| Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS, HIV) topics |
sign up for a weekly newsletter about:
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS, HIV)
|
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS, HIV)
HIV stands for the human immunodeficiency virus, which is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is different from most other viruses because it attacks the immune system. There are two types of HIV virus – type 1 is found all around the world, while type 2 is found primarily in West Africa. The illness caused by these different virus strains can be different. For example the onset of illness in a person infected by HIV-2 is usually slower and less severe than if the person were infected by HIV-1. Once a person becomes infected by the HIV virus, the infection cannot be cured, but can often be managed by a range of anti-HIV medications, which inhibit the virus’s ability to replicate inside the body. HIV causes illness by damaging the immune system. HIV targets and destroys a special type of immune cell called T cells, which are part of the white blood cell family. These cells are an integral part of the immune system because they lead the fight against infections. When T cells become infected by the HIV virus they become severely damaged and usually die. This damages the person’s ability to fight infections and they often get sick for diseases that do not affect people with healthy immune systems.
Click on the condition on the left navigation bar to see the symptoms, treatment and complications of AIDS
|