Week 5 of Classes

The weeks go by so fast and I still feel overwhelmed by the amount of work I have to do in each of my classes. Now that I have a routine I am able to get everything accomplished in time and I have been receiving good grades too. This class makes me think! Which I know I should be saying about all of my classes but I can’t. This class makes me think about things that I have never thought about before or have even wanted to think about and that is one of the things that is making me like this class more and more. For example the QOTW’s make me not only think about HIV but make me think about how I would react in any of those scenarios. Also module one surprised me greatly with the Florida static’s. I never knew that the city of Ft. Lauderdale had over 16,000 reported HIV cases in 2007 and that is where I live (Douglass, Slide 71). I have a few friends that are pretty irresponsible when it comes to their sex lives and now I am nervous for them. I’ve talked to them about this class and how I have to go get tested and a few of them said that they wanted to get tested too. I think that if more people were aware of the HIV statistics in the place they live they would be more likely to use protection and get tested.

Did You Know: Children with HIV

Treatment for children with HIV is more difficult then treating adults. Not all off the antiretroviral medications can be used on children and some of the ones that can do not work as well. There are currently 12 antiretroviral medications that are approved for children (AIDS.org, 2009). The correct doses of these medications are not known and some are based on the children’s weight or body surface area (AIDS.org, 2009). Because of this the doses are adjusted as the child grows to stay effective. The medications come in the form of liquid, powder, granular form, and pills (AIDS.org, 2009). Children that can take pills have more options in medications then children who can not (AIDS.org, 2009). Without the proper treatment “about 20% of children die or develop AIDS within one year” (AIDS.org, 2009).

The video below I found on YouTube and shows a mother who has two children, one who is HIV positive and one who is not. It is eye opening and sad. Take notice to the part where the mother is giving her daughter her medications. There are so many and she has to take them every day to stay healthy.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI7p7zlfEi8

References

Slides: Douglass, S. (2007) Statistics, HSC 3595, University of Central Florida.

Web: (2009). CHILDREN AND HIV. Retrieved February 10, 2010, from AIDS.ORG: http://www.aids.org/factSheets/612-Children-and-HIV.html

Web: Duncan, E. (2008, March 1). INVISIBLE: Children living with HIV/AIDS [Video file]. Video posted to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI7p7zlfEi8