What are the facts about HIV & AIDS?
HIV - HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. The virus spreads from person to person through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection or are HIV-positive. Some people may develop flu like symptoms within a few weeks after becoming infected. Usually there are no symptoms for HIV and symptoms can take anywhere between 7 to 10 years to occur. Once symptoms begin to appear, people with HIV may be progressing to the AIDS stage of the disease. Scientist estimate that about half of people with HIV will develop AIDS within 10 years after becoming infected. People with HIV can still infect others even with no symptoms. Anyone is at risk for HIV regardless of age, race, gender, or sexual orientation and the only way for someone to know if they are infected with HIV is to get an HIV antibody test.
AIDS - AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the result of HIV infection. By the time people with HIV develop AIDS, the virus has damaged the immune system. Once the immune system is damaged, people with HIV are vulnerable to diseases that people with a healthy immune system usually can resist or control, such as certain pneumonias, and thrush, or recurrences of childhood infections. People with AIDS may also suffer from certain cancers rarely found among people with healthy immune systems. Because HIV affects the brain and other organs in the body, people with AIDS may have trouble with movement, memory, and body functions. Not everyone with HIV has AIDS.
How does HIV work?
HIV attacks the body's defenses. After entering the body, the virus starts to damage T-cells and other white blood cells that defend against other infections. Without these cells, the body's defenses cannot function properly. Once the virus has entered the body, the virus multiplies and starts to infect organs, damaging other body systems. A few weeks after HIV infection, people may develop symptoms similar to those of the flu or mononucleosis. This period may last a week or so. Thereafter, most people will be symptom free anywhere between 7 to 10 years. Once people with HIV develop AIDS, they may get illness that people with a healthy immune system usually can resist. People in the AIDS stage may experience motor and memory difficulties, wasting syndrome, and general weakening of body functions. Only a doctor can diagnosis someone with AIDS by measuring their T-cell count, which gives a picture of the strength or weakness of the body's defense. If someone with HIV has a T-cell count of 200 to 500, they are immune compromised. Someone with a T-cell count below 200 will be diagnosed with AIDS. Doctors will also look for other signs that the body's defenses are damaged such as cancers or other illnesses that usually attack only people with a compromised immune system.
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