INTRODUCTION

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

represent a range of conditions caused by infection with HIV, a retrovirus that attacks the
immune system, specifically the CD4+ T cells. After the initial infection, individuals may
experience mild flu-like symptoms or remain asymptomatic for several years. Over time, the
virus progressively weakens the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to opportunistic
infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and certain cancers. When these severe
complications develop, the condition is referred to as AIDS, the most advanced stage of HIV
infection, often accompanied by significant weight loss and overall health decline.

HIV spreads mainly through unprotected sexual contact (vaginal or anal), transfusion of
contaminated blood, sharing of infected needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy,
childbirth, or breastfeeding. Fluids such as saliva, sweat, and tears do not transmit the virus,
and oral sex carries minimal risk.

Prevention remains the most effective way to control the spread of HIV. Key measures include
practicing safe sex, ensuring blood screening, using sterile needles, and taking antiretroviral
medications as pre-exposure (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Providing
antiretroviral therapy (ART) to HIV-positive mothers and infants can also greatly reduce
mother-to-child transmission.

Although a permanent cure or vaccine is not yet available, modern antiretroviral therapy can
effectively suppress the virus, maintain immune function, and allow patients to live near-
normal lifespans. Early diagnosis and continuous treatment are crucial, as untreated infection
results in an average survival time of about 11 years.

Notably, two individuals — known as the Berlin Patient and the London Patient — have been
successfully cured of HIV, offering hope for future medical breakthroughs. According to global
estimates, approximately 37 million people were living with HIV in 2022, with about 680,000
deaths reported that year. Since its identification in the early 1980s, HIV/AIDS has caused
more than 36 million deaths worldwide and continues to be recognized as a global pandemic
and a major public health concern of the modern era.
 CONTENT ANALYSIS
HISTORY OF AIDS

The earliest public reference to what would later be known as Acquired Immunodeficiency
Syndrome (AIDS) appeared on May 18, 1981, in the New York Native, a newspaper catering
to the gay community in New York City. Shortly afterward, on June 5, 1981, the U.S. Centres
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially documented five unusual cases of a rare
pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), in young men from Los Angeles. These
individuals were previously healthy but exhibited severe immune system impairment. Soon,
physicians began identifying additional cases involving a rare cancer known as Kaposi’s
sarcoma (KS) among homosexual men. The appearance of these conditions, previously
uncommon in people with normal immune function, prompted the CDC to form a special task
force to investigate the outbreak.

In the early years of the epidemic, the disease had no formal name. The CDC initially referred
to it by the associated conditions, such as lymphadenopathy and Kaposi’s sarcoma. In 1981, a
temporary term, GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency), was introduced due to the high
prevalence among homosexual men. However, as cases emerged among other groups —
including haemophiliacs, heterosexuals, and intravenous drug users — it became evident that
the disease was not limited to the gay population. Consequently, the term Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was adopted in July 1982, and by September 1982, the
CDC began using the term officially in its reports.

In 1983, two independent research groups, led respectively by Dr. Robert Gallo in the United
States and Dr. Luc Montagnier in France, announced the discovery of a retrovirus as the
potential cause of AIDS. Gallo’s team isolated a virus resembling the Human T-lymphotropic
viruses (HTLVs) associated with certain leukaemia, naming their isolate HTLV-III. Around the
same time, Montagnier’s team identified a similar virus from a patient with lymph node
swelling and immune deficiency, naming it Lymphadenopathy-Associated Virus (LAV).

Further research revealed that both viruses were, in fact, identical. As a result, in 1986, the
scientific community formally recognized the pathogen as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV). This discovery represented a major milestone in the understanding of AIDS, paving the
way for diagnostic testing, epidemiological surveillance, and the eventual development of
antiretroviral therapies (ART) that have since transformed HIV infection from a fatal disease
into a manageable chronic condition.
The HIV virion is approximately 120 nm in diameter, with a spherical shape. Its core consists
of two copies of single-stranded RNA, coding for nine genes, enclosed within a conical capsid
made of about 2,000 p24 protein units. The RNA is tightly bound to nucleocapsid proteins p7
and accompanied by essential enzymes like reverse transcriptase, proteases, ribonuclease, and
integrase. Surrounding the capsid is a matrix layer composed of pi 7 proteins, which maintains
the virion's structural integrity.
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the pathogen responsible for Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Taxonomically, it is classified as a lentivirus, a type of
retrovirus, which is defined by its ability to convert its single-stranded RNA genome into
double-stranded DNA via the enzyme reverse transcriptase. This viral DNA then integrates
itself into the host cell's genetic material, a process essential for its replication cycle. The virus
demonstrates a distinct tropism, primarily targeting cells of the immune system that express
the CD4 receptor, most notably the T-helper lymphocytes. The progressive, chronic destruction
of these central coordinating cells is what causes a critical decline in the host's cellular
immunity, ultimately leading to the state of profound immunodeficiency recognized as AIDS.

The global pandemic is driven by two main serotypes: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is considered
the most virulent and globally disseminated strain, accounting for the vast majority of cases
worldwide and progressing to AIDS more quickly. HIV-2, while less pathogenic and less
transmissible, remains endemic in regions of West Africa. Although genetically and
antigenically distinct, both types share the fundamental mechanism of pathological action:
subverting and depleting the host's T-cell population. This chronic immune suppression is what
opens the door for opportunistic infections and malignancies, which are the direct causes of
morbidity and mortality in untreated individuals
The HIV/AIDS epidemic has provided an important and sobering lesson: our nation's blood
supply, though vital and life-sustaining, is not immune to the threat of infectious contamination.
Since blood and its components are essential for surgeries, transfusions, and treatment of many
diseases, any compromise in their safety can have serious consequences. Therefore, while our
national system for collecting and distributing blood generally operates efficiently and reliably,
it is crucial to strengthen continuous monitoring, testing, and quality control measures. Only
through strict vigilance and improved safety standards can we protect this invaluable resource
and prevent the spread of deadly infections like HIV through transfusions.
AIDS Medical Treatment:

1. Antiviral therapy (targeting the HIV virus)

2. Immune system support (e.g., boosting CD4 cell count)

Challenges:

No cure exists; mortality rate is high

Treatment involves managing symptoms and prolonging life

Multiple medications are often required

Transmission Notes:

Not transmitted through casual contact or insect bites (like mosquitoes)

Present in various bodily fluids (urine, tears, saliva, breast milk, vaginal secretions), but
transmission typically requires direct blood or bodily fluid contact.