HIV

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Description:
Description - general:
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease (lentivirus) of the immune system caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus. It is characterized by a short period of flu-like symptoms followed by a long period of little to no symptoms. As HIV progresses further eventually into AIDS, one’s chances of getting opportunistic infections and tumours that would not normally affect someone with a normally working immune system.
Description - cause:
HIV is transmitted from one person to another in numerous ways, sexual intercourse being the most common. Other methods of transmission include infected blood transfusion, mother to child during delivery when the mother is pregnant or through breastfeeding. Although it was previously thought that the virus was limited only to homosexual men this is not true and most transmissions today happen through heterosexual sex.
Description - system:
The main system being affected by the virus is the immune system however once the immune system is no longer rendered useful due to the virus, other infections and diseases such as cancer can begin to affect all the different systems.
Description - organs and cells:
HIV/AIDS does not affect any specific organ but the immune system as a whole. Once the virus weakens the immune system to a point where it no longer protects one against diseases, every organ can be affected by either an opportunistic infection or a tumour. A key specialized cell that is affected by HIV/AIDS is the CD4 cell or the t-cell. This cell helps humans protects themselves against very common but deadly diseases. The HIV virus attacks these cells and uses them to make more HIV cells. ...

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...otested by many. While there are not many risks with HIV treatment there are many side effects that make it harder to commit to a full treatment. Some side effects include dry mouth, vivid dreams, anemia, insomnia and weight loss. Although side effects will appear it is important that one does not stop taking the drugs as the virus can develop drug resistance, and should instead talk with their doctor on a plan for further treatment. Although HIV treatment is very effective it does not always work amazingly. Reasons for this are because when the cells copy inside of a human they are not perfect and do not turn out to be the same every time. Some of these imperfect cells develop a resistance to the drugs administered. This can be avoided by taking another drug that helps prevent cells from developing a resistance to the other drugs however this does not always work.

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