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Description
HIV is the human immuno deficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to
acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS.
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V Virus A virus can only reproduce itself by taking over a cell in the
body of its host.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a lot like other viruses, including those that
cause the flu or the common cold. But there is an important difference
over time, your immune system can clear most viruses out of your body. That
isnt the case with HIV the human immune system cant seem to get rid of
it. Scientists are still trying to figure out why.
We know that HIV can hide for long periods of time in the cells of your body
and that it attacks a key part of your immune system your T-cells or CD4
cells. Your body has to have these cells to fight infections and disease, but
HIV invades them, uses them to make more copies of itself, and then
destroys them.
Over time, HIV can destroy so many of your CD4 cells that your body cant
fight infections and diseases anymore. When that happens, HIV infection can
lead to AIDS.
I Immuno Your bodys immune system includes all the organs and
cells that work to fight off infection or disease.
You will be diagnosed with AIDS if you have one or more specific OIs, certain
cancers, or a very low number of CD4 cells. If you have AIDS, you will need
medical intervention and treatment to prevent death.
Causes
HIV causes AIDS. Two HIV strains have been identified: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1
is the prototype virus and is responsible for most cases of AIDS in the United
States. HIV-2 is found chiefly in West Africa, appears to be less easily
transmitted, and has a longer incubation period.
The time from the onset of HIV transmission to the development of AIDS
varies from a few months to years. The median incubation period is 10 years.
Pathophysiology
1. Human beings produce antibodies against specific infections.
2. When HIV infection takes place, anti-HIV antibodies are produced but they do
not appear immediately. This is called the window effect.
3. In some cases, antibodies to HIV become detectable 4 to 6 weeks after
infection.
4. When HIV is in circulation, it invades several types of cells the lymphocytes,
macrophages, the Langerhans cells, and neurons within the CNS.
5. HIV attacks the bodys immune system.
6. The organism attaches to a protein molecule called CD4 which is found in the
surface of T4 cells.
7. Once the virus enters the T4, it inserts its genetic materials into the T4 cells
nucleus taking over the cell to replicate itself.
8. Eventually the T4 cell dies after having been used to replicate HIV.
9. The virus mutates rapidly making it more difficult for the bodys immune
system to recognize the invaders.
10.HIV infection progresses through several stages.
11.The clinical course of HIV infection begins when a person becomes infected
with HIV through:
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