What Is Human T-Cell Lymphotropic?

Human T-cell lymphotropic is a white blood cell disease that can be transmitted through sexual contact or unsanitary drug needles. It affects a very small percentage of the population, and the majority of those who have it are not at risk for becoming dangerously ill.

Identification

• Human T-cell lymphotropic is a virus that attacks the white blood cells, causing damage to the immune system. It is a rare condition that primarily strikes intravenous drug users who share needles, people who have a high amount of sexual partners, and people who have a history with the disease syphilis. It can also be given to a child from their mother through breast milk.

Effects

• In many cases of human T-cell lymphotropic, the person carrying the disease may not show any symptoms at all. People known as asymptomatic carriers can seem perfectly healthy while carrying human T-cell lymphotropic in their bloodstream. The only way the condition can be detected in asymptomatic carriers is through regular blood tests.
  In other cases there may be symptoms involving the legs. Muscle cramps in the legs, unexplained stiffness, or achy leg muscles could all be symptoms of the condition.
  There is no cure for human T-cell lymphotropic, and once a person is diagnosed with the condition they carry it for the remainder of their life.

Significance

• Human T-cell lymphotropic develops into a serious medical condition in less than 5 percent of the people who have it.
  In rare cases, adult T-cell leukemia could develop, which is a cancer of the blood. In other cases the spinal cord could become irritated, which could lead to a loss of bladder control, and an unexplained loss of feeling and strength in the legs.

Function

• In order to contract human T-cell lymphotropic there must be an exchange of bodily fluids. The disease is carried by blood, semen and breast milk. Common daily contact such as hugging and kissing will not pass the condition from one person to another. Sneezing and coughing are also not enough to pass on a human T-cell lymphotropic infection.

Considerations

• Human T-cell lymphotropic is also referred to as HTLV, which stands for human T-cell lymphotropic virus. There are varying degrees of HTLV, but the more common is called HTLV-I.
  According to the British Health Protection Agency, HTLV-I has been with mankind for possibly thousands of years. HTLV-I is known to be the more active of the HTLV conditions as it can potentially cause an infection of the eye, arthritis in the joints, and a skin rash known as dermatitis. However, these instances are extremely rare and most people carrying HTLV-I have no idea they have it.