Question

Johnson exercises regularly and eats a healthy diet. He currently does not experience any of the symptoms associated with HIV infection or AIDS. What is the difference between HIV and AIDS? List and explain the major routes of HIV transmission. What does seropositive mean and how is a person tested for HIV? What are some symptoms associated with acute phase HIV infection? What arc the symptoms of AIDS? What benefits are associated with Magic Johnson's announcement concerning his HIV-positive status? What risks or drawbacks can you think of associated with his announcement?

Answer 1

1. HIV is Human Immunodeficiency Virus, whereas AIDS is Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. HIV is a retrovirus that leads to infection; HIV generally affects the CD4 cells in our body which is a vital member of the immune system. So when HIV infection becomes severe, it may lead to a compromised immune system & eventually the development of AIDS.

2. HIV can pass via several routes:

1. Sexual transmission: Sexual transmission occurs when the blood, semen or other bodily fluids from an infected partner enters the blood of a non-infected partner.
2. Injections: HIV transmission can spread if a syringe used on an infected person is used on a non-infected person.
3. Drug use: Often drug-users share needles for the injection of various drugs; if one of the drug-abuser is HIV positive, then using the same syringe will lead to HIV transmission to non-infected persons.

3. Seropositive means a positive test result for an entity in the blood sample or serum sample. In respect to HIV infection, seropositive means the person is infected with HIV.

Generally an ELISA test is done to detect HIV presence in the blood or serum of the patient. In ELISA to screen for HIV antibodies, patient blood samples are added to microplate wells coated with HIV antigen, incubated and then washed. Next, wells are incubated with enzyme conjugate,

washed, and treated with ABTS substrate that changes to green if patient's serum is positive for HIV antibody.

4. The symptoms for acute infection of HIV are: constant fever, fatigue, headache, rash may occur, muscle pain.

Common AIDS symptoms include: swollen lymph glands, skin rashes, nausea, diarrhea, cough and shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, fever, chills, and night sweats, weight loss. The immune system becomes severely compromised, so the person is susceptible to other infections.

5. He is maitaining a healthy diet; but he should also take anti-virals to manage the AIDS infection. Since he is not experiencing any of the symptoms, it can be assumed the HIV infection has not progressed to acute stages & his immune system is not yet compromised.