Basic Facts on HIV/AIDS By David Schulman

Learning objectives By the end of this presentation you will be able to: Discuss the difference between HIV and AIDS. Understand how HIV attacks the body’s health. Describe the impact of HIV on the immune system. Understand HIV risk

HIV HIV is short for the HUMAN IMUNNO DEFICIENCY VIRUS. HIV attacks the immune system – the body’s defence against disease. HIV can live in our bodies for years without obvious effects. HIV does not usually cause immediate incapacity in a person. Research shows that employees with asymptomatic HIV (showing no symptoms) are as productive, and work as many hours, as other employees. It is usually only when a person develops AIDS – related illness, that a person becomes noticeably and seriously ill. AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the name given to a group of serious illnesses that are caused by our body being unable to fight infection. People with HIV or AIDS are more likely to get some disease and infections because their immune system cannot fight them of. AIDS is caused by HIV. Understanding HIV and AIDS

HIV and the Immune system The life cycle of HIV 1.Viral Attachment 2.Viral fusion 3.Uncoating 4.Integration 5.Viral latency 6.Final Assembly 7.Budding 8.HIV Life Cycle Video.mpgHIV Life Cycle Video.mpg

Immune Response Detection of the virus: helper T cells Messengers: send signals to B cells(lymphocytes) Mounting an attack ;CD4 cells( helper T cells) Fighting off an infection: B cells and T killer cells Memory: memory cells. CD8 (suppressor cells)

The effect of HIV on an individual CD4 Count AIDS Viral Load It is during the clinical latency period that we have the best chance to extend the life of employees infected with HIV. ARV’s only help in the final stages.

Progression of HIV Infection to AIDS Primary Infection Acute HIV Syndrome HIV specific immune response (Serum Antibody detectable) Clinical Latency AIDS Defining Illness Death from AIDS 3-6 weeks 1 week- 3 months (Window Period) 1-2 weeks 10 years Median 2 years average

HIV Risk What is your risk? – Discussion