HIV/AIDS: Fast Facts
Reviewed By:
David Slotnick, M.D.
- HIV is short for human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS stands
for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
- HIV and AIDS are names for different stages of the same viral
infection that impairs your immune system.
- This infection attacks the cells that coordinate your immune
response to foreign invaders.
- This attack prevents your body from fighting off viruses,
bacteria, fungi, parasites.
- Because of this failure of the immune system, there is an
increased risk of developing certain forms of cancer, including
cervical cancer.
- You become infected with the HIV virus through contact with the
infected body fluids of another person.
- Body fluids that can transmit the HIV virus include blood,
semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk.
- Once infected, the virus begins to quietly damage the immune
system by invading helper T cells, or CD4 lymphocytes.
- CD4 lymphocytes are the white blood cells that coordinate the
immune system.
- Eventually all people with HIV will go on to develop
AIDS.
- It can take a decade or more before HIV develops into
full–blown AIDS.
- Many of the available treatments, if initiated early enough,
can help delay the progression of HIV into AIDS.
- The rate of HIV infection among women in the United States has
increased in recent years, particularly among women of color.
- Most cases of HIV infection in women are the result of sexual
contact with infected men, according to the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women infected with HIV are at risk
of passing the disease on to their children.
- Though there is no cure for HIV and AIDS, treatments have
become much more effective in recent years.
- Today, people with AIDS can lengthen their lifespan and enhance
their quality of life through a variety of medications.
- Most people in the United States and other developed nations
have access to HIV and AIDS drugs.
- In developing parts of the world, access to medications is
limited and AIDS mortality rates remain high.
- Safe sex methods such as rigorous condom use during sex can
minimize the risk of contracting the HIV virus.
- Pregnant women can minimize transmitting the virus to their
babies by taking certain HIV medications.
/happyarms_89.jpg "Sneeze No More")