The HI virus in connection with leukocytes
The leukocytes provide a decisive indication of an infection with the HI virus . In detail, the virus affects the CD4 lymphocytes. These are a special type of white blood cell called leukocytes. These are responsible for a large part of the human immune system. By destroying the so-called T-helper cells , the virus affects the CD4 lymphocytes.
As a result, the immune system collapses and the patient suffers from numerous, harmless infections. Due to the frequency, the number of lymphocytes continues to decrease and the patient degenerates. The state of health deteriorates until the patient dies from the interaction of the infections and the dysfunctions. Medicinally, the patient is given a status so that their susceptibility remains stable and does not increase further.
Interesting facts about HIV and its consequences
The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV for short, was first discovered in the early 1980s. For the decade, medical institutes around the world have been researching the course and cause of the virus.
Researchers suspect that the virus has been spreading around the world as part of a pandemic since the 1980s. Some of the discoverers of the virus received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2008 for their discovery. According to the state of research in 2014, there are two basic types. The researchers refer to these as HIV 1 and HIV 2. The first type already forms four subgroups.
The second type is slower and less widespread overall. All variants of the HI virus are serious and complicated infections.
Their importance for humanity and the future cannot be clearly defined. The danger comes from the ability of the viruses to combine. A person infected once creates new types through the re-entry of HI viruses. The leukocytes change. For this reason, combating the disease in the long term is difficult, especially in emerging countries.
Transmission and incubation of HIV
The virus is transmitted through bodily fluids. The viruses enter the foreign body via semen, blood and vaginal secretions. The virus is transmitted from the mother to the unborn child via breast milk. The places where the foreign body picks up the virus are open or insufficiently healed wounds.
In addition, the mucous membranes in the facial area or other exposed areas absorb viruses. The man’s glans and foreskin also form suitable entry points for the HI virus or other viruses. These body openings result in the most common transmission routes. During anal intercourse, several body fluids and sensitive areas come together. Because of this, it is the most common cause of infection.
The virus is also transmitted during vaginal intercourse. However, the risk for the introducing partner is up to a third smaller compared to anal intercourse. All types of traffic are followed by transmission via needles. In both non-sterile blood transfusions and injecting drugs, the process carries the highest risk of transmission.
There is a reduced risk of oral sex because the mucous membranes in the mouth are more resistant than others. The risk increases again on second contact with bodily fluids, such as semen on the tongue. Concrete risks cannot be calculated, since the concentration of the virus in the blood and the execution have a significant influence on the danger. Regular check-ups and condoms for any type of sexual intercourse offer effective protection.
Laypersons regularly confuse HIV with the independent disease AIDS. The abbreviation stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Doctors confirm AIDS in patients who carry the HI virus and have one of the diseases that indicate AIDS. These include various tumors and numerous infections. The medicine classifies the symptoms into different degrees of severity. In particular, inflammation of various parts of the body and diseases caused by herpes viruses are among them.
Leukocytes and the course of HIV disease
The disease begins with the acute phase. Six weeks after contracting the virus, the patient shows symptoms such as fever, chills and fatigue. Doctors mostly detect infection in the later stages, when the white blood cell count decreases.
Symptoms vary between patients. During the subsequent latency phase, the patient mainly suffers from psychological pressure. Physical ailments rarely occur. The disease phase, AIDS, appears after several years. In this phase, the patient suffers from the consequences of the immune deficiency.
To date, there are no proven cases where medical professionals have effectively removed the virus. Rather, modern medicine aims to alleviate the consequences. To do this, they strengthen the immune system of the patients and try to prevent an outbreak of the disease AIDS. Thanks to comprehensive awareness campaigns, the number of new infections is stagnating in the majority of countries. However, further educational work is required.
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