An Overview of Hiv/Aids

HIV/AIDS 1

An Overview of HIV/AIDS

January 9, 2011

HCA240

Kristy McGhee

HIV/AIDS 2

In the early 1980's, HIV and AIDS were detected as a virus. The virus has sparked fear and denial into many people. This virus is considered to be worldwide and at epidemic proportions. HIV and AIDS was know to have affected 30,000,000 people without discrimination against race, age, or gender (Axia College of University of Phoenix, 2007). So in order to prevent the of the devastating virus known as HIV; one must understand what the disease is, its symptoms, how the disease affects one's body, and how it spread and treated.

Differences between HIV and AIDS

Having HIV does not necessarily mean it will develop into or that one has AIDS. However, it does put a person at higher risk contracting the disease. HIV ( Human Immunodefiency Virus) is specific to humans. The virus causes the immune system to have serious complications. Since the immune system fights off diseases and infections, it makes it easier to get sick and harder to get well (McGowan, A., 2007). Once HIV isin the body it affects the immune system by attacking the systems white blood cells and multiplying. HIV damages the T-helper cells (the cells that help fight off disease). Once these cells are infected, they start multiplying copies of the virus , in turn, infecting healthy cells of the body, therefore, crippling the immune system (Axia College of University of Phoenix, 2007).

AIDS (Acquired Immune Defiency Syndrome) also affects the immune system. Howver, it only occurs after a person has already contracted the HIV virus and the body's immune system has been depleted by the reaction of the virus....