AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, shortened HIV. The HIV virus gradually attacks cells, which are responsible for the endogenous protection of pathogens. The cells are no longer capable of fulfilling their defensive reaction and the body becomes more vulnerable to infections, which it will have difficulty in fighting off. Finally the cells are completely damaged. Although the body starts to produce antibodies against the virus, it is not possible to remove it anymore. The body is able to resist the virus, but only a limited time, then the immune system collapses. At the terminal stage, the disease is called AIDS. In this state the body is exposed to a multitude of pathogens, which doesn´t harm the body normally, while the consequences of an HIV infected defenceless body are serious illnesses and dead.
The first symptoms
of HIV, fever, skin rash, swelling of the lymph nodes, seem like a normal flu.
They appear within the first weeks after the catching and soon go by, so the
illness often stays unrecognised for years. The HIV infection could only be
diagnosed by an special HIV test. There is still no cure for HIV or AIDS. The
only way to ensure that you avoid AIDS is to be aware of how HIV is transmitted
and how to prevent HIV infection.
Antiretroviral
treatment can significantly prolong the lives of people living with HIV. Modern
combination therapy is highly effective and someone with HIV who is taking
treatment could live for the rest of their life without developing AIDS.
HIV is
comparatively meant to be harder infectious to other illnesses. The infection is
only possible via the body fluids breast milk, blood, semen and vaginal
secretions.
Since the first
cases of AIDS were identified in 1981, more than 30 million people have died
from AIDS.
