● Pleural fluid. ● Amniotic fluid.
● Saliva (in dental procedures); and ● Any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) What is HIV?
Worldwide: Based on estimates from the United Nations AIDS program (UNAIDS), During 2002 AIDS caused the deaths of an estimated 3.1 million people and an estimated 5 million people contracted HIV. An estimated 42 million people are living with HIV infection or AIDS and an estimated 26 million people have died since the beginning of the epidemic. Nearly one-third of those living with AIDS are between the ages of 15-24 and 95% of all cases reported are in developing countries. Symptoms Symptoms of HIV infection can vary, but often include weakness, fever, sore throat, nausea, headache, diarrhea, a white coating of the tongue, weight loss, and swollen lymph glands. HAV, HBV, HCV and HIV are most commonly transmitted through: ● Sexual contact (less likely for HCV). ● Sharing of hypodermic needles. ● From mothers to their babies at/before birth. ● Accidental puncture from contaminated needles, broken glass, or other sharps. ● Contact between broken or damaged skin and infected body fluids. ● Contact between mucous membranes and infected body fluids. In most work situations, transmission is most likely to occur because of accidental puncture from contaminated needles, broken glass, or other sharps; contact between broken or damaged skin and infected body fluids; or contact between mucous membranes and infected body fluids. For example, if someone infected with HBV cut his or her finger on a piece of glass, and then you cut yourself on the now infected piece of glass, it is possible that you could contract the disease. Anytime there is blood-to-blood contact with infected blood or body fluids, there is a slight potential for transmission. Unbroken skin forms an impervious barrier against bloodborne pathogens. However, infected blood can enter your system through: ● Open sores. ● Cuts. ● Abrasion. ● Acne. ● Any sort of damaged or broken skin such as sunburn or blisters. Bloodborne pathogens may also be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the: ● Eyes. ● Nose. ● Mouth. For example, a splash of contaminated blood to your eye, nose or mouth could result in transmission. How does HIV research help with the cure of other diseases? Many ask how does HIV/AIDS affect me and why is research so important. The fact is, HIV/AIDS research is helping solve many other medical mysteries. Treatments for several types of cancer have grown directly out of AIDS research. One promising experimental therapy for advanced cancer is high dose chemotherapy followed by a bone marrow transplant. But the profound immune suppression necessary for a successful transplant often leads to devastating, even fatal, infections. New drugs to treat and prevent these infections have come directly from AIDS targeted research. Treatments for other cancers are also emerging from AIDS research. Several natural body hormones called growth factors promote the activity of HIV. Many of these hormones also accelerate the growth and spread of cancer cells. Blocking the
The human immunodeficiency virus or HIV for short, is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is transmitted from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. Additionally, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their unborn child during pregnancy, delivery and breast-feeding. Most people that have the HIV infection will develop AIDS. What is AIDS? AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. An HIV- infected person receives a diagnosis of AIDS after developing one of the defined AIDS indicator illnesses. A positive HIV test result does not mean that a person has AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician using certain clinical criteria (e.g., AIDS indicator illnesses). Infection with HIV can weaken the immunes sytem to the point that it has difficulty fighting off certain infections. These types of infections are known as “opportunistic” infections because they take the opportunity a weakened immune system gives to cause illness. Many of the infections that cause problems or may be life-threatening for people with AIDS are usually controlled by a healthy immune system. The immune system of a person with AIDS is weakened to the point that medical intervention may be necessary to prevent or treat serious illness. Today there are medical treatments that can slow down the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system. There are other treatments that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with AIDS. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment and preventative care. The origins of HIV and AIDS Scientists have different theories about the origin of HIV, but none have been proven. The earliest known case of HIV was from a blood sample collected in 1959 from a man in Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of Congo. (How he became infected is not known.) Genetic analysis of this blood sample suggests that HIV-1 may have stemmed from a single virus in the late 1940s or early 1950s. We do know that the virus has existed in the United States since at least the mid- to late 1970s. From 1979-1981 rare types of pneumonia, cancer, and other illnesses were being reported by doctors in Los Angeles and New York among a number of gay male patients. These were conditions not usually found in people with healthy immune systems. HIV and AIDS statistics United States: The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that between 800,000 and 900,000 people are living with HIV with approximately 40,000 new infections every year. Through December 2001, a total of 816,149 cases of AIDS had been reported to the CDC. 666,026 reported among men, 141,048 reported among women, and 9,074 reported among children under 13. New infections By gender - 70% of new infections each year occur among men. Males account for 83% of all AIDS cases. By risk group – Homosexual men represent the largest proportion of new infections, followed by heterosexuals and intravenous drug users. By race – More than half of new HIV infections occur among blacks though they represent only 13% of the population. Hispanics, who represent 12% of the general population, are also disproportionately affected. 42% of all AIDS cases are white, 38% black and 18% Hispanic. Since the beginning of this epidemic, 467,910 AIDS-related deaths have been reported in the United States. Of those deaths, 462,653 have been adults and adolescents, 5,257 have been children under age 15 and 388 whose age at death was unknown.
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