Aids: Is There A Cure

AIDS is a major disease that has threatened the world's population but many scientists believe that a cure is in sight. These scientists say they have developed a vaccine that will cure a dying AIDS patient. They also believe that have created a vaccine that will prevent a person from contracting the virus.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Acquired stands for that the disease is not hereditary but develops after birth from contact with a disease causing agent in this case, HIV. Immunodeficiency means that the disease is characterized by a weakening of the immune system. Syndrome means a group of symptoms that collectively indicate or characterize a disease. In AIDS this can include the development of certain infections and cancers, as well as a decrease in the number of certain cells in a person's immune system (What is AIDS).

HIV is transmitted in many different ways. It can be spread by sexual contact with an infected person, or by sharing needles. It is less common now because blood is now screened for the virus through blood transfusion. Babies that are born to HIV infected women may become infected before or during birth or through breast-feeding. Doctors and nurses have also been infected at the work place. They can be infected by being stuck with a needle containing HIV-infected blood. Sometimes workers can get infected through open wounds. There is only one case in the U.S. in which a patient has been infected by the worker (HIV and Its Transmission).

This involved one infected dentist infecting six of his patients. Some people fear that HIV might be transmitted in other ways, but there is no proof to support it. If HIV was being transmitted through other common ways such as through the air, water, or insects the cases of HIV and AIDS cases would be much higher than they already are (HIV and Its Transmission).

Many people are ashamed to admit to family and, loved ones that they are infected or may be infected. For example, Monica was fifteen years old when she became infected. She wrote about how she became infected "My best friend who is a male has AIDS and we were really close so one night we experimented and after the fact that we did it he told me he had AIDS. I was so angry at him and scared. I told my mom and she took me to get tested right away. Unfortunely, I was HIV positive. I went in my room and cried for days. The only other thing I was worried about was my family and father, that they would be so ashamed of me" (Personal Story of Women Living with HIV). Monica did the right thing; she told her mother what had happened. She quickly began to take medications in order to stay healthy for as long as possible. In many cases the infected patient won't tell his or her family and friends. This women did not state her name, but she is twenty-three. She states "Last year was supposed to be one of the best years of my life. I was having a baby girl, my husband's step mother was having a baby, and so was my sister. After two weeks of having my baby, I was looking for something in my sister's room and found her hospital discharged papers. Not in big letter, but as clear as day on the top it had discharge diagnosed HIV+ with a circle around it. I knew there was something going on with her, because my mother was giving me small hints. I asked her why she didn't breast feed and she said she can't. When I found out I almost fainted. I quickly rushed home in complete tears and told my husband. I had mixed feelings about her HIV status. First, I was angry with her because I told her time and time to slow down, because she was having plenty of partners and having lots of unprotected sex. God only knows who she contracted it from, but she still has not given up her old patterns. Her child has tested negative, but she is in a state of denial. She knows I know her status, but hasn't said a word to me about it" (Personal Story of Women Living with HIV). This woman is right about the fact her sister is in denial. She is not helping the problem because she hasn't changed her old ways. She runs the risk of infecting many more people.

There are other many different symptoms that can occur in those who are infected. First signs of the illness are most people develop flu like illness. A thick whitish color on your tongue could be caused by a yeast infection and sometimes can come with a sore throat. Vaginal yeast infections can occur over and over again. Rashes appear unexplained on the skin. Numbness occurs in the arms and legs. Reflexes are slowed an muscle strength is diminished. An HIV+ person can also suffer from mood swings and mental deterioration. Hardening or swelling often occurs in the glands, throat, armpits and groin. Deep dry coughing is accompanied by shortness of breath. An HIV+ person may a get large purplish growth on their skin, and unexplained bleeding from the growths. Unexplained fatigue occurs with headaches and dizziness. An infected person will lose weight, and bruise more easily. Long lasting periods of diarrhea can occur. Fevers of night sweats will occur often. In the early progression of the disease boils or warts may spread all over the body. The mouth may become infected by thrush or other problems. Shingles may develop or herpes. Chest infections are the most common infection. With HIV the most common chest infection is tuberculosis (What is AIDS).

AIDS is a deadly disease that affects people of different ages and sexes. The larger a city is the more infected people. The state of Maryland is a little state and only has 25,358 people infected and New York there are 155,755 people infected. I think that is because the larger the state the more people doing drugs and have multiple partners. Also, just that there just so many more people in New York than there is in Maryland. I think is more common in the city for the drug use than it is in the rural suburbs (United States).

There are many different ways to come in contact with AIDS. The most cases occur among gay men. In December 2002, 384,492 gay males where infected with AIDS. This may be because there are gay men that won't admit that they are gay. They are in denial, so they will sleep with men and women, doubling their chances of becoming infected and infecting others. Another common cause of infection is injection drugs. In December 2002, 209,800 people were infected with AIDS by sharing needles with other infected people. 12,431 heterosexual people also had been infected with AIDS in December 2002. This can be traced to people having unprotected sex with many different partners (HIV and AIDS cases by race/ethnicity, gender and exposure category through December 2002).

There have been inclines in the number of AIDS case by year. From 1998 the total infected number of people