Aids During Childhood

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AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is an infectious disease, which is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). This virus, HIV, is able to cause disease because it attacks the immune defense cells and this can overwhelm the immune system. If this disease is not treated, the infections will start causing symptoms for an average of 10 years. This phase considered symptomatic is referred to as AIDS, which is the advanced form of the infection (The free dictionary, 2010).
In recent history, AIDS is considered one of the most devastating worldwide public health problems. There are several ways in which AIDS can be transmitted, including: sexual contact, transmission in pregnancy (breastfeeding can increase the risk of HIV transmission), needle sticks or body fluids, and exposure to contaminated blood. Unfortunately, each year around five million individuals contract AIDS around the world, and three million will die because of this (The free dictionary, 2010). …show more content…

Some of these consequences include: trouble gaining weight, difficulty with mobility, problems with growth, and severe delayed of mental development. This disease can also cause severe forms of the common illnesses that children may have, such as ear infection and pneumonia. This is because when they have an underdeveloped immune system, the infections are more severe and more likely to cause serious illness and death (Hoffman,

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