Hiv and Aids are diseases spread by sexual contact. They came to the forefront of the national scene with many important actors, sports figures, playwrights, and members of the arts society being infected. Formerrly they were death sentences but now sufficient treatments exist, consisting of extremely active antiretroviral therapy, or Haart. Although available, this medicine costs about 20k per year.
Several trends indicate that this disease is expanding in imaginable numbers and within the next 20 years, will reach truly epidemic proportions, said Dr. Marcus A. Conant, clinical adjunct professor at the University of California at San Francisco, speaking at the 2009 American Academy of Dermatology in San Francisco March 7th. "Currently, 58,000 individuals come to be infected with Hiv each year, the same estimate as the total estimate of American soldiers who died in all the years of the Vietnam conflict."
Hiv Antiretroviral Drugs
"But the numbers are expanding and are bound to growth more. For example 20% of black males in New York in the middle of the Ages of 40 and 49 are infected. And only a small estimate know they are infected."
Why is this estimate increasing? First and foremost, sexual behavior patterns. In years gone by, individuals were monogamous. Now, many individuals have more sexual partners, and often have more than one within a short period of time.
Second, circumcision prevents the spread of aids. Less individuals are circumcised.
Third, drug usage affects sexual behavior. Years gone by, cocaine and heroin were the drugs of choice in the sexually active communities. Now, methamphetamine is much more in vogue. It's a stimulant, and under its influence, young adults have several sexual encounters. "Couple that with Viagra, and Viagra is most generally used in young adult males, and you have a requisite situation," says Conant.
Fourth, immigration from affected nations is expanding to the United States and habitancy are not screened.
Which states and cities will be involved? The Southern United States -California, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Missouri (the meth capital of the United States) and large cities like Chicago and New York.
What can be done to avoid this disaster? social education, use of condoms, and adopting a distinct attitude. "Permissiveness is causing this to spread." "Preachers can take a more active role".
"In Africa, spread of this disease has largely been by the trans- Africa highway. Infected truck drivers transmitted the disease to bar workers and the disease was then spread to others in the community. " "We should learn from this experience. Soon the disease will spread throughout the southern United States for similar reasons," says Conant
Hiv and Aids - The coming Epidemic in the United StatesRelated : hiv antiretroviral drugs
