Definition and Causes
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that weakens and slowly destroys the body's immune system, which is responsible for fighting germs and diseases. HIV is caused by the transmission of an infected person's bodily fluid, such as semen, vaginal fluid or blood through sexual activity, sharing needles or breastfeeding.
CD4+ T Cells
HIV first begins to destroy the body by attacking CD4+T cells. CD4+T cells are white blood cells called helper cells because they band together to fight disease and infections that enter the body. Unlike most viruses, HIV cells attack and attach themselves to the CD4+T cells. Normally when an infection enters the body, the CD4+T cells multiply so they outnumber the infection cells. HIV is different because since it attaches itself to the CD4+T cells, the CD4+T cells end up producing more of the HIV when they multiply. Eventually, the number of CD4+T cells begin to be completely destroyed by the HIV and are permanently reduced.
AIDS
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV turns into Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) over time, taking from 3 to 20 years. While HIV is the process of the weakening of the immune system, AIDS is the final stage of HIV. After HIV has destroyed the majority of the CD4+T cells, the body cannot fight even basic infections like the common cold. Opportunistic infections, such as pneumonia, herpes or tuberculosis, attack the immune system once they see it cannot fight back. Once an HIV-positive person has a lowered CD4+T cell count and at least one opportunistic infection, his diagnosis changes from HIV to AIDS.
Antiretroviral Therapy
Antiretroviral therapy can help fight the rate that HIV destroys the body. The therapy is a series of tablets that HIV sufferers take twice a day once their immune systems begin to weaken. If the antiretroviral therapy is taken correctly, it can significantly lessen the speed that HIV attacks CD4+T cells and give the cells time to increase and be able to fight infections. Antiretroviral therapy does not cure HIV or AIDS, it only slows the destruction of CD4+T cells.
Tags: immune system, Antiretroviral therapy, cannot fight, cells cells, destroys body