What is HIV?

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, consists of two types: HIV 1 and HIV 2, which can be subdivided into different subtypes depending on the location of the outbreak. In all probability, HIV originates from a similar virus type. This affects chimpanzees and is called SIV, Simian Immunodeficiency Virus.

The transmission and transformation of the virus probably took place around 1900 in West Africa and spread from here to the world. At present there are about 37 million sick people worldwide and about 1 million deaths annually. The transmission of the HI-virus can occur either through blood, through sexual intercourse or from the mother to the unborn child.

The probability of being infected depends on the amount of the virus transmitted. After transmission, the first symptoms of the cold appear. The full manifestation of the viral infection, the so-called clinical picture of AIDS, only appears after a few months to years.

Permanent infection symptoms occur, the probability of developing a tumor is drastically increased and structures of the nervous system are also attacked. Fortunately, the viral load can be well contained and the manifestation of the disease reduced if patients present themselves to a physician immediately after contact with HIV infected body materials. The difficulty in the treatment of HIV or the reason why there is no effective vaccination against HIV is that the virus is extremely mutable and within a reproduction cycle is altered in such a way that it is no longer recognized by the human immune system.

What is the Rotavirus?

Rotaviruses are the cause of diarrheal diseases. It is estimated that up to 150 million people are infected with rotaviruses every year. Many of the infections are barely noticeable, as one comes into contact with rotaviruses again and again in the course of one’s life and can thus maintain an almost permanent immune protection.

The disease is usually only dangerous for small children, older patients and in countries where there is not enough clean water. The viruses attack the small intestine, where they cause a cell death and reduce the absorption capacity of water, which is why patients should drink all the more water to counteract this lack of fluid. Diarrhea is usually not bloody and is often associated with vomiting.Fever develops well as never before, only elevated temperatures up to about 38 degrees Celsius. A vaccination is not available, the affected persons are given more fluids and their salt balance is controlled.