Essay on HIV and Hepatitis: Effects, Care, and Management

Running head: ESSAY ON HIV AND HEPATITIS
ESSAY ON HIV AND HEPATITIS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

1ESSAY ON HIV AND HEPATITIS
World Health Organization (WHO) have stated that health and wellness are
intertwined aspects for the measurement of the development and global progress of
a country (Apps.who.int, 2018). Recent statistical figures presented in the Global
Health Report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) states that the
prevalence of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis is rising over the years around the world as
well as within the United Kingdom (Apps.who.int, 2018). According to the report
published by UNAIDS, in 2017, there are almost 36.9 million people living with HIV
globally. Among the 36.9 million people who are living with HIV, 35.1 million
individuals are adults and others are children aged less than 15-year-old
(Unaids.org, 2019). In the year 2017, the death toll from AIDS-related illness was
quite high. Almost 940,000 individuals died from this disease in the year
2017(Unaids.org, 2019). In the United Kingdom, the evidence presented in research
articles stated that approximately 101,200 people are HIV positive which comprises
69% men and 31% women (Delpech, 2013). On the other hand, around 2.3 billion
people have been infected with one or more than one hepatitis viruses and amongst
them, 2 billion people are infected with hepatitis B (Jefferies et al., 2018
). Almost 1.4 million people died from hepatitis-related complication and Hepatitis B
virus and hepatitis C virus are responsible for 90 percent of those causalities
(Jefferies et al., 2018). As per academic investigation, almost 180,000 people in the
UK are living with the condition of Hepatitis B (Kirk et al., 2013). Additionally, studies
have also shown that almost 20% of the affected people are unaware about the
disease condition and experience poor access to care facilities pertaining to lack of
awareness (Kirk et al., 2013). Henceforth, this essay would discuss the two harmful
disease conditions, Hepatitis and HIV, within the United Kingdom. Moreover, this
essay would further delve deeper into the prognosis, diagnosis and the intervention

2ESSAY ON HIV AND HEPATITIS
available for the cure of the disease conditions. Furthermore, this essay would
emphasize the political and social influences that hinder access to appropriate care
facilities.
LO1; Comprehensive study of the effects that HIV and hepatitis have on the
immune system and progression of these disease within individuals:
Evidence from recent studies helped with the advancement with respect to the
understanding of immune- pathogenesis of HIV and AIDS (Freed, 2015). As
Evidenced by recent studies, HIV progresses in the human body in three different
stages (Hillmann, Crane & Ruskin, 2017). These three stages are namely Acute HIV
Infection, Chronic HIV Infection, and AIDS. Acute HIV infection is the earliest stage
of HIV infection. The inception of this stage is generally developed inside the first 2
to 4 weeks after the infection (Zakhour et al., 2016). As opined by Hillmann, Crane &
Ruskin (2017), HIV virus attacks and destroys the CD 4 cells of the immune system
which fights the HIV infection. At this stage, infected people have symptoms like
headache, flu, and fever. The next stage of the HIV infection is a chronic HIV
infection. At this stage, HIV viruses multiply within the body albeit in low levels. This
stage infection may lead to AIDS in the next 10 years or more. Additionally, at this
stage, the patient does not have HIV related symptoms but still can spread the
disease to uninfected peoples. The final and most severe stage of this infection is
AIDS (Ndhlovu et al., 2015). In this stage, the body's immune system is so seriously
affected that the body cannot fight any further infection. At this stage, an individual
generally has a CD 4 cell count of fewer than 200 cells per cubic millimeter.
Commonly, people infected with AIDS survive less than 3 years without treatment
(Zakhour et al., 2016).

3ESSAY ON HIV AND HEPATITIS
As evidenced in recent research studies, the human immune system
produces an adaptive response system after hepatitis infection (Park & Rehermann,
2014). It has been stated that the most common form of an immune response after
Hepatitis infection is chronic and acute inflammatory liver diseases. The immune
response of the host in case of hepatitis infection is essential to overcome the
infection (Park & Rehermann, 2014).
In the case of Hepatitis infection, research findings reported that the virus
infects the liver cells known as hepatocytes (Thomsen et al., 2016). Research
findings also suggest that the body’s immune response to this infection is to destroy
the virus by increasing the amount of enzyme liver produces (Burman et al., 2015).
As a direct consequence, the increased amount of enzyme causes inflammation in
the liver which is commonly known as hepatitis. The progression of hepatitis can be
in two forms namely acute hepatitis and chronic hepatitis (Murunga, Andersson &
Rensburg, 2016). The initial short term infection is known as acute hepatitis and
chronic hepatitis infection can be defined as when the virus continues to reproduce
in the infected individual’s liver for several months or year (Tovo et al., 2016).
HIV affected people have other health problems to deal with on top of HIV. It
has been reported that other conditions and illness affect the mental and physical
condition of the HIV affected people which means more medication, more lab test,
and more doctor's visit (Airhihenbuwa, Ford & Iwelunmor, 2014). These, in turn,
affect the person's financial ability and the family as well. Some of these disease like
STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) are related to sex and drug abuse.
Researchers have also pointed out that people living with HIV tend to have higher
comorbid factors in comparison with HIV negative people. HIV positive people have
a higher chance of kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis

4ESSAY ON HIV AND HEPATITIS
compared to HIV negative peoples (Schouten et al., 2014). Additionally, people with
HIV have a higher risk of infectious disease like tuberculosis, hepatitis, pneumonia
due to the damage done to the immune system by the HIV virus. In their study, Louie
et al. (2012) have shown that each hepatitis C infected person had at least one
comorbidity. They have reported that most common comorbidities are upper
respiratory infections, other liver diseases, abdominal pain, and connective tissue
disease. They have also stated that people with insurance have higher screening
and follow up in comparison with the uninsured people. Hepatitis also increases the
risk of other conditions.
Researches have strongly suggested that socio-economic factors play a
significant role in the prevalence of hepatitis infection. These socio-economic factors
are sex, age, education level, and social welfare level (Daw et al., 2014). On the
other hand, blood borne disease like HIV infection can affect a family life through
sexual relationship especially among partners. Studies have shown that infected
people refuse to take medicine because of the fear of discrimination and
stigmatization (Karamouzian et al., 2015). This leads to the death of the people
which put a grave emotional burden on the entire family of the infected individuals.
Loss of livelihood and income, discriminating care within the health care sector,
removal of caregiving in the household, loss of childbearing options and marriage
are few of the consequences which are faced by the HIV infected individuals and his/
her family on daily basis. Studies have also presented the fact that women with HIV
infection face more discriminatory incidents compared to men. Losing job or unfair
selection in case of job promotion is another aspect where individuals with HIV
infection face discriminatory behavior (Katz et al., 2013).

5ESSAY ON HIV AND HEPATITIS
It has also been reported in the studies that the people with HIV infection are
far more likely to face depression due to social stigma, discrimination, and health
issues in comparison with the HIV negative individuals (Poku et al., 2017). The huge
number of HIV and hepatitis infection can also put a significant burden on any
government's financial and health care sector. Apart from human cost due to this
reason, it can also affect a government and community's economic development.
HIV and hepatitis pandemic can also impact a community or government's labor
supply which in turn will affect the skilled labuor in the labour market (Poku et al.,
2017).
LO2; Critical analysis and evaluation of the care and management of
individuals affected by HIV and hepatitis and its pharmacological treatments:
At present, the treatment plan comprises of administering tablets to fight
against the HBV virus. Studies investigating in this area have suggested that the
direct acting antiviral (DAA) tablets are most commonly used for the treatment
intervention for the cure of Hepatitis in the patients (Yamamoto et al., 2018). Further,
other medications used for the treatment of Hepatitis include administering a
combination of glecaprevir and pibrentasvir or a combination of ledipasvir and
sofosbuvir. In addition to this, regular liver screening is conducted to investigate
scarring (liver damage) (Jones et al., 2014). Other than the treatment intervention
available for the patients affected with HBV, vaccination against Hepatitis B and
Hepatitis C are available to immunize people against the infection causing antigen
(Nayagam et al., 2016). Also, safety testing, universal vaccination program and
support services offered by the Hepatitis Positive Trust are available within the UK to
help patients and their families fight Hepatitis.