Dr. Anthony Harrelson is the Founder and CEO of White Oak Industries, a company which is working to develop vaccines for viruses like HIV, Ebola and H5N1 (avian flu). HIV has drawn particular focus from specialists like Dr. Anthony Harrelson for years because of its devastating impact on the human body. Today’s HIV treatments can currently prevent most cases from progressing to AIDS, which is the third and final stage of HIV. These treatments can only prevent HIV’s progression if started early and followed strictly, however.
Though many are aware of the devastating effects that HIV/AIDS can have on the human body, few know details about the disease. HIV is short for human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS, its third stage, is short for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The three stages of HIV are outlined in greater detail below:
Stage One: Acute HIV Infection – Between two and four weeks after contracting HIV, the infected persons might experience a few weeks of flu-like symptoms. The flu-like symptoms are caused by the body’s natural response to infection. During this stage of HIV, the infected persons are highly contagious. Not all infected persons will exhibit symptoms. When people suspect HIV exposure, they require a nucleic acid test (NAT) or a fourth-generation antigen/antibody test. These tests can accurately diagnose acute HIV infection.
Stage Two: Asymptomatic HIV Infection (Clinical Latency) – Asymptomatic HIV infection is sometimes known as chronic HIV infection or HIV dormancy. This is the second stage of HIV. During this stage, the HIV reproduces at a slow rate despite still being active within the people. The infected persons might not exhibit symptoms or experience illness. This stage of HIV can last for up to a decade (sometimes longer) without treatment. Those who are currently undergoing treatment can remain in this stage for several decades. These individuals can still transmit HIV, but those who are undergoing treatment will have enough viral suppression that they have a lower risk of transmitting it.
Stage Three: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) – AIDS is the final progression of HIV infection. It begins when the person’s virus levels rise and the immune cell (CD4 cell) count lowers at the end of the clinical latency stage. This damages the immune system severely and the person will experience increasingly-frequent illnesses and infections; these are known as opportunistic illnesses. Untreated AIDS sufferers can survive for an average of three years. With treatment, AIDS sufferers can survive for longer. Those with AIDS are generally highly infectious.
The work of specialists like Dr. Anthony Harrelson to fight HIV/AIDS brings hope to those suffering from it and those who have known someone with the disease. Those working to fight the disease hope to be able to vaccinate people so that they are not at risk of catching HIV and they hope to be able to cure those suffering from it.
Though many are aware of the devastating effects that HIV/AIDS can have on the human body, few know details about the disease. HIV is short for human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS, its third stage, is short for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The three stages of HIV are outlined in greater detail below:
Stage One: Acute HIV Infection – Between two and four weeks after contracting HIV, the infected persons might experience a few weeks of flu-like symptoms. The flu-like symptoms are caused by the body’s natural response to infection. During this stage of HIV, the infected persons are highly contagious. Not all infected persons will exhibit symptoms. When people suspect HIV exposure, they require a nucleic acid test (NAT) or a fourth-generation antigen/antibody test. These tests can accurately diagnose acute HIV infection.
Stage Two: Asymptomatic HIV Infection (Clinical Latency) – Asymptomatic HIV infection is sometimes known as chronic HIV infection or HIV dormancy. This is the second stage of HIV. During this stage, the HIV reproduces at a slow rate despite still being active within the people. The infected persons might not exhibit symptoms or experience illness. This stage of HIV can last for up to a decade (sometimes longer) without treatment. Those who are currently undergoing treatment can remain in this stage for several decades. These individuals can still transmit HIV, but those who are undergoing treatment will have enough viral suppression that they have a lower risk of transmitting it.
Stage Three: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) – AIDS is the final progression of HIV infection. It begins when the person’s virus levels rise and the immune cell (CD4 cell) count lowers at the end of the clinical latency stage. This damages the immune system severely and the person will experience increasingly-frequent illnesses and infections; these are known as opportunistic illnesses. Untreated AIDS sufferers can survive for an average of three years. With treatment, AIDS sufferers can survive for longer. Those with AIDS are generally highly infectious.
The work of specialists like Dr. Anthony Harrelson to fight HIV/AIDS brings hope to those suffering from it and those who have known someone with the disease. Those working to fight the disease hope to be able to vaccinate people so that they are not at risk of catching HIV and they hope to be able to cure those suffering from it.