss different efforts to control the communicable disease. The author must include all data that she finds during her research on the communicable disease that she has chosen to write about, evidence- base interventions, and discuss plans to ensure quality of health. The author will identify available resources that will assist with the treatment and care of the communicable disease that the author has chosen to write about. The author will identify environmental factors related to the chosen disease. The author will discuss what kind of influence the communicable disease will have on a person’s lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and how to manage the disease. The author will identify gaps and methods for linking to other resources to meet the needs that are not locally available to the population. The author will include recommendations to expand community programs if there is a gap. In conclusion the author will proved three or more references. The communicable disease the author chose to write about is Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency (HIV/AIDS). HIV is a virus that is transmitted from one person to another person through the exchange of body fluids such as...
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...Abstract This paper contains information from six different articles relating to finding a cure for AIDS. These articles are very similar in results for finding an actual cure for AIDS, but up until this point there is no actual cure for AIDS. However, the information that I have conducted has indicated an antiretroviral treatment that can suppress HIV – the virus that causes AIDS – and the antiretroviral treatment can delay illness for many years. After reading many articles I found that there is many scams out their that are trying to sell a cure for AIDS, so if you have aids don’t fall for these misleading they don’t work. Many people that are infected with this deadly virus don’t even know that they are infected. Many people don’t even develop symptoms after they first get infected with HIV. Others on the other hand tend to get very sick. The person will have flu – like illness within several days even to weeks after they have been exposed to the virus. The infected person will start to complain that they have a fever, headache, tiredness, and enlarged lymph nodes on their neck. These symptoms tend to go away by themselves after a few weeks. . This asymptomatic phase often lasts for years. The progression of this disease can vary among each individual, and this state can last for a few months to more than ten years. A CURE FOR AIDS There is no cure for AIDS or the HIV infection as of today. Although antiretroviral treatment can help suppress HIV; the virus that is known...
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...Running Head: AIDS AIDS Michael W. McAlister Baker College Center for Graduate Studies Table of Contents Abstract 3 Introduction 4 History 6 Origin 9 The Hunter Theory 9 The Ingestion Theory 9 Polio Vaccination Theory 10 The Conspiracy Theory 10 Spread 11 Research 12 Infection 13 Prevention 13 Cure 14 Conclusion 15 References 16 Abstract This library research paper will provide the reader with a history of AIDS, where and how it originated as well as the public’s common belief of how AIDS was transmitted to humans, subsequently creating an unstoppable pandemic. This article provides scientific substantiation on the spread infection and prevention of the disease as it known today. Introduction A pandemic is an epidemic of an infectious disease that spreads through human populations across a large regions such as a continent or spreads worldwide (Pandemic, 2010). Since the eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds, the United States has battled many pandemics and outbreaks of various diseases that have had devastating effects on the public health during the periods they existed by causing thousands of deaths. Pandemics such as the polio pandemic which broke out in 1916 was responsible for killing 6,000 people, the great influenza of 1918 also known as the Spanish Flu was responsible for killing 50 to 100 million people in just six months (The Worst Outbreaks of Disease, n.d.). The number of people killed by this...
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...Epidemiology Paper Ericka Williams NUR/408 October 5, 2015 Willadene Walker-Schmucker Epidemiology Paper According to A Dictionary of Epidemiology (2014), Epidemiology is the science that studies the causes, patterns and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations. Epidemiology is an evidence-based practice that identifies risk factors and targets preventative healthcare. Epidemiology is a quantitative science built on the working knowledge of probability, statistics, and sound research. Epidemiology research looks at the population to see how many people are infected by the disease and study the disease over time to see if there is a change and what affects the disease have on our population. It is a tool used to promote and protect the public’s health. Steps and Methods of Epidemiology The steps and methods of epidemiology are routinely collecting data, epidemiologic data, and collecting data for other purposes these methods study health-related events. Routinely collected data can vary depending on time and region, this is data collected in a general population, such as births, deaths, and infectious diseases, (Stanhope & Lancaster 2012). Epidemiologic data uses surveys in specific populations to answer questions of concern and interest (Stanhope & Lancaster 2012). Data collected for other purposes is for research or investigative purposes within a region or area of interest (Stanhope & Lancaster 2012). Epidemiological triangle The...
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...HIV Epidemiology HIV Epidemiology For the epidemiology paper I chose to write about HIV. HIV is growing concern in the community and too many people are uneducated about the seriousness of this disease. HIV is terminal illness; it will eventually consume your life at some point. There are treatment options out there but being compliant with the medication regimen is crucial to the maintenance and management of this disease. HIV also known as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus; with HIV the virus replicates and attacks our immune system causing it to go haywire. With the suppression of our immune systems it puts people with HIV at a bigger risk for infection and other common illnesses. People with HIV the common cold can be very critical because their bodies are unable to fight off the virus. The virus attacks our WBC (white blood cells) and they are what are used to fight off infection. The cells that are affected the most are WBC that is called CD4+ cells. If these cells begin to malfunction then the body loses its ability defend itself against infection. HIV is spread when blood, semen, or vaginal fluids from an infected person enter another person's body, usually through sexual contact, from sharing needles when injecting drugs, or from mother to baby during birth (WebMD, 2014). When we deal with patients who have this disease we need to be sure to educate them on the importance of safe sex practices and the importance of refraining from drug use especially when dealing...
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...Ciara S. Lawrence April 17, 2011 Research Paper (Draft) Professor Jeffries Introduction: HIV/AIDS is an epidemic that has become widely spread in the United States which has become a major public health issue around the world. There are around 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS and 400,000 new cases every year.[] In the U.S. today women make up more than 300,000 of the 1.2 million people with HIV/AIDS.[] Being that AIDS is the leading cause of death in black people throughout the U.S.. Black people make up 13 percent of the population, but 65 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases. Whereas black women are still dispportionate infected for more than sixty-six percent of HIV/AIDS cases in the country with a rate of infection fifteen times higher than white women and four times higher than Latinas. Considering the aforementioned, it is not difficult to conclude that most of the new cases pinpoint a major disparity between black women and women of other races. Cultural environmental and other factors that exacerbate the problem are high numbers of black men going to prison, the effects of the black church and the lack of government resources. In my research paper, I will identify the causes of HIV/AIDS and suggest solutions to prevent the spread of this disease among black woman. According to Mayo Clinic the definition of Human immunodeficiency virus is a virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in which the immune system in the body begins to fail causing...
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...illness due to a specific infectious agent or its toxic products that arises through transmission of that agent or its products from an infected person, animal or inanimate reservoir to a susceptible host; either directly or indirectly through an intermediate plant or animal host, vector or the inanimate environment (UCLA, 2011). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a communicable disease that has become a global epidemic. This paper will give the reader a description of the disease, demographic of interest, describe the determinants of health, the epidemiologic triangle as it relates to AIDS. This paper will also discuss the role of community health nurse and organizations that have made an impact on AIDS education and research. The first report of AIDS in medical literature was in 1981 at this time AIDS was known as a disease associated with being gay, this quickly changed when further research revealed a transfusion recipient had been diagnosed as well as an infant in 1982 (UCSF, 2003). The cause of AIDS comes from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which destroys CD4 cells this weakens the bodies immune system, a patient could have HIV for many years before it progresses to AIDS. A person is considered to be infected with AIDS when their CD4 count falls below 200 or they show any of the following symptoms: * Tuberculosis * Cryptosporidiosis * Pneumocystis pneumonia * Cytomegalovirus * Toxoplasmosis (Mayo Clinic, 2012) AIDS is transmitted through...
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...Final Research Paper HIV: Introspective Overview What is HIV? Figure 1 HIV 1 virus electron micrograph, (Goldsmith) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus of the lentivirus genus. HIV attacks the immune system by invading and destroying certain white blood cells such as helper T cells (mainly CD4+ T cells), dendritic cells, and macrophages. The infection and destruction of the CD4+ T cells takes place through three methods: The direct viral killing of the infected cells, the apoptosis (programmed cell death) of infected cells, and the killing of infected CD4+ T cells by CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytes that recognize infected cells. Once the CD4+ T cells are diminished to a certain critical level, the immunity catalyzed and mediated by these cells is lost, leaving the body vulnerable to infection from other viruses (Noble, AVERT). The last stage of HIV infection is AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). This stage is reached due to lack of treatment while in the earlier stage of HIV. Those who reach this stage commonly die due to infections associated with the progressive failure of the immune system. There are two known types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. Both are transmitted by either sexual contact, through blood, or from mother to child, and they both appear to cause clinically indistinguishable AIDS. However, HIV-2 is less easily transmitted, and the period between initial infection and illness is longer in the case of HIV-2. The...
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...Title: Infectious Disease paper on HIV/AIDS By: Susan Rhine Date: June 17, 2012 Class: Health and Diseases Teacher: Alexis Deavenport Infectious diseases are rampant throughout the world and only seem to be getting worse. Some of these diseases are treatable, but some are still untreatable even with many years of research. Some of these diseases include: Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Influenza, Chickenpox, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus(MRSA), Clostridium difficle, Hepatitis B, and Rotavirus. Any of these diseases if contracted, can cause death. The one disease that I would like to discuss today is HIV/AIDS. This is one of the most deadly diseases in the world today. If a person has HIV does not necessarily mean that the person will also have the AIDS virus; it just means that they have the virus that causes AIDS. However; if a person has AIDS, then they will also have HIV because it is the virus that causes AIDS to be brought on. Unfortunately, the spread of AIDS has been great since the year 1981, with over 980,000 cases reported in the United States alone. It is important to know that HIV and AIDS are not the same disease. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and is a virus that can be caught on contact. HIV can eventually turn into the AIDS virus even though it takes time varying in length from a couple months to years. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. When the HIV virus ends up attacking a person’s immune system...
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