Difference between revisions of "Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome"
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Revision as of 14:02, January 24, 2010
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (usually referred to as AIDS) is a collection of uncurable diseases and symptoms often believed to be caused by long-term infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Definition
According to the CDC's 1993 guidelines, [1][2]as follows: HIV infection plus any of the following:
- CD4 count less than 200 or
- CD4 percentage less than 14% of total lymphocytes or
- Any of the following illnesses: pulmonary TB, recurrent pneumonia, invasive cervical cancer.
- Expanded definition including 23 clinical conditions published elsewhere[3]
The World Health Organization uses a different staging method for HIV disease. [4]
Page corrected by Anon
Natural History
After infection with HIV, the virus quickly replicates in lymphatic tissue and travels through the blood to infect most areas of the body. The largest consequence of this is the "hijacking" of certain immune cells, especially so-called T-Helper, or CD-4, cells. Early in the infection, the immune system holds the infection at bay, often causing "Acute Retroviral Syndrome", a flu-like illness. Patients often have swollen lymph nodes. After approximately 8-10 years of infection, the immune system begins to lose its battle. This is primarily seen in the loss of numbers of CD4 cells, however the changes are somewhat more complex. When the CD4 cell level drops low enough, AIDS becomes apparent. The first symptoms of the illness are generally night sweats, weight loss, and oral thrush.
Opportunistic Infections (OIs)
The hallmark of AIDS is the appearance of opportunistic infections, meaning infections with organisms that do not usually cause human disease, unless given the right "opportunity". This opportunity is the reduction in cell-mediated immunity, first seen in patients with certain cancers or on anti-rejection drugs for organ transplantation. These infections include:
lulz Page corrected by Anon
Dissent
Among the world's medical professionals and biologists, there is general agreement that HIV causes AIDS. In this, Koch's postulates have been clearly fulfilled, and basic science research has shown the same. Specific drugs have been developed that treat HIV infection and AIDS, helping show the causal relationship. That being said, there is a vocal minority of people, scientists and non-scientists alike, who do not believe that HIV causes AIDS. Foremost among these is Dr. Peter Duesberg. Details about these "re-thinkers" and their arguments can be found at several websites, but not in any reliable peer-reviewed journals: [5]
Also See
References
External Links
- Some Questions the Media Won't Ask Today About AIDS, Robert Knight, NewsBusters, December 1, 2007