AIDS is the disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus type 1, or HIV-1 (referred to as HIV). HIV belongs to the retrovirus family, a group of viruses that have the ability to use cell 's ' machinery to replicate. HIV attacks the immune system by damaging or killing a specific type of white blood cell in the body called a T-lymphocyte, also called a CD4+ or T-helper cell. T-lymphocytes help the immune system perform its important task of fighting diseases in the body caused by invading germs. As a result of HIV infection, the immune system becomes weakened and the body has trouble battling certain infections caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Many of these infections are highly unusual in people with healthy immune systems. They are called opportunistic infections because they take advantage of a weakened immune system. People with HIV disease not only are more likely to contract these infections, they are more likely to have them repeatedly and to become much more sick from them.
The image above on the right shows how the cell looks when it is infected and the disease is taking over.
The virus attacks the immune system. As the immune system weakens, the body is vulnerable to life-threatening infections and cancers. Once a person has the virus, it stays inside the body for life. TransmissionCauses of the virus includes: sexual contact -- including oral, vaginal, and anal sex, blood, -- via blood transfusions (now extremely rare in the U.S.), or needle
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection is a long-term (chronic) viral infection. HIV kills white blood cells that help to control the body's defense system (immune system) and fight infection. HIV spreads through semen, pre-seminal fluid, blood, breast milk, rectal fluid, and vaginal fluid. HIV is commonly spread through sexual contact and sharing needles or syringes, because these behaviors involve exchanging bodily fluids. Without treatment, HIV can turn into AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), an advanced stage of HIV infection. AIDS is a very serious illness and can be life-threatening.
There have been 4,043 reported diagnosed cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection (HIV) per 100,000 populations. Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks a specific white blood cell called T- helper cells which are used to fight off infection. As the virus destroys the t- helper cells, it replicates, destroying the immune system of the individual. Individuals who have the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection will have to constantly take medication to suppress the spread of the disease. If left untreated it will become very difficult for the individual’s body to fight off the virus resulting in death.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is defined by the Mayo Clinic as "A chronic, potentially life-threatening condition which is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV damages the immune system, and interferes with the ability the body has to fight the disease causing organism" (Mayo Clinic, 2014). HIV is an infection transmitted sexually. Another mode of transmission for HIV is by exposure to infected blood, or it could also be transmitted from the mother to the unborn child during the course of pregnancy, at childbirth or through breastfeeding. It may take several years for the HIV virus to weaken the immune system
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus and can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if not treated (About HIV/AIDS, n.d). Unlike some other viruses, the human body cannot fully rid itself of HIV completely, even with treatment. Simply put, once you contract HIV, you have it for life. This disease attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help the immune system stave off infections. When left to its own devices, HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells (T cells) in the body, making the person more likely to
What is HIV? It is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS if not treated. The Kaiser Family Foundation (2008), states that HIV attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help the immune system fight off infections. If left untreated, it reduces the number of T-Cells in the body, making the person more likely to get other infections. Also noted is the fact that HIV destroys so many of these cells that it renders the body helpless in fighting off the infections, while it takes advantage of the weaker immune system. This occurrence is part of the
This virus attacks the body’s immune system causing them to become immunosuppressed. Over time the body is unable to fight off cancer, disease and infections. However, treatment is available to control HIV and those with HIV can live long lives. AIDS is the final stage of HIV and many with HIV will never advance to this stage. During this stage you become susceptible to opportunistic infections. When the CD4 drops below 200 cells per cubic mm of blood and you have an opportunistic infection, you are considered to have AIDS. Those with AIDS have a shorter lifespan and require medical treatment in order to
“HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help the immune system fight off infections” (AIDS.Gov, 2016).
HIV / AIDS The human immunodeficiency virus. The virus that causes AIDS, damages or destroys the cells of the immune system, making it more susceptible to opportunistic infections that the body normally eliminates.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), is an infection that is sexually transmitted. It can be spread by contact with any blood that carries the infection or from mother to child through birth. Also, If a mother is infected with HIV after the birth of her child, the infection can still be passed on through breast feeding. HIV attacks your immune system, mainly focusing on the T-cells. T-cells (T lymphocytes) are a type of white blood cell that are very essential for human immunity. There are many different kinds of T-cells but can be put into two main groups; helper T-cells and killer T-cells. Killer T-cells use X-Ray vision
The virus which is responsible for the disease of AIDS or the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is named as HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is one of the members of viruses called the retrovirus. Explain this later These viruses are capable of duplicating the RNA into DNA.The virus has two exact copies of single-stranded RNA as the basic genome in the very center of the organism. The genome is surrounded by a membrane that is made of membrane-bound proteins and lipids. One of the membrane-bound proteins is called the T-cells which help the virus becoming physically attached. When it became attached, the virus that is brought inside by the T-cell could result for the internal core to become exposed and damaged. Then the enzyme attached to the RNA, starts to make a base-pair single-strand copy of the RNA into DNA. The single strand of DNA is also duplicated by the same enzyme to form double-stranded DNA. This DNA enters one of the 46 chromosomes within our cells and used it as pattern to produce new virus particles. These new virus particles can be released from the infected cell and infect the adjacent cells.) HIV can hide for a very long period of time in the cells of the body and attacks the main part of the immune system – the T-cells or the CD4 cells. HIV cannot enter unbroken skin. HIV can be transmitted through direct exchange of body fluids. Sexual intercourse is the most common form of HIV transmission. Blood to blood contact, such as sharing needles for
HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS. A member of a group of viruses called retroviruses, HIV infects human cells and uses the energy and nutrients provided by those cells to grow and reproduce. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease in which the body's immune system breaks down and is unable to fight off certain infections, known as "opportunistic infections," and other illnesses that take advantage of a weakened immune system. When a person is infected with HIV, the virus enters the body and lives and multiplies primarily in the white blood cells. These are the immune cells that normally protect us from disease.
HIV is global pandemic stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, weakens the immune system by destroying the important cells in our body that fights against disease and infection. Our immune system is able to clear out most of the viruses from our body, but once you have HIV , you have it for lifelong. HIV can hide in our body cells for long time and it can attack the T cells and CD4 cells, a key part of our immune system to fight infections and diseases. Overtime, the HIV may attack so many of CD4 cells and our body is no more able to fight against infections. When this happens, HIV can lead to AIDS, the final stage of HIV infection. HIV can be transmitted through sexual contact, injection or drug use, pregnancy, breast feeding, occupational exposure, and rarely through blood transfusion and organ
HIV, or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a virus which damages and kills cells of the immune system. It attacks the T-cells, key cells of the immune system, and uses them to make copies of itself. After being infected with the virus it progressively interferes and eventually destroys the immune system's ability to fight the anti-genes. HIV may develop into the syndrome AIDS, the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV is an STD - a sexually transmitted disease - and therefore most commonly it is spread through sexual contact, and the virus mainly enters the body through the penis, mouth, lining of the vagina or vulva during sexual activity. HIV can also be spread through sharing syringes or needles with someone who is infected with the
The main way through which HIV virus can pass from one individual to the other is through blood contamination with the infected blood (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). HIV virus can be transmitted from one individual to the other through certain body fluids namely blood, pre-seminal fluid, semen, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids and breast milk that comes from an infected person (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS., & World Bank, 2009). These fluids can only transmit the virus if they come into contact with a fresh wound, damaged tissue, mucous membrane or directly injected into the bloodstream.
The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of the HIV infection; Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the disease it causes, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Acquired means you can get infected; Immune Deficiency means a weakness in the body’s system that fights diseases. Syndrome means a group of health problems that make up a disease (1). Killing or damaging T helper cells of the body’s immune system, HIV progressively destroys the body’s ability to fight infections (1).