Human Rights And HIV AIDS

Human Rights and HIV AIDS

HIV is a virus that persists in being spread across the globe. As it does, the connection between human rights and HIV AIDS becomes increasingly apparent and diverse. The history of this connection dates back to the 1980s when people with HIV or AIDS were subject to discrimination in terms of international travel restrictions, employment and housing barriers, medical care and insurance, or access to educational opportunities. This time period is essential when considering the connection between human rights and HIV AIDS because, by the end of the decade, a movement to enforce compassion and camaraderie with HIV-infected people began.

This concept has a lengthy history, but plenty of movements have taken place in just the last 60 years. The cornerstone of modern concept is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a document that instructs governments about what they are responsible to perform in order to uphold the rights of people everywhere. It was drafted in 1948 by the UN General Assembly. Other documents exist as well which state legally-binding obligations that governments must meet if they sign onto them. In the context of human rights and HIV AIDS, access to the highest standard of physical and mental health for citizens is outlined in almost all human rights documents.

Governments around the world are responsible for respecting, protecting, and fulfilling the rights of their citizens. This means that countries and states cannot violate rights directly, must prevent the violation of rights from a third party, and must take appropriate measures to ensure that all rights are fulfilled. Based on the fact that governments are obligated to protect public health, they can be understood to be responsible for creating and implementing programs to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS within the borders of the country or state. Human rights and HIV AIDS can be best addressed by governments if they consider three situations that affect a great number of the population-infected, affected, and vulnerable.

Everyone who is infected with HIV or AIDS, their friends and family, communities, nations, and international policy makers all understand that human rights and HIV AIDS are inseparably connected. Unfortunately, even though this is the case, the importance of bringing policies and programs into being is rarely given priority or even made a reality at all. To control the HIV AIDS epidemic, the obligation for human rights must be recognized and made a priority by governments on a local and international level.

Signs and Symptoms of Late Stages of HIV

HIV and Its Progression
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the term used to describe a retrovirus that infects cells of the immune system, destroying or impairing their function. HIV is known to be a progressive disease that debilitates the immune system and eventually results in the diagnosis of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). As HIV progresses to AIDS, it could cause the occurrence of at least 20 known related illnesses that result from the compromised health of the immune system.

Initial Stage Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS)
This is the period of rapid HIV replication in the body that occurs two to four weeks after contracting HIV. As HIV levels in the blood increase, it results in acute HIV infection which is characterized by a drop in CD4 cell counts. CD4, alternately called T-4 cells send signals to activate the disease combating immune response that wards off sickness. In a HIV infected person the CD4 count falls to under 200 making the sufferer vulnerable to a host of infections and cancers. Many individuals experience flu-like symptoms during this period of infection. These symptoms can include fever, inflamed lymph nodes, chills, sore throat, rash and muscular aches. These symptoms may last from a few days to 4 weeks and then go away. Those that experience these symptoms often liken their suffering to 'the worst possible flu' which is what medical experts call Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS). It is also called Primary HIV Infection.

Chronic HIV Infection
During this phase, unlike in the initial ARS stage, HIV reproduces at very low levels, although it is still active. The estimated sufferers of HIV who are unaware of being carriers of the deadly HIV virus are likely to be so in part due to the characteristics at this stage of the disease. A HIV-positive individual can have an undetectable viral load and a healthy CD4 cell count without the use of medication through earlier years of this phase.

Though this phase may last upto even 8 years, one may not have symptoms or opportunistic infections. Towards the middle and end of this stage, the onset of constitutional symptoms of the HIV virus affecting the entire body such as fatigue, weight loss, fevers, night sweats and muscular aches can be seen. Recurring outbreaks of cold sores, mouth sores, genital herpes and diarrhea can also be suspected symptoms of HIV.

In women, abnormal pap tests, persistent yeast infections and cervical cancer can also be symptoms of presence of HIV virus in the body.

Late Stage of Hiv
An HIV-infected person may not develop the late stage commonly referred to as AIDS until 8 to 10 years after being infected. Normal CD4 counts in a healthy individual range between 500 and 1,600 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. As HIV progresses to AIDS, CD4 count falls to under 200 cells. As AIDS occurs, a collection of opportunistic infections that are usually severe, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis or cancers are seen.

HIV virus has no known cure. But with early treatment and strict adherence to medication regimen, many individuals continue to live active lives for several healthy years.

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