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HIV/AIDS
Published in Patricia G. Melloy, Viruses and Society, 2023
There is no cure for HIV, but current treatments have in effect turned an HIV-positive status into a “manageable chronic condition,” one that never progresses to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if antiretroviral therapy (ART) is taken, albeit for life (WHO 2021b). In this chapter, we will look at the characteristics of the HIV retrovirus, how it is transmitted, how it can damage the immune system to cause AIDS, and how it can be treated. Of the 37 million people in the world living with HIV, 73% are keeping HIV at bay with ART (WHO 2021b). We will explore how HIV was discovered as the cause of AIDS and the scientific progress made on treating and finding a cure for HIV infection. Like no other virus, HIV has been referenced in the products of popular culture in the late 20th and early 21st centuries such as books, television, and movies. We will explore the public perception of HIV and AIDS, and how that changed over time when an HIV-positive status no longer became a death sentence.
Immune System Dysfunction/Immunodeficiency
Published in Charles Theisler, Adjuvant Medical Care, 2023
Immunodeficiency disorders inhibit or prevent the body from effectively fighting infections. There are primary (inborn errors) and secondary (acquired) types. Malnutrition, diabetes, severe burns, and chemotherapy or radiation are examples of acquired types of immune deficiencies. As a result of this disorder, patients are susceptible to frequent bacterial and viral infections and have more difficulties with recovery.
Naturally Occurring Alkaloids with Anti-HIV Activity
Published in Namrita Lall, Medicinal Plants for Cosmetics, Health and Diseases, 2022
Immunodeficiency results in increased susceptibility to a wide range of infections, cancers and other diseases. The symptoms of HIV vary depending on the stage of infection. In the first few weeks after the initial infection, people may experience no symptoms or an influenza-like illness including fever, headache, rash or sore throat. However, they tend to be most infectious during this time. In severe cases, the people have symptoms including swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, fever, diarrhea and cough. In case of improper diagnosis and treatment, they could develop severe illnesses such as tuberculosis (TB), cryptococcal meningitis, severe bacterial infections and cancers such as lymphomas and Kaposi’s sarcoma. However, the most advanced stage of HIV infection is AIDS, which can take many years to develop if not treated, depending on the individual. AIDS is defined by the development of certain cancers, infections or other severe long-term clinical manifestations (WHO, 2020).
Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor-induced Immune Recovery Uveitis Associated with Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in the Setting of Good Syndrome
Published in Ocular Immunology and Inflammation, 2022
Cheng-Chun Tai, Yu-Jang Chao, De-Kuang Hwang
Good syndrome is a rare immunodeficiency disorder characterized by the manifestation of both thymoma and hypogammaglobinemia.3 Patients usually have low or absent B lymphocytes and a defect in T lymphocyte maturity.4 Patients with Good syndrome are susceptible to infections of encapsulated bacteria, viruses and fungi, and CMV accounts for 24% of the viral infections in such patients.4 The treatment of Good syndrome includes excision of the thymoma to prevent further metastasis and this is related to the prognosis.5 However, resection of the thymoma itself cannot restore immune status in patients with Good syndrome, and intravenous immunoglobulin may be beneficial in these patients to restore immunity.4 Treatment associated with restoring immunity should be used cautiously in patients with immunodeficiency. Although IRU is common in patients with HIV infection after taking antiretroviral agents,6 IRU has also been reported in patients with immunodeficiency but without HIV infection.7
Chapter 2: Transmission and pathogenesis of tuberculosis
Published in Canadian Journal of Respiratory, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, 2022
Richard Long, Maziar Divangahi, Kevin Schwartzman
With rare exceptions, transmission requires that a TB patient be able to generate an infectious aerosol. Therefore, transmission is predominantly from adolescent or adult patients with adult-type pulmonary TB — defined as upper lung-zone disease, with or without cavitation, but with no discernable adenopathy, on chest radiograph. Younger children can, on occasion, be infectious,4 but as a general rule they have few bacilli in their lung lesions, often do not produce sputum and therefore are rarely in a position to transmit.5 The ability of pulmonary TB patients to transmit can vary, depending upon a number of factors, listed in the following section. These factors affect contagiousness regardless of the patient’s human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serostatus, although HIV-coinfected TB patients are less infectious than HIV-uninfected TB patients when they have severe immunosuppression.6
Sepsis in urology – where are we now? And where are we going?
Published in Scandinavian Journal of Urology, 2020
William Duggan, Diarmaid Moran, Ben Challacombe
Endogenous risk factors, are a consequence of co-morbidity, organic dysfunction or anatomical abnormality. Age and immunodeficiency are well established risk factors for the development of infection. Diabetes mellitus is of particular importance when we consider urological patients, as diabetics are more likely to have asymptomatic bacteriuria and urinary tract infection [8]. Bacterial colonisation and the factors that affect the location and spectrum of organism are also critically important. Recent hospitalisation, antibiotic use, prolonged catheterisation and the presence of urinary tract calculi have all been associated with increased rates of HAUTI [9]. Similarly the presence of anatomical abnormalities lending to altered microbial flora or urinary stasis can increase prevailing level of risk.