Over 33 million people around the world have AIDS (“Global Statistics.”). The disease, caused by the virus HIV, attacks the immune system, which is meant to protect your body from illness. Currently, there is no cure for AIDS, and 25 million have lost their lives due to it. AIDS is a serious issue affecting many people around the world today as they struggle with the disease, research for medicines, and attempt to reduce new infections Many people with AIDS do not show symptoms for a long time, even for over ten years. The cause, HIV, is an STD. Human immunodeficiency virus attacks the T-cells, part of the immune system, and uses it to duplicate itself and spread. When the number of immune cells in one cubic milliliter of blood is less than 200, the infection is referred to as AIDS. The amount of time it takes for the cell count to fall so low varies from person to person, sometimes because of certain drugs or because the immune system is naturally less resistant to the disease (“Learn about HIV/AIDS.”). AIDS can cause a lot of different complications in the body. Some common signs include dry skin, fatigue, fevers, symptoms of infection like coughing or headaches, and weight loss. OIS, or opportunistic infections, occur when the body gets ill from something else because of a weak immune system. Pneumonia, fungal infections, and cancers also appear more in those with AIDS. People infected with HIV but not yet diagnosed with AIDS can also suffer from symptoms. Because any symptoms could be a result of weak immune cells or just a regular infection, there is no way to know for sure if someone has AIDS without a blood test (“Learn about HIV/AIDS.”). The disease was first reported in the 80’s, the epidemic beginning in 1985. A large n... ... middle of paper ... ...inst AIDS, and this epidemic will not disappear. A donation to any AIDS organization will help to reduce some one's pain as they struggle with this disease. Works Cited “Basic Facts about HIV/AIDS.” The Foundation for AIDS Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. . “Global Statistics.” AIDS.gov. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. . “Learn about HIV/AIDS.” AIDS Healthcare Foundation. AIDS Healthcare Foundation, n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. . “Research Accomplishments.” The Foundation for AIDS Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. .
"HIV/AIDS Basics." AIDS.gov. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Web. 18 Jan. 2012. . Regularly maintained by the U.S. Dept. of HHS
The spread of aids threatens our population daily. Lives lost to it number over 12 million, including 2 mil...
The authors worked for the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies which belongs to AIDS resea...
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that your body can’t get rid of. This virus sits in your body and attack your immune system and essential virus fighting cells. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the final stage of HIV infection. At this point of HIV people have badly damaged immune systems, which put them at risk for other disease and infections.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an enveloped retrovirus. It affects the immune system and the body loses its ability to fight diseases. It is mainly transferred by sexual contact. However, it can also be transmitted by contact with body fluid like blood, breast milk and so on (CDC, 2016). A patient is said to have AIDS when he/her suffer from many opportunistic infections (CDC, 2016).
HIV-1 and HIV-2 are both viruses that attack the human immune system, but are contracted differently. Research shows that the strain HIV-1 was contracted from chimpanzees compared to HIV-2 which was contracted from sooty mangabeys (avert.org). Globally, “more than 90% of HIV infections are of the HIV-1 strain” (Madden, 2011). If one has contracted the HIV virus and does not seek medical attention, the introduction of other infections and diseases, including AIDS can occur. As mentioned earlier, HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system of humans. By this occurring, white blood cells that are significant in fighting off infection are being destroyed. Initially, this makes the human body susceptible and vulnerable to contracting new infections and diseases. There are three stages in which the HIV virus goes through in order to develop into AIDS. These three stages include: acute HIV infection, clinical latency and then AIDS. Stage one of the infection occurs two to four weeks after contracting the virus. In most cases, flu like symptoms will occur as the body’s response to the virus. The second stage of the HIV virus, victims will show little to any symptoms of the virus. The virus is continuing to reproduce, but at a slower rate compared to stage one. In the final stage of the HIV infection, one’s immune system is already in a severe state and the body is extremely vulnerable to infection. Without treatment in stage three of the HIV virus, one typically is given an average of two to three
AIDS was first discovered in the United States in 1981. Since then, this epidemic has affected approximately 40 million people worldwide. AIDS is a life threatening illness that is caused by the HIV infection. When the HIV virus enters the body it begins to destroy the immune system impairing its ability to fight off certain infections and diseases. About a month after being infected, a person develops a viral infection. The viral infection is similar to the flu and causes fever, fatigue, weight loss, and swollen glands. These symptoms usually subside, and a person may not develop AIDS for up to 10 years after being infected with HIV. During this time, the HIV virus continues to multiple and destroys cells of the immune system. A person is diagnosed with AIDS when the immune system is so deteriorated by HIV that it can no longer fight off certain infections and diseases known as "opportunistic infections." These infections cause a person to suffer from a variety of illnesses including weight loss, persistent diarrhea, coughing, nausea, swollen glands, and shortness of breath. The infections can last from several days to several months and are often difficult to treat. AIDS patients are also prone to develop certain cancers. These cancers include Kaposi's sarcoma, cervical cancer, and lymphomas. Although each of these cancers are treatable, AIDS patients suffer severe cases of these cancers because of their weakened immune system. It is often difficult to determine if a person will make it through a particular illness or not. In most cases, people do not die from AIDS but from complications from illnesses that define AIDS. When a person is diagnosed with having AIDS, their estimated survival time is 2-3 years.
In United States, the HIV epidemic reached its peak in the 1980s when the number of infected reached 130,000 people per year. Infected women ...
The AIDS virus is the most common disease, and with no cure, an infected person will die. It is estimated that 90 to 95 percent of AIDS infections occur in developing countries where the world’s worst living conditions exist.
HIV is a virus that is called the human immunological disorder virus. Usually, the system produces white blood cells and antibodies that attack viruses and bacterium. The infection fighting cells area unit known as T-cell lymphocytes. This disables the system to defend the body against diseases and tumors. Numerous infections are going to be able to develop, these timeserving infections benefit of the body 's weakened system. These infection that unremarkably will not cause severe or fatal health issues can eventually cause the death of the HIV patient.
There are four letters, that when put together can spell out a lifetime of agony, despair, prejudice and constant indignation; AIDS. Over the years the disease has been called GRID, Gay Cancer and finally came the name that is commonly accepted today, AIDS. Multiple theories are present as to the origin of this deadly virus, all of them are unique but no matter what the origin or name, AIDS is a terrible epidemic that needs to come to an end. People have suffered long enough, and too many people have been discriminated against something that’s not entirely their fault. The medicine for AIDS only prolongs the inevitable, and suffering of the poor people cursed with the disease. AIDS as of now is a death sentence and it currently has no cure; it targets people of every race, age, and gender from all walks of life but despite AIDS only being been around for less than a century, it has managed to leave an immense impact on American history, individuals, society and culture.
In 1981, a new fatal, infectious disease was diagnosed--AIDS (Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome). It began in major cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco. People, mostly homosexual men and intravenous drug users, were dying from very rare lung infections or from a cancer known as Kaposi’s sarcoma. They have not seen people getting these diseases in numerous years. Soon, it also affected hemophiliacs, blood recipients, prostitutes and their customers, and babies born from AIDS-infected women. AIDS was soon recognized as a worldwide health emergency, and as a fatal disease with no known cure, that quickly became an epidemic. When high-profile victims began to contract the virus, such as basketball star Magic Johnson, the feeling spread quickly that anyone, not just particular groups of people, could be at risk. AIDS impairs the human body’s immune system and leaves the victim susceptible to various infections. With new research, scientists think that the disease was first contracted through a certain type of green monkey in Africa, then somehow mutated into a virus that a human could get. AIDS is a complicated illness that may involve several phases. It is caused by a virus that can be passed from person to person. This virus is called HIV, or Human Immuno-deficiency Virus. In order for HIV to become full-blown AIDS, your T-cell count (number of a special type of white-blood cells that fight off diseases) has to drop below 200, or you have to get one of the symptoms of an AIDS-induced infection.
30 years ago, many wondered how do people get Aids. After years of studies Aids comes from HIV. Aids is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. What having the infection HIV do to your body is it destroys your immune system. Also you get terrible flu to the point of death. Many don't understand why HIV cause Aids but i'm sure they will find the answer. HIV lives and reproduces in blood and other body fluids.
Many people that are infected with HIV do not know. HIV symptoms don't show up until ten years. HIV is a sexual transmitted disease which attacks the lymphocytes of the immune system. Lymphocytes help defend the body from infections. As the HIV attacks the lymphocytes, the immune system will decrease in strength. When people have a weaker immune system, they will eventually get more infections that can be more harmful and deadly. There is no ultimate cure for HIV, but medicines, provided by doctors, can slow down the process. HIV later becomes AIDS, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
The emergence of HIV/AIDS is viewed globally as one of the most serious health and developmental challenges our society faces today. Being a lentivirus, HIV slowly replicates over time, attacking and wearing down the human immune system subsequently leading to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) at which point the affected individual is exposed to life threatening illnesses and eventual death. Despite the fact that a few instances of this disease have been accounted for in all parts of the world, a high rate of the aforementioned living with HIV are situated in either low or medium wage procuring nations. The Sub-Saharan region Africa is recognized as the geographic region most afflicted by the pandemic. In previous years, people living with HIV or at risk of getting infected did not have enough access to prevention, care and treatment neither were they properly sensitized about the disease. These days, awareness and accessibility to all the mentioned (preventive methods, care etc.) has risen dramatically due to several global responses to the epidemic. An estimated half of newly infected people are among those under age 25(The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic). It hits hard as it has no visible symptoms and can go a long time without being diagnosed until one is tested or before it is too late to manage.