HIV/AIDS
Image: Infographic on what HIV/AIDS is
HIV stands for
- Human
- Immunodeficiency
- Virus
The infographic above accurately describes what HIV is and what it does. HIV is essentially a virus that attacks a type of the body's white blood cells, called T-cells. T-cells are essential to the immune system as they help fight off invasions from germs and bacteria that cause disease and infections. As HIV is a virus, it can only reproduce by taking over a cell or several cells in the hosts body, and that is exactly what it does. The HIV virus takes over the T-cells and begins to rapidly multiply; the T-cells are then destroyed. When too many T-cells are destroyed, the body's immune system cannot carry out its function and becomes weak and "deficient". This means that the host can easily fall sick, and that illnesses that would not be harmful to people with normally functional immune systems can become deadly.
AIDS stands for:
- Acquired
- Immuno
- Deficiency
- Syndrome
AIDS is essentially the final stage of HIV and occurs when too many of the body's T-cells have been destroyed due to the invasion of the HIV virus. It can take 10-15 years for a person with HIV to develop AIDS. It is important to note that AIDS is a syndrome, meaning that it is a "complex illness with a wide range of symptoms and complications". People who have AIDS have a very badly damaged immune system and need to be kept under close medical watch and need to consume a variety of medications in order to stay alive.
How is HIV/AIDS spread?
Image: Infographic on how HIV/AIDS is spread
Who is at risk of contracting HIv/aids?
People who are at a higher risk of contracting HIV/AIDS include:
- those who have unprotected sex
- those who have multiple sexual partners
- those who have high-risk partners
- those who inject drugs
- those who have been diagnosed with a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
- babies born to mothers with HIV/AIDS
- the poor
- gay men
Why is HIV/AIDS Prevalent in Developing Countries?
Image: Map of global statistics on HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS is prevalent in developing countries because there is a general lack of knowledge about how the disease spreads. Many poor are illiterate and do not understand the dangers of having unprotected sex or having multiple sexual partners. As medical equipment is not as available in developing countries as it is in developed countries, doctors may be tempted or forced to use the same needle, which can spread HIV. Also, a lack of proper screening of blood can cause the transmission of HIV through blood transfusions. Another reason as to why HIV/AIDS is more prevalent in developing countries is because people either do not have access to proper contraception or cannot afford it.
Photo Credits
Girl with AIDS. Digital image. Aidsconsortium.org.uk. Web. <http://aidsconsortium.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AfricanGirlChildrenCover.jpg>. Global Statistics on HIV/AIDS Infographic. Digital image. Web. <http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/global-statistics/index.html>. How is HIV/AIDS Spread? Infographic. Digital image. Web. <http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/how-you-get-hiv-aids/index.html>. What is HIV/AIDS? Infographic. Digital image. Web. <http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/what-is-hiv-aids/index.html>. |