Communicable Diseases: HIV

Communicable Diseases: HIV

Communicable Diseases: HIV

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was first recognized as the “Gay Men’s Pneumonia” in the year 1981 (HIV.gov, 2019). HIV is a communicable disease that attacks the CD4 cells of the body that is responsible for aiding in the body's immunity. Without an effective amount of CD4 cells in the body, the more difficult it is to fight infections and cancers (HIV.gov, 2020). Without treatment, this can lead to a deteriorating immune system and eventually advance to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This paper will discuss the prevalence and demographic data regarding HIV, the relevant social determinants of health (SDOH), the epidemiology triangle, the nurse’s role, a beneficial organization, and the global implications of the HIV disease. HIV Epidemiology The virus can rapidly spread due to its long latency period where the patient could not experience any symptoms for months to even years (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020). Those who do experience the symptoms can relate it closely to influenza- like signs and symptoms. These symptoms would include chills, “fever, headache, rash, and sore throat” (WHO, 2020). It is essential to acknowledge that even being asymptomatic within the first few months of contraction, the disease is the most infectious (WHO, 2020). This makes teaching, prevention, and safe handling of bodily fluids very pertinent. This becomes especially important during sexual intercourse because the disease is contracted through pre-seminal and seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, blood, breast milk, and from mother to child during pregnancy and delivery (WHO, 2020). It is recommended that replacement feedings be preformed by