Discuss characteristic findings of immune dysfunction for either hypersensitivity reactions or AIDS. Immune Dysfunctions- AIDS Explain what symptomology the patient would exhibit and how these symptoms may complicate daily living and relationships

Immune Dysfunctions-AIDS

AIDS is a disease caused by HIV. This disease causes damage to the immune system, and untreated HIV affects and destroys the CD4 cells. The damage of the CD4 cells by HIV predisposes the patient to many opportunistic infections such as cancer and pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. Compared to healthy individuals, HIV/AIDS patients always have a weaker immune system. If HIV/AIDS is left untreated, it can be life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to subject the affected people to proper care (antiretroviral therapy) to prevent and minimize complications (Melhuish and Lewthwaite, 2018). Need help with your assignment ? Reach out to us. We offer excellent services.

The early course of HIV/AIDS is characterized by the following dysfunctions of the immune system. Immune hyperactivation and autoimmune, in which the body attacks its tissues. These immunological abnormalities are suggestive of dysregulation of the immune system rather than deficiency of the immune system. While the majority of HIV patient loses T helper cells, HIV-seropositive patients always possess a normal number of T helper cells. The early stage of the disease has no signs and symptoms, and symptoms usually appear three to four weeks after exposure. The major means of transmission are unprotected sex, blood transfusion, and open wound contact with an infected person. The clinical features of HIV/AIDS are fever, chills, skin rash, general aches, weight loss, hair loss, depressed mental status, and multiple organ failure (Younes et al., 2018).

The immune system protects the body against bacteria and viruses. However, in the case of AIDS, this immune system is compromised, thus increasing the risk of developing other diseases. The weakening of the lymphocytes, therefore, predisposes the patient to viral attacks. The HIV/AIDs associated symptoms always exacerbate the complications of the patient’s life by increasing the financial burden, stress levels, and exhaustion, thus rendering the patient dependent and unable to perform daily tasks. Other complications experienced by these patients are stigmatization, depression, and poor coping skills (Vu et al., 2020).

References

Melhuish, A., & Lewthwaite, P. (2018). Natural history of HIV and AIDS. Medicine, 46(6), 356-361. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1357303918300744

Vu, G. T., Tran, B. X., Hoang, C. L., Hall, B. J., Phan, H. T., Ha, G. H., … & Ho, R. (2020). Global research on the quality of life of patients with HIV/AIDS: is it socio-culturally addressed? (GAPRESEARCH). International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(6), 2127. https://www.mdpi.com/671692

Younes, S. A., Talla, A., Ribeiro, S. P., Saidakova, E. V., Korolevskaya, L. B., Shmagel, K. V., … & Lederman, M. M. (2018). Cycling CD4+ T cells in HIV-infected immune nonresponders have mitochondrial dysfunction. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 128(11), 5083-5094. https://www.jci.org/articles/view/120245