Human Immunodeficiency Virus And The Body 's Natural Defense System

HIV or the Human Deficiency virus is like other viruses including the flu, but the one thing that makes this virus so different than any other is that the body is unable to clear this one out completely. Once someone is infected, there is no cure. Over time, HIV can also hide or mask itself in the body's cells. The cells within a person's body that fight off infection are called CD4 cells or T cells. HIV attacks these cells and copies or replicates itself inside these cells, then destroys them. HIV over time will destroy so many of these cells that the body is unable to fight off infection anymore. When this starts happening, AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome happens which is the final stage

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.

Some people live with it for years before being diagnosed and some experience symptoms within a few weeks. Symptoms are different for everyone but can include the usual flu-like symptoms which are “fever, headaches, tiredness, and enlarged lymph glands,” (HIV Facts, n.d.). These are some of the symptoms I had.

“At the end of 2013, an estimated 1.2 million persons aged 13 and older were living with HIV infection in the United States, including an estimated 161,200 (13%) persons whose infections had not been diagnosed (cdc.gov).” Many people report never experiencing any symptoms and don’t even know

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

Human immunodeficiency Virus also known as HIV is a sexually transmitted disease. It attacks your body's immune system. The virus destroys CD4 cells, which help your body fight diseases. HIV damages your immune system and it leads to acquired immune deficiency syndrome also known as AIDS. AIDS is the final stage in HIV, and it’s a disease where severe loss of the body's cellular immunity occurs. The disease lowers the resistance to infection and malignancy. Anyone can get HIV/AIDS. Men, women, and children, of all different races and descents can get infected with the virus. People who are gay or straight can also be infected with HIV/AIDS. There is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS. HIV treatments may reduce

Normally, if an individual is already immunosuppressed by another health issue, the addition HIV can only further affect their immunity. When dealing with HIV, the cell-mediated immunity is affected. Components of this immunity, such as T cells and phagocytes that ward off foreign particles that enter the body are greatly reduced. The T cells are depressed by the Human Immunodeficiency virus which allows the body to be easily attacked by any foreign particle. Being immuno-depressed by this virus, promotes difficulty when trying to ward off another virus. An example of this would be if a person who has HIV contracts pneumonia, a health concern where fluid enters the lungs, they would most likely die. This due to the fact that pneumonia was able to invade and take over their immune system because HIV suppressed their immunity and the body was not able to fight off the

As the disease becomes more severe and the virus persistently destroys the immune system, this is known as early HIV infection. With the virus becoming more intense symptoms may vary from fatigue, once again swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, weight loss, fever, oral yeast infection, and even shingles. With no treatment of the HIV infection, this virus will become AIDS within ten years. With AIDS present the immune system has been extremely damaged and weakened, like those common illnesses such as the flu would be extremely more dangerous because the immune system is so broken down. The sign and symptoms of this final phase of HIV is soaking night sweats, persistent fever, bad diarrhea, rash or bumps, odd white spots or uncomfortable ulcers on the tongue or even around the mouth, weight loss, and random persistent fatigue.

HIV also known as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus; with HIV the virus replicates and attacks our immune system causing it to go haywire. With the suppression of our immune systems it puts people with HIV at a bigger risk for infection and other common illnesses. People with HIV the common cold can be very

HIV stands for (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). If not treated properly, it can be turned into a disease called AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). HIV affects the body's immune system, primarily targeting the T cells. In result of this, the human body is more vulnerable to get more infections

The human body is made up of many different organs and systems. Each body is different in shape and size. Some bodies function as they should and there are others that are abnormal. The human body has many systems that have specific functions and uses. Some systems that make up the body function on a daily basis include; digestive system, immune system, muscular, and skeletal system. Viruses and diseases affect the body by breaking it down and causing dysfunction. Diseases if not caught early can lead to death or permanent damage in the body. What are diseases and how do they affect the human body? In this paper HIV will be discussed as well as how many are affected in America. Explanations on how the body systems are affected by HIV and the medications and treatments for HIV will be discussed.

HIV goes through several different movements before it leads to AIDs. The first step is the serioconversion illness. This symptoms of this illness is very similar to the flu and an affected individual will

HIV is categorized into three possible stages of disease. Stage 1 is considered the Acute HIV infection stage. In 2 to 4 weeks following exposure to the infection, individuals have reported experiencing flu-type symptoms which last at a varying rate and individuals are extremely contagious without knowing they are infected (CDC, 2016b). Stage 2 is known as HIV inactivity or dormancy (CDC, 2016b). This is a phase that is typically asymptomatic, where there is still a live, active virus, but it is reproducing itself at a significantly low level (CDC, 2016b). With proper medication intervention, this stage can last for several decades, without it, they become more symptomatic (CDC, 2016b). As an individual’s viral load increases, they become more symptomatic, and their risk of infecting others also increases significantly. These individuals are at risk of moving into stage 3 known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS); requires a CD4 cell count less than 200 cells/mm or specific opportunistic illness (CDC, 2016b).

Prominent to known in most parts of the world, HIV is mostly transmitted through heterosexual sex. In 2014, 87 percent of women were involved in new cases that would risk them to spread the virus and be “attributed to heterosexual sex” (STDCheck.com). During that year, only 62 percent of African-Americans were diagnosed, making it the highest risk factor of this virus. The symptoms that are primarily affecting this case are body rash, fever, sore throat, and severe headaches. It will take 2-4 weeks to experience these symptoms if they know they are infected. However, the remaining 80 percent of people will mistake the transmission by having flu-like symptoms including night sweats, fatigue, muscle aches, and mouth.

One of the major harms HIV can do to the body is destroy CD4 lymphocyte cells. The lymphocytes are an important function for the bodies immune system. It helps attack infection and protect from other harmful diseases. HIV destroys your lymphocytes in your immune system and it becomes weak because HIV attaches to these CD4 cells and becomes hard to fight off any infections. Certain stages of HIV are considered AIDS. If a person has a low number of CD4 cells doctors treat it as AIDS. Having HIV gives you a greater risk of having serious infections like tuberculosis, brain problems like meningitis and encephalitis [Define what those two words