Immune System Disorders

AIDS stands for Acquired imunodeficiency (or immune deficiency) Syndrome. It results from infection with a virus called HIV, which stands for human immunodeficiency virus. This virus infects key cells in the human body called CD4-positive (CD4+) T cells. These cells are part of the body’s immune system, which fights infections and various cancers. When HIV

HIV is a type of virus called a retrovirus. Like all viruses, it must invade the cells of other organisms to survive and reproduce. HIV multiplies in the human immune system’s CD4+ T cells and kills vast numbers of the cells it infects. The result is disease symptoms. Nice To Know: There are two forms

HIV infection is spread in three ways: Sexual intercourse Direct contact with infected blood From an infected mother to her unborn child However, there is much misunderstanding about the ways in which HIV infection is not spread. About one out of every three people in the U.S. infected with HIV, the virus that can lead to

Most people newly infected with the HIV virus show few, if any, symptoms for a few years. But during this asymptomatic period, HIV is actively multiplying, infecting, and killing cells in the immune system, particularly CD4+ T cells. People are very infectious during this early phase. As the immune system weakens, symptoms begin to emerge. Early Symptoms

A blood test is used to confirm whether a woman has been infected with HIV. Any woman who has engaged in risky behavior, such as sharing drug-injecting equipment or having unprotected sexual contact with an infected person or with someone whose HIV status is unknown, should consider being tested. A positive HIV test result does

A woman who tests positive for HIV should take steps to protect her own health and the health of others. The CDC recommends that people with HIV infection: Promptly seek care from a physician or medical service, even if they feel well. Early treatment, preferably under the guidance of a doctor with experience treating people

When AIDS first surfaced in the United States, no drugs were available to combat the underlying immune deficiency, and few treatments existed for the opportunistic infections that resulted. Over the past 10 years, however, therapies have been developed to fight both HIV infection and its associated infections and cancers. Although there is no treatment currently available that

Medical researchers are working to develop new drugs to keep HIV replication in check, as well as medications and methods to treat or prevent opportunistic infections and other HIV-related conditions. For example, research under way includes studies of treatments for: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. A precancerous condition associated with HPV, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), is more common and

Since no vaccine for HIV is available, the only way to prevent infection by the virus is to avoid behaviors that place a person at risk for infection, such as sharing needles and having unprotected sex. Prevention is the key to personal protection against HIV and AIDS. Being aware of behaviors that increase the risk

Here are some frequently asked questions related to AIDS And Women. Q: What if I’m attracted to someone I don’t really know? What should I do? A: Know the sexual history and health status of partners. Avoid anonymous sexual contact and learn about safe sex practices, such as the use of condoms. Q: Are my children