HIV/AIDS

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a sexually transmitted disease that is spread through the exchange of bodily fluids. HIV affects the human immune system, decreasing the effectiveness of it. If left untreated, HIV affects the immune system by decreasing the quantity of CD4 white blood cells. If the number of CD4 cells in an HIV infected individual decreases below 200 cells per micro-liter of blood that person has advanced to the more serious condition of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). A healthy individual has a CD4 count between 500 - 1400 cells per micro-liter of blood. Once an individual with HIV has a CD4 count less than 500, opportunistic infections and co-morbidities are more likely to occur, further complicating the effects of the virus. In fact, the majority of deaths due to HIV/AIDS related causes are usually from opportunistic infections.

AIDS was first discovered in 1981, and there are currently more than 1,000,000 Americans living with HIV. In 2008 the CDC released new findings that were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), stating that approximately 56,000 new HIV infections occurred annually. The previous estimation of HIV incidence was 40,000/year. It is widely believed that HIV incidence has been at the elevated level of 56,000 new infections per year since 2000. As well, between 20% - 25% of the individuals who are HIV+ are unaware of their status. The minority population that are unaware they have been infected with HIV account for the majority of new infections annually. To learn more about HIV/AIDS incidence rates in the US please see the resources at the bottom of the page. If you would like to learn more about HIV/AIDS you can visit the CDC website, or the Kaiser Family Foundation website.

Retroviruses, like HIV, enter the cell as ribonucleic acid (RNA). RNA infection requires the host cell to utilize proteins to transcribe the RNA into DNA, which then continues viral production. This form of virus is one of the hardest to treat because of its means of reproduction. The complicated replication process allows for greater variability in the virus, making treatment all the more difficult. In 1996 highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) was developed. The new medications enabled effective treatment of HIV, allowing HIV infected individuals to maintain and live a full life. Unfortunately, the cost of the antiretroviral (ARV) treatments was immense. Various government programs were developed to attend to the HIV infected American individuals unable obtain medications on their one. The Ryan White C.A.R.E. Act is one such program that has undergone multiple reauthorizations since its introduction in 1990. The C.A.R.E. Act provides funding for medical treatment in urbane and rural areas, as well as for women & children, medical providers, and dental care among others. Part B of the C.A.R.E. Act encompasses the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). ADAP is a safety net program designed to supply ARV medications to low income, underinsured or uninsured individuals who are not covered through Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance.