Aids Is The Disease Caused By Human Immunodeficiency Virus...

Aids Is The Disease Caused By Human Immunodeficiency Virus...

AIDS is the disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus type 1, or HIV–1 (referred to as HIV). HIV belongs to the retrovirus family, a group of viruses that have the ability to use cell 's ' machinery to replicate. HIV attacks the immune system by damaging or killing a specific type of white blood cell in the body called a T–lymphocyte, also called a CD4+ or T–helper cell. T–lymphocytes help the immune system perform its important task of fighting diseases in the body caused by invading germs. As a result of HIV infection, the immune system becomes weakened and the body has trouble battling certain infections caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Many of these infections are highly unusual in people with healthy immune systems. They are called opportunistic infections because they take advantage of a weakened immune system. People with HIV disease not only are more likely to contract these infections, they are more likely to have them repeatedly and to become much more sick from them.



The image above on the right shows how the cell looks when it is infected and the disease is taking over.

The virus attacks the immune system. As the immune system weakens, the body is vulnerable to life–threatening infections and cancers. Once a person has the virus, it stays inside the body for life. TransmissionCauses of the virus includes: sexual contact –– including oral, vaginal, and anal sex, blood, –– via blood transfusions (now extremely rare in the U.S.), or needle

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