AIDS: A Modern Crisis
HIV -- Human Immunodeficiency Virus AIDS is an acronym. It stands for A quired (you’re not born with it) I mmune (having to do with the body’s defenses) D eficiency (not working correctly) S yndrome (a group of symptoms)
AIDS destroys the immune system leaving the body open to what doctors call “opportunistic” diseases. There are an estimated 40 million cases of AIDS worldwide. There may be a vaccine, but probably not a cure in our lifetime.
How the AIDS virus attacks ~ 1. The virus enters a white blood cell
2. Virus attacks the helper T-cell and multiplies AIDS AIDS AIDS AIDS AIDS AIDS
3. T-cell no longer produces anything but more AIDS viruses
4. The immune system is weakened 5. The body is susceptible to “opportunistic” disease
How AIDS is transmitted-- > sexual contact > blood transfusions and transplants > shared needles (including tattoos) > babies born to HIV+ mothers
Treatment 2 drugs that work: >AZT (slows the virus down) >Pepi T (blocks cell entry by virus)
What can be done? Prevention >Education What can be done? Prevention >Donate blood >Convince the government to spend more $ on research > Support AIDS causes and charities