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What is
AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
It is the result of acquiring a virus (HIV), which
eventually destroys regulator cells of the immune
system so that it becomes deficient and is not able
to fight off infections and diseases. When there
are a number of diseases or infections that are
part of one medical problem, the process is called
a syndrome.
What is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. When
a person is infected with HIV, it can be inside
particular body cells for many years with no visible
effects. The cells HIV infects include regulator
cells of the immune system (T-4 lymphocytes). In
simple terms, these are 'alarm clock' cells which
wake up the immune system to fight off infections.
HIV begins a complex process by which these regulator
cells are destroyed. As these regulator cells become
more and more depleted, the immune system is less
and less effective in controlling infections and
diseases.
How is HIV Transmitted?
HIV is mainly spread by having anal or vaginal sex
(intercourse) with an infected person without a
condom, or by sharing needles. HIV can only infect
you through your bloodstream.
There are only four body fluids that contain enough
HIV to cause infection:
Blood
Semen
Vaginal Fluids
Breast Milk
One of these fluids must pass from someone infected
with HIV into your blood system for the possibility
of infection to occur.
Remember, there is not enough of the virus in other
body fluids to cause infection. Therefore, saliva,
urine, tears and sweat do not present you with a
risk for HIV but can be a risk for other sexually
transmitted infections. |
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