AIDs and hiv
Years ago, being HIV positive was the same as having a death sentence. Besides being deadly, AIDS and HIV came with a reputation of being a disease strictly experienced in the gay community. Today, we know the truth about the disease, and have taken huge steps to help thousands live healthy happy lives who have HIV.
~~~~~~~~~ What is AIDS? Whats is HIV? ~~~~~~~~~
“HIV” stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
HIV 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 isn't the case with HIV – the human immune system can't seem to get rid of it. That means that once you have HIV, you have it for life.
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 can't fight infections and diseases anymore. When that happens, HIV infection can lead to AIDS, the final stage of HIV infection.
HIV 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 isn't the case with HIV – the human immune system can't seem to get rid of it. That means that once you have HIV, you have it for life.
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 can't fight infections and diseases anymore. When that happens, HIV infection can lead to AIDS, the final stage of HIV infection.
So...
HIV - The Human Immunodeficiency Virus which weakens the immune system and is transmitted through sexual contact, infected contact, or through birth.
AIDS - The final stage in the HIV infection.
HIV - The Human Immunodeficiency Virus which weakens the immune system and is transmitted through sexual contact, infected contact, or through birth.
AIDS - The final stage in the HIV infection.
~~~~~~~~~ What are the signs and symptoms? ~~~~~~~~~
Primary Infection:
The majority of people infected by HIV develop a flu-like illness within a month or two after the virus enters the body. This illness, known as primary or acute HIV infection, may last for a few weeks. Possible signs and symptoms include:
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Progression to AIDS
If you receive no treatment for your HIV infection, the disease typically progresses to AIDS in about 10 years. By the time AIDS develops, your immune system has been severely damaged, making you susceptible to opportunistic infections — diseases that wouldn't trouble a person with a healthy immune system.
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~~~~~~~~ Is there treatment? ~~~~~~~
There's no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are medications that can dramatically slow disease progression. These drugs have reduced AIDS deaths in many developed nations. But HIV continues to decimate populations in Africa, Haiti and parts of Asia. For for information on treatment you can visit Mayo Clinic.