HIV stands for 'Human Immunodeficiency Virus'. HIV is a retrovirus that infects cells of the human immune system (mainly CD4 positive T-cells and macrophages-key components of the immune system cells), and destroys or impairs their function. Infection with this virus resulted in a decrease in the immune system that constantly, which will result in immune deficiency.Immune system is considered deficient when it can no longer perform its function to fight infections and diseases. People who own immune deficient (Immunodeficient) become more vulnerable to a wide range of infections, most of which rarely infects people without immune deficiency. Diseases associated with severe immunodeficiency are known as "opportunistic infections" because such infections take advantage of a weakened immune system.
What is AIDS ?
AIDS stands for 'Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome' and describes a variety of symptoms and infections associated with reduced immune systems. HIV infection has been established as the cause of AIDS. HIV levels in the body and the incidence of certain infections are an indicator that HIV infection has progressed to AIDS.
Are these symptoms of HIV ?
Most people infected with HIV do not know because no symptoms develop immediately after initial infection. Some people have a glandular disorder that causes effects such as fever (with fever, rash, joint pain, and swelling of the spleen), which can occur at the time of seroconversion. Seroconversion refers to the formation of antibodies to HIV and usually occurs between six weeks and three months after infection.
HIV infection despite no initial symptoms, a person infected with HIV is very easy to transmit the virus to others. The only way to determine whether HIV is present in a person's body is through HIV testing.
Infection with HIV causes a decline and the weakening of the immune system. This causes the body vulnerable to infections and can lead to the development of AIDS.
When does a person get AIDS ?
The term AIDS is used for the stages of the most advanced HIV infection.
Most people who contract HIV, if not treated, will show signs of AIDS within 8-10 years. AIDS identified on the basis of certain infections, grouped by the World Health Organization (World Health Organization) as follows :
* Phase I HIV disease is asymptomatic and not categorized as AIDS.
* Phase II (includes minor mucocutaneous manifestations of these infections and upper respiratory tract that can not heal)
* Phase III (includes chronic diarrhea that does not clear the cause of progress more than one month, severe bacterial infections, and tuberculosis of the lungs), or
* Stage IV (includes Toxoplasmosis of the brain, Candidiasis of the channel throat (esophagus), respiratory (tracheal), trunk lines the lungs (bronchi) or lungs and Kaposi's sarcoma). HIV disease is used as an indicator of AIDS.
Most of these conditions are opportunistic infections suffered by people who, when healthy, can be treated.
How quickly HIV can develop into AIDS ?
Duration can vary from one person to another. With a healthy lifestyle, the time between HIV infection and become sick because of AIDS can range between 10-15 years, sometimes even longer. Antiretroviral therapy can slow the progression of AIDS by reducing the amount of virus (viral load) in the body that is infected.
