Hiv Research
James Carper
“HIV and Quarantine”
Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is a virus that kills the body’s ability to fight infection and leads to the incurable disease Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS. AIDS was first reported in the United States in 1980. It was baffling to all medical personnel involved because as patients became more sick and unable to fight infection no known disease was to blame. Finally, through extensive research with a microscope the HIV virus was identified and blamed. The word virus comes from the Latin root meaning poison. When HIV enters your system it does indeed act as poison killing antibodies and decimating the body’s immune system. The Center for Disease Control estimates that one American is infected with HIV every thirteen minutes and one American consequently dies of AIDS every seventeen minutes. (Storad page 12). HIV is mostly contracted through having unprotected sex or sharing IV needles. Because the HIV virus reproduces so quickly and is capable of mutating it has resulting in several strains of HIV thus making prevention an even more important concept.
To be diagnosed with HIV a blood test is required. They have optional at home testing kits but the most accurate would be to visit your doctor or health office. When performing an HIV test they screen your blood for antibodies. After begin infected with the H IV virus it could take up to 3-6 weeks for your body to develop a detectable level of antibodies. (Cefrey 37). This may require you to be tested more than once if the first test returns negative. Counseling is highly recommended to those patients undergoing HIV testing. This is due to the high stress level of the test and to also help the patient better understand the results, prevention methods, and general information about HIV and AIDS (44). Early detection is paramount in delaying the onset of AIDS. After a test returns positive, a patient typically goes through three stages. The first
“HIV and Quarantine”
Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is a virus that kills the body’s ability to fight infection and leads to the incurable disease Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS. AIDS was first reported in the United States in 1980. It was baffling to all medical personnel involved because as patients became more sick and unable to fight infection no known disease was to blame. Finally, through extensive research with a microscope the HIV virus was identified and blamed. The word virus comes from the Latin root meaning poison. When HIV enters your system it does indeed act as poison killing antibodies and decimating the body’s immune system. The Center for Disease Control estimates that one American is infected with HIV every thirteen minutes and one American consequently dies of AIDS every seventeen minutes. (Storad page 12). HIV is mostly contracted through having unprotected sex or sharing IV needles. Because the HIV virus reproduces so quickly and is capable of mutating it has resulting in several strains of HIV thus making prevention an even more important concept.
To be diagnosed with HIV a blood test is required. They have optional at home testing kits but the most accurate would be to visit your doctor or health office. When performing an HIV test they screen your blood for antibodies. After begin infected with the H IV virus it could take up to 3-6 weeks for your body to develop a detectable level of antibodies. (Cefrey 37). This may require you to be tested more than once if the first test returns negative. Counseling is highly recommended to those patients undergoing HIV testing. This is due to the high stress level of the test and to also help the patient better understand the results, prevention methods, and general information about HIV and AIDS (44). Early detection is paramount in delaying the onset of AIDS. After a test returns positive, a patient typically goes through three stages. The first
References: Bostick, Nathan and Mark Levine, Robert Sade. “Ethical Obligations of Physicians Participating in Public Health Quarantine and Isolation Measures. “ Public Health Reports. January-February 2008. Vol. 123. Bull, C. “The Testing and Quarantine Mania Sweep the US.” Gay and Community News. 1987. Page 14. Cefrey, Holly. “Epidemics Deadly Diseases Throughout History: AIDS” The Rosen Publishing Group Inc. 2001. New York, NY. Corrado, M. (1996). “Punishment, Quarantine, and Preventive Detention.” Criminal Justice Ethics. Pages 3-13. Frerichs, R. R. “Waves of Laws Aimed at People with HIV” UCLA Department of Epidemiology School of Public Health. October 5, 1998. Storad, Conrad. “Inside AIDS, HIV Attacks the Immune System.” Lerner Publications Company. Minneapolis, 1998. Williams, Steven. “Should People with HIV and Contagious Diseases Be Quarantined?” Retrieved from www.sodahead.com. June 1, 2010.