AIDS
Joseph Lucas
What is AIDS?
AIDS, also known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is the final stage of the disease known as HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus is acquired when someone with HIV does not take any medication or steps to keep HIV under control and from reaching the final stage.
How does AIDS spread and attack?
AIDS is the final stage of HIV, so to find out how AIDS spreads, you really have to look at how HIV spreads. HIV spreads through vaginal and/or anal sex, sharing needles with another person who has HIV, through childbirth, with the infection being passed down from mother to child, and in rare cases, oral sex and blood transfusions. It attacks the body by weakening the immune system. It does this by infecting CD4 cells, and making copies of itself. This leaves the body in a place where it is extremely susceptible to diseases and other infections.
Who are the most commonly infected victims?
The most commonly infected victims are people who share needles with drug users that are infected with HIV, men who partake in anal sex with other men who have HIV, people who commence in unsafe sex (not using protection) with someone who has HIV, and people living in extremely impoverished third-world countries.
Where is AIDS most likely to be found?
AIDS is most commonly found in third-world countries, with two-thirds of people infected with AIDS in these countries located in Sub-Saharan Africa. These countries have so many people infected with AIDS because of poverty and the lack of safe sex happening. The U.S.A. is also a majorly affected place, with many drug users sharing needles with other drug users who have AIDS.
What are the most common symptoms of AIDS?
The most common symptoms of HIV/AIDS are feeling like you have the flu, rapid weight loss, swollen lymph glands, a constant feeling of fatigue, nausea, rashes on your legs, arms, and/or stomach, bad headaches, etc. There are also many cases where people haven't had any symptoms of the virus.
What is the most effective treatment against AIDS?
The most effective treatment against HIV/AIDS is by taking a combination of medicines. These medicines has an overall name of Antiretroviral therapy. People with HIV/AIDS, who can afford the medication, have to take a different combination of medicines to keep the virus from acting up. The combination of medicines depend on the allergies of the people who have AIDS, side effects of the medicine, and how it interacts with other medications that are being taken. These are just treatments, though. There are no known cures for this virus, but, with treatment, a person with HIV/AIDS can live a long life.
Other facts about AIDS
Some other facts about AIDS are that women are more likely to test positive for AIDS then men are, around 40 million people globally are infected with HIV/AIDS, the virus originated in Africa and spread throughout the world, and finally, every 9.5 minutes, someone is infected with HIV.