AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease in which the body's immune system breaks down and is unable to fight off certain infections. 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. How quickly do people infected with HIV develop AIDS? Most people remain without obvious symptoms for 10 to 12 years and a few for much longer.
AIDS (Acquired ImmunoDifficiency Syndrome) weakens the body¹s immune system so it is sensitive to infection. The AIDS virus primarily attacks the T lymphocytes, which are a main part of the immune system. The virus is also incubated in cells called macrophages, where it is accidentally sent to other, healthy cells in the body like neurons and lymphatic cells. After HIV is contracted, the person looks and feels healthy for up to 20 years before symptoms start occurring. During this time, the person can give the virus to another even though it cannot be detected by sight or smell.
For example, HIV and AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis, Chlamydia, herpes, HSV2, genital warts, and hepatitis A, B,C,D. Some can be cured, and others can’t. Bacterial STDs can be cured, but it will always remain in the body as well as viral. Just because a person gets it once, doesn’t mean they’ll never get it again. Others may look at you differently because you are infected with HIV or AIDS.
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."
However, HIV has been known to hide for long periods of time. For this to happen it must attack certain parts of your immune system. If the HIV virus attacks your T-cells or CD4 cells, it will remain dormant and could hide for a very long time. These cells are used for fighting infe... ... middle of paper ... ...be contained early enough in the process and proper treatment is received, it can add decades onto a person’s life. HIV and AIDS are viruses that are very common in today’s society and an issue that has been very popular since the 1980’s.
A great deal depends on how long this phase will last such as, how fast the HIV virus replicates and how the patient’s body deals with the virus. Some patients can stay in this phase for almost 10 years without any signs or symptoms. Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy is when the lymph nodes become infected and enlarged. The HIV affected patient can endure swollen glands during any stage of the disease. The next phase of the disease is symptomatic infection.
HIV for the most part advances to AIDS after an average of 10 years. Full blown AIDS is diagnosed when the CD4 levels fall below 200 cells/microliter or when an opportunistic infection is identified. Many of these infections are fought off by a normal immune system, but are fatal to AIDS sufferers.
First of all, AIDS is caused by the retrovirus HIV. HIV stands for human immunodef- iciency virus. AIDS itself stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. As its name implies, AIDS is a virus that is acquired and attacks the immune system making it useless in the event of other viral or bacterial attacks on the human body. After the HIV virus is initially contracted, the person may live a perfectly normal life for several years before sign of the virus appear.
The history behind the disease Aids, and the origins the disease Aids follows. Just over 30 years ago, Aids became one of the leading killing disease worldwide. In the early years of the Aids many people feared it. Aids is common and with lots of money scientist finally found the cure to Aids. When Aids was newly discovered people died instantly.
Over the last thirty years, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic has matured. In the United States, HIV has changed from an explosive outbreak to an endemic disease; currently, an estimated 1.1 million people are infected with HIV, including a substantial number who are unaware of their status. HIV disease is a medical condition but it has never been just a medical condition. HIV disease is fraught with enormous social, political, economic, and psychiatric challenges (Wilson, et al). The nuances around HIV prevention, education, treatment, and care ... ... middle of paper ... ..., C. C., & Rowe, M. J.