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  • Essay / hiv - 1645

    In 1981, what is now commonly called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome began, which is one of the largest epidemics in history (1). Currently, more than 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV/AIDS (1). Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is a complex immune virus capable of destroying the immune system, leaving the body defenseless. Due to a compromised immune system, there are a plethora of comorbidities that accompany the HIV virus. HIV-1 and HIV-2 have been reported to be the most virulent. With no cure, there are currently only medications that help slow the progression of the virus, and with very few signs and symptoms, it is easily transmitted. Although there are no direct physiotherapy interventions for people living with HIV, certain physiotherapy protocols can help curb the progressive destruction of the virus while keeping comorbidities at bay. As previously stated, HIV-1 and HIV-2 are viruses that destroy the immune system. HIV (a lentivirus transmitted by single-stranded RNA) like other viruses enters the body's cells and, through a series of complicated metabolic processes, the virus becomes incorporated into the cells' DNA via reverse transcriptase (2 p177). Once the cell begins to divide, the DNA becomes part of the CD4+ T cells (lymphocytes) (2 p.367). As a result, there is an idiopathic decline in CD4+ T cell values ​​(3). CD4+ T cells play a crucial role in the immune system by producing antibodies and controlling the activity of CD8+ T cells (suppressors/killers) (4). CD4+ T lymphocytes also play a role in the secretion of interleukins or cytokines, responsible for the activation of natural killer cells and macrophages (4). As HIV progresses, levels of CD4+ T cells decrease, leaving the body unable to fight infections, viruses or bacteria. "CD28