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Aids

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is caused by HIV, which attacks immune system cells over time, leaving the body vulnerable to infections. While treatment can prevent AIDS, many are still diagnosed due to lack of access to treatment in poor countries, lack of health insurance, drug resistance developing before modern treatment, and being unaware of HIV infection until AIDS symptoms appear. There is still no cure for AIDS.

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27 views

Aids

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is caused by HIV, which attacks immune system cells over time, leaving the body vulnerable to infections. While treatment can prevent AIDS, many are still diagnosed due to lack of access to treatment in poor countries, lack of health insurance, drug resistance developing before modern treatment, and being unaware of HIV infection until AIDS symptoms appear. There is still no cure for AIDS.

Uploaded by

jason_ngl94
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AIDS

What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for: Acquired Immune

What causes AIDS?


AIDS is caused by HIV. HIV is a virus that gradually attacks immune system cells. As HIV progressively damages these cells, the body becomes more vulnerable to infections, which it will have difficulty in fighting off. It is at the point of very advanced HIV infection that a person is said to have AIDS. It can be years before HIV has damaged the immune system enough for AIDS to develop.

Why do people still develop AIDS today?


Even though antiretroviral treatment can prevent the onset of AIDS in a person living with HIV, many people are still diagnosed with AIDS today. There are four main reasons for this:
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Deficiency Syndrome
AIDS is a medical condition. A person is diagnosed with AIDS when their immune system is too weak to fight off infections. Since AIDS was first identified in the early 1980s, an unprecedented number of people have been affected by the global AIDS epidemic. Today, there are an estimated 33.3 million people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide.

Is there a cure for AIDS?


Worryingly, many people think there is a 'cure' for AIDS - which makes them feel safer, and perhaps take risks that they otherwise wouldn't. However, there is still no cure for AIDS. The only way to stay safe is to be aware of how HIV is transmitted and how to prevent HIV infection.
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In many resource-poor countries antiretroviral treatment is not widely available. Even in wealthier countries, such as America, many individuals are not covered by health insurance and cannot afford treatment. Some people who became infected with HIV in the early years of the epidemic before combination therapy was available, have subsequently developed drug resistance and therefore have limited treatment options. Many people are never tested for HIV and only become aware they are infected with the virus once they have developed an AIDS related illness. These people are at a higher risk of mortality, as they tend to respond less well to treatment at this stage.

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