HIV is the virus
that gradually weakens the immune system of the infected person,
leaving that person unable to fight off other infections. This
leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and will
ultimately cause death.
HIV-infected persons may have no symptoms or
may experience symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, fatigue,
weight loss, diarrhea, persistent dry cough and fever.
HIV & AIDS Trends
According to CDC statistics, HIV-related illness
was the sixth leading cause of death among young adults between
the ages of 25 and 44 years old in 2007. It is still the sixth
leading cause of death for this age group today.
In 2009, CDC reported that new HIV infections are stable at about 50,000 a year. However, the rate of new
cases in younger men is increasing.
Medical advances have been made in recent years
regarding HIV treatment. Several antiviral drugs, called protease
inhibitors, have been found to slow the replication of the
virus, but this is NOT a cure.
A protocol has been developed by the Public Health
Service (PHS) for administering a series of drugs after a
high-risk exposure to a known HIV-infected source. The series
of drugs is expected to reduce the likelihood that the exposed
person will become HIV-infected. This protocol has been adopted
by LBNL as well as by many healthcare facilities nationwide.
Healthcare workers are generally considered to
have the highest risk of having an occupational exposure to
blood or other potentially infectious materials.
To date, a total of 57 healthcare worker exposures
resulting in sero-conversion (the worker became infected with
HIV) have been reported to CDC.