AIDS

AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The initial response to HIV invasion is a modest decline in the number of circulating helper T cells. Infected people experience a brief flu-like illness, with chills and fever, but the immune system fights back by making antibodies against HIV and the number of helper T cells recovers nearly to normal.

Although infected people test positive for HIV antibodies, they typically have few clinical signs or symptoms and do not yet have AIDS. Over the next two to ten years, the virus slowly destroys the helper T cell population. As immune responses weaken, people develop certain indicator diseases (diseases that are rare in the general population but are common in AIDS patients). At this point, the diagnosis of AIDS is made. Early symptoms include headache, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, swollen lymph glands, fever, heavily coated white tongue (oral thrush-candidiasis), diarrhea, and lung infections.

Transmission of HIV: The only documented transmissions are by way of breast milk from a nursing mother, blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. The virus is found in macrophages in these fluids. HIV is transmitted by sexual contact and through blood, for example, contaminated hypodermic needles or contact with open wounds. Infected mothers may transmit the virus to the fetus or the nursing baby.

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