HIV originates from non-human primates in Africa and was transmitted to humans through bushmeat consumption and exposure to infected blood. It has evolved into a global pandemic transmitted primarily through sexual contact, blood transfusions, and from mother to child. The virus infects CD4 cells of the immune system and progresses through four stages - from an initial infection with flu-like symptoms, to a long asymptomatic stage, then a symptomatic stage with opportunistic infections, and finally AIDS where the immune system is severely compromised. While there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, antiretroviral treatment can effectively control the virus and prevent transmission from mother to child.

1. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
An infection of the immune system which destroys the
body’s ability to fight off infections. HIV may also enter a cell
then remain quiet for a long time and drug therapy only
destroys the active virus. HIV infects the cells
(T Lymphocytes) of the immune system weakening the
entire system.

2. HIV/AIDS Virus
The HIV Virus invades a white blood cell...

3. HIV virus, attacked by the immune system cells.
The immune system attacks the HIV virus as soon
as it enter the body.

4. Origins of HIV
AIDS is caused by the Human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV), which originated in non-human primates
in Sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS is believed to have
started in the 1950’s or earlier. According to scientist,
monkeys had the disease and it was passed to the
humans when they killed and ate the monkeys for
food and when they became exposed to their blood
during rituals. The disease then mutated slightly as it
was passed on from human to human through sexual
intercourse.
First victim that died from AIDS was reported from
USA in 1969, HIV was found in a blood plasma
sample.

5. Prevalence of HIV/AIDS

6. Transmission
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Blood
Blood Products
Sexual Fluids
Mother to Infant
Sexual contact
– Artificial insemination
with semen from an
infected person
– Body fluids including
semen
– Vaginal/Anal/Oral
intercourse
• Sharing of needles or
syringes
• Accidents in health
care
• Ear piercing
• Needle sharing with
an infected person
• Receiving a blood
transfusion with
infected blood

7. Symptoms
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Abdominal Crams
Coma
Coughing
Difficult or painful
swallowing
Extreme fatigue
Fever
Lack of coordination
Mental symptoms
such as confusion and
forgetfulness
• Mouth ulcers in the
genital region
• Nausea
• Pelvic inflammatory
disease
• Persistent or frequent
yeast infections (Oral
and vaginal)
• Persistent skin rashes
or flaky skin
• Seizures

8. Symptoms
• Severe and persistent
diarrhea
• Severe headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Sweats
• Weight loss
• Swollen lymph glands
• Vision loss
• Vomiting

9. Treatment
HIV/AIDS is a permanent disease, and as of right not
there is no cure. HIV/AIDS can only be controlled
with the use of drugs in order to prevent from
getting worse. When AIDS first surfaced the US, no
drugs were available to combat the underlying
immune deficiency and few treatments existed for
the opportunistic diseases that resulted.
Some drugs to keep the disease controlled are:
• Abacavir Succinate
• Nucleoside Anolog Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIS)
• Didanosine (ddI)
• Lamuvidine (3TC)
• Stavidine (D4T)
• Zalcitabine (also known as AZT)

10. FOUR STAGES OF HIV/AIDS

11. Stage 1: Primary HIV Infection
• The first stage of HIV infection is called
primary infection. During this time
period, individuals experience symptoms
similar to the flu. Very few individuals
seek treatment during this time, and
those who do are usually misdiagnosed
with a viral infection.

12. Stage 2: Asymptomatic HIV
• In the second stage, individuals are free
from any symptoms of HIV. Levels of HIV
in the blood are very low, but are
detectable. If an HIV test is performed, it
will come back positive. While the
individual is asymptomatic, the HIV in
their blood is reproducing constantly.
This stage lasts about ten years, but can
be much longer or shorter depending on
the individual.

13. Stage 3: Symptomatic HIV
• In the third stage, the immune system has
become so damaged by HIV that symptoms
begin to appear. Symptoms are typically
mild at first, and then slowly become more
severe. Opportunistic infections, infections
that take advantage of the immune
system’s vulnerable state, begin to occur.
These infections affect almost all the
systems of the body and include both
infections and cancers. Some common
opportunistic infections include
tuberculosis, cytomegalovirus, and shingles.

14. Stage 4: Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome
• In the fourth and final stage, a person is
diagnosed as having AIDS. To be
diagnosed as having AIDS, a person has
to exhibit certain opportunistic
infections, such as HIV wasting
syndrome, pneumocystis pneumonia, or
Kaposi sarcoma. Once a person is
diagnosed with AIDS, they can never
return to a stage of HIV, even if the
individual gets better.

15. HIV
&
Pregnancy
If the mother is infected with HIV, the
doctors can take certain regimen to
prevent the disease from getting
transmitted to the baby.
Regimen: Anti-HIV medications are
grouped into “classes” according to
how they fight HIV. A regimen is a
combination or three or more anti- HIV
medications from at least two different
classes.
Possible ways of transmitting is during
labor and delivery, or by breastfeeding.
A scheduled cesarean delivery at 38
weeks of pregnancy can reduce the risk
of mother to child transmission of HIV.
If a woman’s water breaks, or she goes
into labor, it is unclear if a cesarean
delivery will still reduce the risk of
transmission. Depending on an
individual woman’s situation, a vaginal
delivery may be an alternative to a
planed cesarean delivery. Regardless of
type of delivery, health care providers
take care to expose the baby as little as
possible to the HIV Infected mother’s
blood .