HIV and AIDS

HIV and AIDS8th grade health project

General DescriptionHIV is known as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.HIV causes AIDS.AIDS = Acquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeHIV is the most dangerous disease known to humans.HIV attacks CD4 helper Lymphocytes and T Cells in the Immune System.HIV CAN be cured (despite popular belief). Some fortunate people have already been, but research is still going on about this treatment and is no excuse for not protecting yourself from this disease.HIV gets into T cells because projections on the cells surface called CCR5 pushes on one of the spikes on the HIV virus. The pushing of the HIVs spike triggers it to release infectious genes into the cell.Bacterial, Viral, Fungal, or Something Else Is It?HIV is a viral infection that attacks the immune system.

SymptomsSymptoms include the following:Weakness, fatigue, weight loss, lots of fevers that last several weeks w/out explanation, heavy sweating at night, swollen lymph nodes, minor infections that cause skin rashes, mouth, genitalia, and anal sores, white spots in throat and mouth, chronic diarrhea, cough, memory loss; vaginal yeast infection. No symptoms appear for 10 years after getting infected.In short, nobody in their right mindset would want these symptoms.Treatment(s)/Cure(s)HIV can be contained. You must keep the circulation of the virus low. The persons T-Cell count must be kept at a high level because HIV attacks them.There is a cure that has been researched recently. It is the hormone -32 (delta-32). It closes the receptors on cells that allow the HIV virus to enter, thereby denying access to the virus into the cells. As many as 3 people have been cured of HIV before July 28th of 2012. Bone marrow is taken from a person with the Delta-32 mutation and transplanted into the person with HIV.Statistics for Infection2010 sees 1.2 million people in the US living with HIV, yet 1/5 of these people are unaware they have it. 2010 also sees 33015 people diagnosed in the US with AIDS.This disease is more common in men than in women.77% of men who get HIV get it from male-to-male sexual con- tact

HIV-1 budding from a lymphocyte TransmissionHIV is commonly passed through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.Ways HIV can get into the blood like this is through sharing needles or sexual intercourse of any kind.PreventionIt can be prevented by not having oral, anal, or vaginal sexual intercourse (sexual abstinence). It can also be prevented by wearing a latex condom while having coitus, and making sure that your partner is not positive with HIV/AIDS.However, condoms are not a sure way to prevent getting AIDS. This is because condoms can break or slip off.Punishments/Consequences for Not Treating ItIf left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS, which can lead to death.Also, if you get Tuberculosis or Pneumonia, then you will die because your body wont be able to defend against it.