AIDS

AIDS

Being one of the most fatal viruses in the world, AIDS (AcquiredImmunodeficiency Syndrome) is now a serious public health concern in most majorCanadian and American cities and in countries worldwide. Since 1986 there have beenimpressive advances in understanding of the AIDS virus. Even though researchers haveput in countless hours, and millions of dollars it has not led to a drug that can cureinfection with the virus or to a vaccine that can prevent it. With AIDS being the leadingcause of death among adults, individuals are now taking more precautions with sexualintercourse, and medical facilities are screening blood more thoroughly. HIV ( HumanImmunodeficieny Virus) can be transmitted through sharing of non sterilize needles andsyringes, sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, and through most bodily fluids, it is nottransmitted through casual contact or by biting or blood sucking insects. AIDS is a complicated illness that may involve several phases. It is caused by a virus thatcan be passed from person to person. AIDS impairs the human body's immune system thesystem responsible for warding off disease and leaves the victim susceptible to variousinfections. AIDS was first conclusively identified in the United St

Blood tests candetect these antibodies and therefore can indicate exposure to the virus. Practicing safe sexmeans either participating only in a monogamous, or mutually exclusive, relationship inwhich both people are free of HIV infection, or using latex condoms whenever engagingin intercourse. Within a decade the disease hadspread to virtually all populated areas of the world. It is believed that HIV was introduced to theseareas in the early the mid-1980s. "�Comptons Interactive Encyclopedia Detection and treatment. In somepeople the virus may remain inactive, and these people act as carriers, remainingapparently healthy but still able to infect others. There are no known cases of AIDS transmission by insects suchas mosquitoes or by domestic animals. "AIDS is defined as a disease, at least moderately predictive of defects in cell-meditated immunity, occurring in a person with no known cause for diminished resistanceto that disease. At this point in time there is no cure, or is there avaccination. Its symptoms may include fever, fatigue, weightloss, skin rashes, a fungal infection of the mouth known as thrush, lack of resistance toinfection, and swollen lymph nodes. Unlike T lymphocytes, macrophages are notkilled by the virus. Usually, when the AIDS virus enters the bloodstream, thebody's immune system produces antibodies to battle the microorganism. Public concern is higher then it was 15years ago, but that's because people are starting to realize that not everyone is immune toit, as of right now the only ones immune to the HIV virus are baboons. Afterresearchers discovered in the late 1980s that there were several forms of the AIDS virus,the original virus was renamed the human immunodeficiency virus type 1, orHIV-1. However, these statistics were from 1986, 11 yearslater it has grown to more, not just in homosexual and bisexual men, but also inheterosexual sexual intercourse.